The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-08-19

olimentcs nor pay the interest upon
heir mortgages. This years wheat
,rop will be marketed at an advance
Of from 33 to 10 per cent more than
hat of the past two years has been,
and this means that interest long due
will be paid, that farming impitments
will be renewed and that clothing and
shelter will be purchased In greater
quantities than they have been in
many years before. All this means in
turn that the producers of these pro-
iucts will feel the demand and In meet
ing it every artery OF the business
world will begin to pulsate with new
life and energy. The stock market in
New York; and London is a perfect
barometer of the Worlds business, and
his market had already sented the
sweet perfume Of prosperity, and is
preparing for It in earnest. The best
Informed believe that during the past
four months, more than 5000 900 OF
littherto idle money has found its way
.nto permanent investments In stocks
iealt in by the Stock Exchange in
New York. and that $50, 900, 900 more
floating in the same direction. This
conservative estimate and 1t does
1ot take account Of the millions that
have been invested in enterprises not
represented In Wall street, and to
which many OF the conservative busi-
less men look with most favor.
Already the influences OF these ac-
dvities have been felt in the starting
up of mills. factories and foundries
long Idle. and the increased orders re-
ceived by those which have been strug-
Cling along on short time. In the
woolen industries there is the most
marked Improvement, and the demand
is approaching the ability of the mills
to supply 1t, and many new spindles
are being contracted for. Iron and steel
Is also in excellent demand, especially
:Cr structural beams, and every week
sees the fires blazing IN new forges.
All these indisputable facts point to
ali early resumption Of the normal pur-
chasing power of the great masses OF
people the disbursement OF whose
wages make the great movement and
exchange OF money upon which busi-
ness feeds ITSELF fat.
OF course the first effects of this
quickenig of the channels of trade are
fornia Is some weeks in advance Of the
more northern states in the harvest
Ing OF its wheat crop, and this is be-
Ing shipped from San Francisco to
South American ports in enormous
quantities. Every available car, has
been pressed into service to transport
the wheat to the seaboard. and the
farmers reaping the substantial fruits
OF their toll are gladening their homes
by the purchase OF articles of comfort
and necessity for which they have long
waited.
The Eastern mechanic will pay 1T
tie more for sack of flour which he
takes to his home, but II he finds him
self engaged for the full hours of la
Dor at renumerative wages, this will
not concern him much. and the slight
advance which he pays amounts to all
the difference between prosperity and
adversely to thousands and thousands
OF people.
This review Of the industrial stu
alton. shows how intimately associated
are the real interests Of this great peo-
pie. and 1t shows also that all our pros
pertty must spring from and be de-
pendent upon the 10000, 900 and more
Of people who are engaged in, or in
timately associated with agricultural
pursuits. II this great body OF our
population Is reasonably prosperous,
the influence OF It Is felt in every ave-
nue. OF commence and manufactures,
and u they are struggling with short
crops and low prices. the blight Of
their depression percolates to every
village and hamlet In the realm.
The statesmanship which grasps the
truth OF these experiences through
which we have passed. and builds
broadly and inteHigently thereon, is
the craftsmanship which will find its
rewards and triumphs abundan aud
enduring.
Primarially then. we must find a
profitable market for our surplus farm
products. We can not consume them,
and If we did the country would not
grow In wealth as when we bring into
1t from foreign lands millions upon
millions of money far our crops, to be
immediately distributed among the
producers OF manufactured goods. But
we can not always rely upon abundant
harvests. nor upon a shortness of
'rops abroad, to raise prices to the pay
ng point. The opening up of Southern
Siberia, by the great rans-continental
railroad. will in five or ten years fur
nish transportation for the rich grain
haryests OF that marvellous country to
he centers Of European demand and
consumption, and put our Western
'armers In direct competition with the
richest grain fields OF the world
How Yankee indignity will meet and
overcome this competition is one of the
problems for the future to solve. We
ian transport from our Eastern sea-
board TO European centers for less
money than the SIBERIAN railroad must
demand for its operating expenses; but
we can not transport from our grain
ields. unless we utilize a waterway
from Deluth. But some one says, the
ship canal will solve the problem and
enable us to hold this commerce.
The spectacle of a $3,00O,00O ocean
ship slowly moving along canal, and
consuming months of time, Is not cal
sulated to ipsDire confidence in the