Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-19
THE BUSINESS REVIVAL
Evidence Of Returning Prosperity Manifest
in Pennsylvania Cities.
Manufacturing Establishments Max
The Farmers Are Hopeful.
Special Correspondence of The Evening Star.


Having faith in the promises Of good
times to follow the new tariff. Philadelphia
business men have been active and prompt
in awaiting themselves of the opportunities
of getting a share of the profits. They
have made money by their foresight and
| energy. The old city is wide awake, and
as a result of special excursions from the
south and west, the wholesale establish
ments have been doing good business
and securing customers who have hereto
fore gone to Baltimore and New York.
Kensington. which is Philadelphia's chief
manufacturing suburb, is having her mills
reopened, and operatives and retail mer-
chants, whose prosperity depends on the
disbursements Of the mills and factories,
look more hopeful and cheerful than for
some time. Grass and weeds which have
fiourished in the yards of many of these
establishments will soon be destroyed by
the feet of busy men and boys.
do not mean to report that all the mills
and factories have resumed operations, or
TO intimate that prosperity is to take the
place OF adversely at one jump. but the
Improvement has begun, and is certain to
progress under prevailing conditions
Along the line of the Reading railroad
between Philadelphia and Harrisburg the
signs OF renewed activity are numerous
Pottstown, having about 1900 population,
ard situated forty miles from Philadelnhia
and a sufferer from the stagnation in the
iron trade, has begun to feel the impulse of
better times and the mills have received
orders which will necessitate the starting
OF the furnaces.
The Iron Workers.
The Reading iron works have started
up and, while not working their full force,
expect to have employment for all of their
men before winter. In addition to being a
prominent railroad center Reading has q
fv Of ind
which have been entirely shut down.
though most of them running small forces
Though city of only 10000 inhabitants.
its eighty odd industries employ a capital
OF S15V0.OOO. with product of over $2o-
0Oe000. Over s6,O0O.OOO is annually paid out
for labor when times are good. The work.
men of Reading have had a hard practical
lesson In economic problems from tariff
and free trade standpoints, and together
with the farmers of Berks county, who are
almost exclusively of German descent they
will hereafter be found solidly in line for
protection. So
Reading. by the way, is one of the
most beautifully located cities in this coun-
try. 1t Is on the banks of the Schuylkill,
with Neversink mountain to the south and
PENIS Mount on the east The river
makes a horseshoe bend here. and from
either of the mountains view of thirty
miles of valley, traversed by the beauti-
fui river, with its sinuous course can be
had.
Lebanon is another of the smaller cities
of Pennsylvania which is feeling the re-
newed pulsations in the arteries of trade
Its factories and shops turn out nuts and
bolts, steam engines, railroad cars and
farm implements: besides, other products
come from many smaller industries. They
are not all running full time but orders
are coming i'll and preparations being made
for work this fall and winter. The farm
ers around Lebanon appreciate the effect of
a nearby home market. They have come
through the hard times in good shape and
are able to hold their wheat until it goes
to dollar. as most of them believe 1t will
do before snow flies. The raising of fruit
and vegetables for Philadelphia markets
forms an important part of the farming in
dUstries of this section. -
Stone Qunrries, Also.
The stone quarrymen of Hummelstown
report business as better than it has been
for two years, indicating that building
operations are being pushed. Inquiry
among the building associations shows
that deposits and payments on loans are
being renewed by parties who had fallen
behind. The town and county. banks are
loosening their purse strings again. and
time loans can be had on good security at
3 per cent.
In short. there are many signs of a re-
turn TO better and more healthy condition
all along the line In this section of Pennsyl-
vania- This state was one of the first tn
feel the effects of Industrial depression.
and naturally 1t Is the first to revive under
the improved conditions. The improve
ment between now and year ago is ap-
parent even to the skeptic who Is unwill-
ing TO believe that the tariff has anything
the causes but all are glad to profit by the
results. ~