The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1897-09-09

How the Fort Is Losing Its Prestige
The Only Remedy-A Woman Embraces
buddhism Interest In the Mayoraity
Contest Grows Rapidly.
Special New York letter
The strength OF the market generally
is the chief topic of conversation in
business circles in this city. An ad-
vacing market must always have sea-
sons of reaction which is tracable to
the fact that those who are on the right
side stop buying and unload to take
their profits. When a large number
unite to recover the advances which
their purchases entitle them to, the
market, of course. breaks a few points.
But the very remarkable thing about
the present condition is that there
has been such a steady advance, and so
little hauling when the slight reactions
have taken place. This fact has con-
vinced all the operators that the gen.
eral tendency in prices must now be
TO advance, and those who govern
themselves accordingly will make no
mistakes.
The building trade in this city has
already felt the influence OF the ad-
vance in prices and the general quick
ening in business. Within a week or
two large number of plans of new
buildings have been filed, and IL this
continues at the present rate, there
will be genuine building boom. These
projected buildings are nearly all large
and expensive ones. Very few OF them
will cost less than 5000 900 a piece, and
several will reach up into the millions.
They consist of apartment houses, Of
flee buildings, stores and hotels. One
would suppose that the hotel demands
OF the city, at least for the present, had
been met by the large number of mag
nificent buildings that have recently
been erected in the upper part Of the
city. But the demand appears TO con-
tinue, and the number of people who
make hotels their homes is steadily on
the increase.
The second effort to attract buyers
TO the city, by securing lower rates on
the railroads for them. and showing
them little attention while they are
here. is bearing fruit. and the fall trade
In the wholesale districts has felt the
effects to a marked degree. This is en-
couraging, for it shows what the busi-
ness men of the metropolis can accom-
plish when they unite for the purpose.
The vital Importance Of this united
action is made apparent to the men
who look ahead with the interest of the
city at heart, for the reports of the
commerce of the port are by no means
encouraging. A few years ago one-half
OF the import and export trade OF the
Nation was done in New York A year
ago this had fallen to forty-two per
cent, and the reports this year show
that there has been further drop to
th.rty-seven per cent. This is a start
ling statement for the aggressive busi-
ness men of this city TO face, and it
clearly shows that If the city is to re-
tain the proud commercial standing
that 1t has so long enjoyed, immediate
steps must be taken. A loss Of one
eighth of the business of the country
Is enough to arouse the people to make
any effort that may be necessary to
prevent further loss, and If possible to
recover what has already gone. 1t has
before been pointed out in this CORES
pondence that the commercial supre-
macy of the city is threatened, and that
1t can only be maintained by the de-
velopment of we'll digested plans which