The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1897-03-28
THE OUTLOOK FOR BUSINESS.
Quietly Shaping Itself for
General Improvement.

United States Investor.
The best feature of the business situation
to-day is that nobody is trying TO boom
things In fact, parties who have been
holding on TO commodities for months in
anticipation of higher prices have recently
been letting them go, although the outlook
for firmer quotations has perhaps not been
brighter for a very long time than II Is at
the present moment. 1t can scarcely, be
doubted that a new tariff measure Will be
enacted. In consequence, or IN anuclpa-
ton, of such an event, higher prices might
modities, for a time at least. The fact that
a large number of persons who nave been
taking this view of the situation are now
disposed to let their goods go at the cur
rent market quotations Is an indication
that the speculative r = has been in con-
siderable measure allaySG.
We do not know when a more conserva-
tive spirit has governed the business com,
munity. The cause is probably to be found
in the fact that the experience of the last
few years has taught merchants and man
ufacturers that there's many a slip betwlxt
the cup and the lip. So many projects re-
garding whose soundness theoretically
there could be no question have come to
grief that the most astute or our business
men are modest in their plans Tor the
future. 1t is from such a state or affairs
as this that industrial activity is most likely
TO spring. Good times are almost certain
Nature looks after such matters, and the
most that man can do is TO throw no OBJ
Stacles in her way. Human attempts TO
make business active almost invariably re-
suit in producing the opposite OF the de-
sired end.
For some weeks past we have been of
the opinion that affairs were quietly shap-
ing themselves for a more active business.
One factor after another OF mans making
has interviewed since 1898 to keep the coun-
try from getting on its feet again. To-day
there is a noteworthy willingness to let
things take their course. This may spring
more or less from despair. or it may find
it's origin in a growing wisdom on the part
of the people of the United States. From
whatever cause, the result is certain 10 be
imnrnVRm0Qt in business. The improve
ment will probably not come to all classes
at an equal pace. We have a noteworthy
instance of this fact in the wooden manu-
featuring industry. a few large manufac-
turers with abundant means nave r~ecently
bought at abnormally low prices enough
wool 10 last them six months or a year,
they being practically the only buyers in
the market. The result is likely to be that
when the other people come in to buy
prices will be higher. The big mills. hav-
ing the cheapest raw material, Will be in
q position to make the lowest prices and TO
obtain an abnormally large percentage of
the orders for the finished product.
However. the Improvement in the condi
ton of one class is bound to be followed
season, in many lines of goods, is a poor
one. but we shall be somewhat surprised
if the continued abstention from buying on.
the part of the people generally does not
come TO an end in the not remote future.
The working off of old stocks has been
going on SO long that il is not hazarding
too much TO say that the present dull sea-
cry. This. of course, is uttered with. the
prOViso that Congress conductS itself with
a modicum of good sense and refrains from
utterances calculated to destroy confidence.