The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1897-09-12

never betton Tho advance stages OF
prosperity arc already upon US and that
times will continue 10 steadily improve
IS really an assured fact
THE people with whom / have recent
lv come in contact, along the line OF the
Southern, as well as IN the east, from
which i have recently returned, feel bet
ter and talk better, and will not listen 10
any suggestion OF continuation OF the
FEELING OF depression, which has existed
for 40 long a time.
but 20 get down 10 the railroad situa-
ton" continued Mr. Thompson, Il have
been sitting up at nights trying TO think
where J could locate cars enough 10 nan
die our increased business.
"Tho increase IN the Southems bust
ness has been rapid since July lst' and
our earnings show an increase IN the
month OF July Of 80 per cent. in August
Of So per cent. over the corresponding
months OF last year. In exact figures the
road has earned $4,000 more from July
1st OF this year than I'm corresponding
period OF time last year.
''The Southern will need 1000 cars at
birmingham alone, 20 handle the pig
iron. between now and the end Of the
month, and extraordinary demands are
being made upon us 10 handle the large
crops of cotton. corn and wheat all along
the lines Of our system.
"'rho Southern people do not yet seem
TO fully appreciate that good times are
upon them. why I'm Virginia alone this
year. tho size and price Of the wheat
crop viii make a difference OF between six
and seven million dollars i'm our favor.
The same conditions are true in Tonnes
see and North Carolina and other South
Crn states.
"The cotton crop is a splendid one and
with the exception Of Mississippi the
corn crop IS large all over the South.
In Kentucky the wheat crop is the best
ever known, and the potato crop is not
only larger this year. but the raiser IS
now receiving $3.50 a bushel, instead Of
from 35 20 40 cents last year
IAN Of the cotton mills in the South
are running on full time. and the re-
mainder Of last years crop IS nearly used
up. ] know IF prominent mill man who
recently used his last bale OF cotton and
was I'm terror Of being unable 10 secure
new cotton TO keep his mill from closing
down. The coal mines are oil opening
up in Alabama and Tennessee. and there
is new life In every branch Of business I'm
the South"
As Mr.. Thompson says. the Southern
people do not seem 10 realize that good
times have come. They have heard so
much calamity preaching and have been
so often assured that # was impossible
for prosperity to come 20 this country
without the free coinage Of silver that
they can hardly believe the facts, and
many Of them do not yet believe but that
the increase in the price Of wheat and
other commodities and the improvement
generally in business are brought about
by some sort Of manipulation in Wall
street TO bolster up the gold standard
theory and think that a reaction must
inevitably set I'm after a while.
Mr.. Bryan and other free silver lead
ers are still insisting that nothing has
occurred TO change the opinion Of the
advocates of the double standard and in
slst that the salvation Of this country
depends upon the opening Of the minis TO
silver.
This too I'm spite Of the fact that
every thing is now prospecting except sill
vers cause.
But the people viii be convinced after
a while. The politicians want the silver
cause 10 prosper, but the people want the
country TO prosper, and when they fully
realize that prosperity has come, then
will free silver give up the ghost.