Western Kansas world. [volume] (WaKeeney, Kan.) 1885-current, 1897-06-12
The Testimony of the Press Is Unanimous in
Behalf of This Fact.
Democratic, Republican,, and Independent Pa
pers Testify to Business Improvement.
Even the Calamity Shriekers Compelled to Admit
Better Condition.

The following statements, gathered
from recent issues of daily and weekly
papers in all parts of the country, and
representing all political parties, relate
TO the business condition in the United
States They will repay a careful ex-
animation 1t will be seen that the
editors, who have their hand on the
public pulse through their army of re-
porters, news gatherers and financial
students, are unanimous, irrespective
OF politics, in the statement that bust
ness has improved and is improving.
Sales Better than in 1892.
Very much more conclusive evidence of
an increased movement of merchands
has been obtained for April by ''Dun's
Review" which has secured statements
from 357 business houses representing all
parts of the country east of the Rocky
Mountains, and all lines of trade, cover
ing their sales in April, 1897, 1896 anG
1892. Some houses reported actual fig
ures and others only percentages, but tn,
groupings of both give very much the
same results. Assuming these replies to
be Indicative of the business of the coun-
try, the volume of sales last month was
only about 10 per cent less than In April
1892, a year of more than usual pros
perity, and per cent greater than in the
oeAAAc AloAlA Oh 1ooO- In estimating the
value of this statement the decline in
prices must be considered. Since 1892
Sauerbeck's index figures show that the
decline las been a little under 10 per
cent; Bradstreets" index figures con-
nned to this country, make it nearly ID
per cent. In certain lines it has been
much heavier; "Dun's" states the decline
IN iron at 81 per cent, woolens 80, wool
81, and cottons 81 per cent. If the vol
ume of transactions has fallen off only
~ per cent, the actual amount of mer-
chandise handled must have been greater
than in 1S92.-Journal of Commerce
(Dem).
Improved Dema and in the West
A general survey of the business situa-
ton for the past week affords good
grounds for encouragement The water
is leaving the Mississippi bottom lands
and 1t will be possible, after all, to raise
crops there There is an improved de-
nand for goods at most of the great West
ern distributing centers, in spite of the
unreasonable GOODNESS of the weather
There is a better call for iron and steel,
but production is still ahead of consump
ton.-Boston Journal (Rep).
Great Activity in Railway Building.
If the disposition of railroads to extend
their mileage be an indication of a re-
turn to prosperity, and If the statements
accepted authority in regard to railroad
matters, be at all accurate, this desidera
tum may already be distinctly discerned
on the country's horizon.
The Age, in a recent issue, gives in tab
ulated form statistics of new mileage
either already in process of construction,
or expected to be constructed during the
year 1897. The grand total represented
In this table suggests a genuine boom in
railroad building all over the country.
The total thus given reaches the startling
figure of 1900 miles of new track as the
probable record for the present year
Memphis Scimitar Oem.).
Good Crop Prospects and Good Prices.
The prospect is highly encouraging to
the Northwest OF course, the crop is not
vet harvested, and will be subject to the
usual contingencies which sometimes blast
the hopes of the husbandman; but the
fact remains that crop well started, with
favorable soil and climatic conditions, al
most invariably turns out well. The
Northwest this year faces the pleasing
probability of a good crop and good prices;
for it is hardly possible that even a phe-
nomenal yield of spring wheat in this
section can force prices down to the old
low plane, with available supplies so near
~ exhausted and the probability of less
than average crop in the rest of the
world.-Minneapolis Tribune Rep).
Farmers Feeling the Improvement.
In all of the different classes of indus
try in the United States, then, the person
who has the stick-to-it-iveness to hang
on till a change for the better comes is
sure to be the one to first regain his lost
resources This change has set in and as
It develops the farmer who has not closed
out his business will be the beneficiary
of the improvement in the financial and
industrial coEdition.-Albany Journal
The report made by r. G. Dun s. Co.'s
trade review, showing activity in le-
Ultimate business transactions during the
past month, little short of that during
April, 1892, the year of the largest bust
ness, emphasizes the cheerfulness of the
present business outlook and points to the
conclusion that the good times which have
been predicted through many weary
months of waiting are at least in sight
Memphis Scimitar Oem.).
Frightening on the Pacific Coast.
In spite of the occa sional sheer of Pom
ocratic philosophers that the dawn of
prosperity is being strangely delayed, it
cannot be denied that the trade situation
IS Frightening and that business is better
than in 1896. The exports of produce
from the United States thus far this wear