The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1897-07-30

ton in the United STATES tAAn Oh th7
same day one year ago. Seattle Is rejoic-
ing in change SIS great as that from
winter TO summer, bar it IS admittedly
due in part II an unexpected auxiliary TO
,hs normal activity. That factor was I'M
expected. but I; is the history OF Seattle
that just when It seems TO be needed
some new cause Of prosperity biazes out
upon the people. That this prosperity is
not merely local the treasury figures
show. One hundred and thirty-six million
dollars is an enormous amount OF money
70 add TO the circulation within ninety
days. for although the comparison is made
with July u las. year, intermediary re-
ports haze kept us informed CT the fact
that the increase is quite recent The
growth of the population does not exceed
per cent. e year, so that the circulation
is growing just about four times as fast
as the growth OF population. The high
est circulation per capita ever attained in
this country was s24.5o; last year the cir
culation per capita was lower than 1t had
been for very many years, and IN three
months has gone back 10 SO.
These facts should be compared with
the statements made during the last cam
paign by the Republicans and Popuiists
respectively. The Populists insisted that
there could not be prosperity without an
increase In the volume of money by the
free coinage of silver. and in proof of this
they pointed TO the fact that as silver had
IT,, had
publicans begged those who were in doubt
not to be misled by such false reasoning.
They insisted that IL was not so much the
number of dollars in existence which made
prosperity, as the activity with which
they circulated. They also insisted that
the cause of the decline In wheat was the
enormous production compared with
the demand. and that the price OF silver
had nothing whatever TO do with 1t. This
has been demonstrated with remarkable
rapidty and emphasis. Silver is declin-
ing still further In price. while wheat Is
going up owing TO causes with which
every farmer is familiar, and which he
never doubted governed the price OF wheat
untii he was led astray by the fallacious
argument OF the Bryanites.
Ii is amazing that Bryan, in face OF
the speeches he made and the prophecies
he made last year should have the eff
frontery to still so around facing the peo-
pie who read his speeches. remember his
predictions and witness their utter refu-
tation. Even down in Kansas, that cradle
Of calamity. and which the Bryanitss con-
WINGED into the belief that the SUCCESS OF
the Republican party meant condition
Of woe more appalling than any that had
previously visited the bleeding" state.
they ere basking in the sunshine of pros
perity. The Official reports show that the
banks Of the state haze two and a quar-
ter millions more money on hand now
than at this date last year in deposits
made by the people. The outstanding
loans OF the banks, says the offlcial com
missioner OF the state, are more than
sS2l GO less the reserve fund Is now - per
cent although the law requires the re
tcatlon ~ but - per cent. and for the
first time IN their history the bank de-
pozits exceed the loans This means of
course. thai the Kansas people have been
making money lately. paving of their
debts. and making living IN the mean
slime. Th!s Is very cad for Che hanks. be-
cause bank can only make money by
lending II IS good for the people be-
cause It shows they are getting out of
debt And the average man who keeps
out Of deht Is or TIE highway 10 pros
perity.
X we were not so much occupied with
the causes Of our own prosperity Ne
would Re Observing that tire crop promise
IS absorbing attention throughout the rest
~ the country. The speculative market
Is On indication Of she outlook, although
So would be unwtse 20 accept the 6geres
quoted on the exchange. rs they az
rather extravagsnt. The reports are %
uniformly favorable that there IS q dis
position Ia run 70 exaSgeration. Accord
iug 70 onr such authority the agricultural
yield - Iss- seems sure 70 break past
records" But that "a neither necessary
10 bring 1he prosperity nor likely 70 be
true. when there IL universal pleau-
fuluess chs prise falls: the hope Of tho
American fargae~ Hes IN tire unfortunate
fact that Il acre than in this country
gaere vii b@ e shortage, IL seems rea-
souatI> to ass01ne that even our own crop
Viii fAH short ~ the 81 80 0cA bushels
which made t>sl So notable a year. The
government S..y report makes osit an
Indicated crop - ONLY about e. ea3 so
bushels t5e 4Sss- Aod making al allow
anceS Tor improving conditions In the
spvlns wheat belt aa3 euserestirnates OF
'as Yield per sore IN the state q Wash.
iastcn--for that promises - Re phe-
rcr2eaal -tee immediate Indications po.at
Sc harvest e not mere than 40 sa0 &c
bushels Ig E1ust &c rca3es1b erei thai
prices are being governed BY sxpeca cations.
g great extent cf yieid. ana s. 5 vary
i;z3rar.ant q the farmer that she facts
sAat ao. - swollen By iaaatet reports. II
the eS,3clsie made BY ,ae government Ia
wrong tesn the whole sureaa Is worse
than useless. There - no reseo 70 Doubt.
however th4t the 6E1sres are eoTrect and
that prices VII b maintained. That be-
trs tire eGae the farmers % Eastern
" shsastam VIII be happy body 81 men
Tie sisures 50 10 eosa sss 70. quite 50