The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1897-09-17
TR ABE AND PROSPERITY

Bread Is giving the poorer classes
trouble beyond seas because OF its rise.
Flour, in consequence of the rise In
wheat, is $50 higher by the barrel in
the United States. That does not help the
laboring classes who count by the mil
lions, save only in perhaps a few in
stances where they rave some increase
in wages The south will not be BEN
Gifted, but injured by the advance I'm
wheat and -four, as but little wheat Is
raised beyond home consumption. In
fact, the south is q buyer Of -four. Cot
ton is not as high as 1t was q year
ago. The prosperity the southern zee
pie Of all parties and compilations are
looking for with profound anxiety is
in plenty Of work at higher wages and
better results. The bread-winners In
the south have not yet had even q
glimpse Of prosperity. so-called. Where
q Job is to be given out and ten men
apply for it, there Is no surer sign
than that as to the fact that there is no
prosperity" at hand. Reverse the rule,
IL you would see prosperous times. A
job waiting for every willing worker at
good wages-live and let live wages.
That is h ong people are longing to
sing in this southland.
Up to now the benefciaries of the
reported" prosperity in the north are
confined mainly to shut-up factories
that are opened and to the spectators
particularly and the western wheat
men. We are all here standing OF tip-toe
looking for the approaching prosperity
we read of in h newspapers. A bust
ness man last week said to us the pros
perity is chiefly in the newspapers. Two
others said to us that there was no
better trade than a year ago, or words
to that effect. In perhaps a half doz-
en- towns in this state there is some i'm
provement, but it is not much in most
places. People are credulous and hope
full, and are always willing to believe
and take courage. We must still hope
that the talked of wave of prosperity
that is rushing nightly through the
northern newspapers will, before Oc-
tober passes, sweep owe the entire
south.
The northern commercial and trade
journals all blow loud over the CON
tinuing advance. Business is better up
there, according to their reports. and
| steadily advancing. Wheat is still up,
and it ought to go much higher in
l xy;ox, - uo~1~4o eno-. NJ,
rope. It may go yet to $3.50. That will
prove very affective to at least 10, O00. :
| 900 Of American toilers and sweaters.
| Cotton is down to 7k cents, lower than
last September. Dun says that while
the yield promises to much exceed the
consumption, The Financial Chronicle
believes it cannot yet be safely pre-
dicted, as the crop is late. Northern
mills are consuming very largely, with
a continuing demand for goods which
has advanced the prices Of many"
There is danger in over-buying on the
part of merchants. In the last forty
years we have known this to be done
many times. Then comes the trouble.
Bills become due and the shelves are
crowded and customers are lacking.
Buy as you need is better than buying
all at once. The manufacturers are
happy under the robber tax when the
demand for their goods is heavy. There
is the chief prosperity at present.
There were 215 failures last week,
against the week before and 315 a year
oro That &C. q boo1thf,,1 ohoupipo Tho
south had Al, while the preceding week
it was but "a. But last yea it was 80.
It Is very easy to exaggerate conditions
either way. Let us hope.