The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-07-03
BETTER TIMES.


E. Orr of the New York Chamber of Com
MERGE has recently taken trip through,
out the West. He went away uncertain
as to the business outlook. But he re-
turns, giving n glowing account of the
prospects for prosperity. In an interview
reported in the Times he says:
1.-The reports which we of the East have
recently heard regarding the improve
ment throughout the West both in senti-
ment and in actual business have received
comparatively little credence. do not
think that any Of us in New York who
have not actually seen the West as it is
today appreciate the full measure of bet
terment that has come to that part of the
country l travelled as far West as the
Yellowstone Park, passing through the
Northern and Northwestern States, and
throughout my trip west of Chicago l was
much surprised at the evidences of general
improvement that 1 found everywhere.
Despite the talk of Western dissatisfaction
with the National Administration, I
found marked confidence in the near
approach of good times among the West
ern people, 1 found them not only exper-
fencing better business, but decidedly
hopeful of the fnture.. sgd
First of all, let me say something
about the free silver sentiment, of which
we who are in the East, hear so much and
know so little. That there is a clamor
for free silver in the Western States can
not be denied. Everywhere you meet
with mon who are avowed silverites and
who announce that they will never be
satisfied until bimtetallism is firmly es-
tablished in the United States. But the
most noticeable thing about this free sill
yer sentiment is that it exists principally
among what might be called the idlers of
the community. The rabid silyerites are
the men whose occupation is decidedly
irregular who live on what they can pick
up, and who have no regular vocation or
channel into which they direct their ener-
gles. In the thriving communities where
the men are workers and where they have
secured what property and position they
own through their own labor you will
find the demand for silver small indeed.
A man who has farm and who occupies
his energies in conducting it, or, for that
matter, O man who has any particular
vocation the development of which occu-
pies his time and attention and labor is
not. usually free silver man. In other
words, the healthy citizen of normal
mind, as rule, is appreciative of the
real meaning Of the free silver scheme,
and If not actually opposed to it is by no
means one of its ardent advocates.
Besides this, the silverite of the West
is usuallyfalmost acknowledgements of the
currency question. He has blind faith
in free silver as the panacea of all the ills
from which he has been suffering, and he
has developed what might be called a
mania on that subject. In several cases
tried to engage some of the Western
men who were of the rank and file of the
silver party in arguments on the currency
question. In every case | found them
unable to talk intelligently on their sub
lect, believing in free silver blindIy and
without very much reason of any kind
They would not listen to the simple arith-
metical argument regarding the matter of
two silver dollars equalling one of gold.
They believe that one silver dollar can be
made equal to a gold one, but do not
know why they have that belief.
- found the crops in the West in a
most promising condition. There is every
prospect that the coming harvests will
mean wealth for the farmer and much
better times for all that agricultural sec
ton of the country. AS result of this
excellent crop outlook, the people have
come to feel. much better regarding the
future, and to have a confidence the exis-
tence of which l had not even suspected.
Business men told me that there is
already much improvement in their vari-
GUS lines OF trade; travelling men told me
that they are selling more goods than for
some time; manufacturers and whole
salers stated that collections throughout
the Western country are .far better than
they have been for months. In the Vest
ernfcities there is more activity than we
hnryr Inx ~f Il g.
ling activity, significant, not only of the
present, but of the future.
II was particularly impressed with the
volume ofitraffic on the lakes. Up in
that northern part of the country, if we
can judge by the amount of freight car
ried by barges and steamers, there is real
business improvement. / came through
the Sault Ste Marie Canal, and when
tell you that inkthe six months of the
year during which that canal is open the
volume of traffic through it is greater
than that of the Suez Canal, which is
open all the year, you can understand
just whatlthere is doing in that part of
the country. The shipments of iron ore
from the Mesaba region are enormous,
and was told that they have been vastly
increased within the past few months
Along Lake Superior you will at all times
see great steamers having in tow many
huge whaleback barges filled with iron
ore. There is in the lake region more
activity than 1 had any idea Of, and an
air of business progress which opened my
eyes considerably.
Discussing the general business 81 tua-
ton in the country 1 cannot tell you
how hopeful am of the future and how
confident feel that we have reached the
turning point and have started in on
what will eventually prove to bea won
derful period of business prosperity.
The great change that has come over
the whole outlook recently is simply an
indication that the years of depression are
over. The United States has in the past
accomplished great things, and has been
prosperous to an extraordinary degree
The United States will again see just such
times as those of the past; the growth of
its business will be just as wonderful
in the future as it ever has been, and the
height of its prosperity will be much
greater than ever before.
"My Western trip has made me enthusi
astic. This is a wonderful conntry-a
countrv with natural raco,1roec 11peopp la,l