The Breckenridge news. (Cloverport, Ky.) 1876-1955, 1897-06-09
Is Taken BY Walter WsIIman, Our
Washinton Correspondent,
ON THE BUSINESS FUTURE.
Farmers Are RepIenIshing Their
Exhausted WardrObss and Ten
ants Paying Rent for the
FIRST TIME IN THREE YEARS.

WASHINGTON, June S.-[Special. THAT
the times are getting better in most parts
Of the country, that at last business is i'm.
proving slowly but surely and the people are
regaining little of their former cheerful
ness, is the testimony Of most of the sena-
tors and representatives with whom have
talked on this subject. 1t must be remem-
bered that our members of congress come
from all parts of the country, that they
are In close touch with their constituents,
and that 1t is only natural they should be
able to feel the public pulse quite as
quickly and accurately as any one. The
representatives from the southern states
are perhaps the most encouraged. Almost
without exception they speak of better
conditions now prevailing among their
people While the price of cotton has not
been high, 1t is a little better than it was
OF one time few years ago. The most
tnportant thing is that in many parts Of
the south the planters have learned to d.
versify their crops little, and they have
particularly learned to exercise greater
economy in their operations. They find
they can make as much money with cot
ton at cents as they used to make at 10
or IL. The only difference Is that they
things, manage more judiciously.
Years ago the cotton planter, for in
stance, never thought Of raising corn upon
to which to feed his mules, or vegetables
his family and help. As rule he
bought all such things from the north, or
from other parts Of the country, and con-
fined his attention solely to cotton. Now
he looks to it that his corn and vegetables
are raised on his own place, and also that
the pigs produce bacon at home and the
hens eggs and poultry. In many such
ways farming has undergone quite revO-
luton in the cotton belt, and the result is
that the south is returning to prosperous
days.
Hard Time Lessons.
The times have been very hard in the
western states. There the recovery is pref
ty slow, but IL is coming. A senator who
has just returned from a journey out
through the Mississippi valley and the
prairie states farther west tells me the
people are beginning to feel little better.
They have had such hard conditions to
face that any change seems to them one
for the better The hard times have taught
several lessons. Chief among these is that
debts never make a man we'll to do.
Another thing the hard times have done
Is to put stop to the wild and reckless
speculation in town lots and other real
estate that has been going ON in the west
for several years. Almost every man OF
business In the western country was caught
In one or another of the various promising
town site speculations. Money was TO be
made hand over fist. Values were to
double In few years. The boom was on,
and merchants and professional men and
thrifty farmers were attracted by the won
derful possibilities. They put In their cap
ital or their savings, and the only lucky
ones among them have been those who
got out while the booms were still on.
Men who have Travelled through the west
say that all the speculative fever has been
taken out of the people. Probably IL VIII
DO good many years before the disease
returns TO plague them
Signs OF Prosperity.
am told that the farmers OF the CONN.,
trv who stoned buyine things they could
a. ,v,thout az soon as the hard times strucl,
the country are now beginning 60 stock
nm Thav shnt down b1ying clothing as
much as possible. and boots and shoes, and
harnesses. and wagons. and books, and
wall naner. and uaint for their houses and
barns They wore out their old things,
or neooed along with the old vehicles.
tools Will naper machinery. etc. Those
Who had money stopped buying because
thew were too thrifty TO spend more than
their income. Those who were without
money stopped because their credit had
run out. Now they have reached the turn
of the tide They are ready to replenish
their stocks. They arc feeling a little
moro hopeful for the future. The small
merchants are the first to note the signs OF
moro active trade. Soon 10 will be felt
among the jobbers and wholesalers. Then
1t reaches the manufacturers, more people
are put to work, and prosperity shows ao-
tual signs Of returning.
In some Of the states of the west, am
told, the landlords of hotels in many smart
oitles are just beginning to pay rent, for
the first time in three years All through
the hard times the owners Of the buildings
have given their property rent free rather
than have the hotels closed. A man who
knows whereof he speaks tells me he Is
able TO name dozen we'll known hotels In
western cities which have not paid dol
lar Of rent since 1894. Many others have
paid only nominal sums. The proprietors
knew that II the houses were closed their