The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-06-18

Better TttnGa In sight
indications that better times are In
sight are no, wanting. The iron and steel
industry, that great barometer OF trade.
Is on the eve OF a revival which means
much In the future for both capital and
labor. A SPECIAL in the Pittsburgh Dis
patch from New York. where all the
large steel rail rolling companies have
their agencies. reports an Increasing In
quIry for steel rails. and W. a. Wash
burne. of the Cambria Iron Company, Is
quoted as follows:
We are receiving many more inquiries
for rails than We were a few weeks ago
Only this morning ! got inquiries EeG u ~,
Ing accounts aEEregatinR lb.OO or lb,VJo
tons. representing both steam 9na hueet
railroad enterprises. In fact, there pave ,
been many Inquiries lE ;se past few days
md some contracts for moderate amounts
The great trouble with the steel rail-
business. Ike all other businesses, mas
been the tiuidi;y OF capital 70 MAKE IN IN
vestments. There are a great many good
enterprises which have been delayed
owing 20 this iimldlty. The hnti-eapitnlis-
fic action Of many OF the legislatures mas
Ind good deal TO do with this. But cApi-
TAI. j Am lNElANeLl 10 AAAAlAAt - ANkAAaia -
rs timidity. and with money BEGINNING
10 be released Cor Investment, general
business revival II sure thing.
Mr.. washburne states fnrther that she
inquiries in the market Just now foot up
many thousands OF tons of rails.
and that the enterprises represent a
good many proposed new systems. Il
have the opinion" he says that much
new business will be soon coming in,
which. OF course. win BE- apt to affect
prlces ultimately" The same testimony
Is given regarding the structural iron
trade. Increased business and better
prices mean increased employment to
labor and better wages.
In addition to this turn for the better in
the iron and e.eel trade. the general bus
inss outlook is more encouraging than IT
has been for months pasr. At the con-
vention Of the National Association Of
Credit Men In Kansas City a canvass of
the delegates developed that a steady
Improvement Is going on throughout the
country. Beside the fact that prices are
on a firmer basis the crop prospects con-
tlnue favorable, and the outlook for bet
ter prices for products Is excellent A
dispatch from Chicago quotes the Indus
trial World as saying that there Is de-
cided improvement in the Iron market.
the sales Of pig iron being larger during
the past week than In any week since
January. 1886.
These facts are not without signIh-
canoe. They show that the steady re-
covery from depression which has been
in pmgrcEs for several weeks past has
reached a point indicating a complete
revival. The business depression Of four
years could not be dissIpated in a few
weeks. OF necessity dissipation had 10
be slow and gradual. Ike fever that
had prostrated a patient for months.
Once started on the road to recovery,
careful nursing cuuld bring the patieD;
complete restoration. The nervousness
Of capital is gradually wearing away
and with the application OF the RENE
dies aud conservative treatment the
business world is on the road to better
times
IN connection with this subject, the
publication Of a number Of interviews
with Pittsburgh bankers and CONNER
clal men give an optimistic view OF the
local si.uation in that great iron and
steel centre, which Is not without Its
significance as affecting the general out
look. The concensus OF these opinions
IS that a generally healthy tone prevails
in commercial circles. and that It is Eel,
in all the channels Of trade. The vol
ume Of trade is rnpldly increasing and
the worst has been passed.
These business men, with those Of the
east and many in the west, think that
prosperity is gradually coming and that
the Improvement in business Is very
noticeable. They declare that the tide
has been turned for the better and a re-
sumption Of the activity enjoyed before
the long panic Is sure TO follow.
These statements by men who keep In
touch with the signs OF the times and
who are in a position to observe every
symptom. will not be received with Joy
by the professional croaker and demn'
Eogue politician who seeks to profit By
diversity and the agitation OF dIscon.
tent But the prosperity Is coming In
spite OF them. and, to quote a striking
remark Of the Pittsburgh Dispatch In
commenting on the situation they Will
awaken some morning to ind that the
Eo,,d times are here and that they have
missed q part Of their opportunities by
keeping up such a loud calamity wal
that they could not hear the hum oI
prosperity growing over the land"
Senator Kylcseesslxtyv otel In tho Sen'
ate for the ratification Of the Hawaiian
annexation treaty. with some doubtful
ones 10 draw on. n Senator Kyle s. r.,