The Columbus journal., 1897-06-02
Cheering Reports from Every Section
of the Country.
Tie Testimony of the Press Is Unanimous in
Behalf of This Fact.
Democratic, Republican,, and Independent Pa.
pers Testify to Business improvement.
Even the Calamity Shrekers Are Compelled to Admit q
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 i'm the United
States. They will repay a careful cx-
animation. 1t will be see that the
editors. who have their hand on The
public pulse through their army "f 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
a. increased movement of merchandise
has been obtained for April by "Dun's
Review which has secured statements
from 800 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 and
s Some houses reported actual fig
ures and others only percentages. but the
groupings of both give very much the
same results. Assuming these replies to
be indicative of the business of the u
try. the volume Of sales last month was
only about 10 per cent less than in April.
lSJ2, q year of more than usual pros
perity, and q per cent greater than in the
same month of 1896. In estimating the
value Of this statement the decline in
nPiOoc INC 10 xo,- Non1
Sauerbeck's index figures show that the
decline has been a little under 10 per
cent; "Bradstreet's" index figures. con-
lined to this country. make it nearly IL
per cent. In certain lines it has been
much heavier: "Dun's" states the decline
IN iron at 33 per cent. woolens 80. wool
81. and cottons q per cent. If the VOL
nme of transactions has fallen off only
~ per cent. the actual amount of mer-
handled must nave been greater
than in 1S92.-JOurnal of Commerce
Dem.).
Improved Dem and in the West.
A general survey of the business situa-
fion for the past week affords ZOO
grounds for encouragement The water
Is leaving the Mississippi bottom lands.
and it will be possible. after all. to raise
crops there. There is an improved de-
for goods ut most of the great West |
ern distributing c~enters. in spite of the
unreasonable GOODNESS of the weather. !
There is a better call for iron and steel.
Out production is still ahead of cOnsump-
dOn.-BOston Journal Rep.).
Att- Sn D-:p-r-r EusuHsn- |
If the disposition of railroads to extend
mileage be an indication of a re-
turn to prosperity. and if the statements
made by the Railway Age. the generally
accepted authority in regard to railroad
matters. be at all accurate. this desidera-
may already he distinctly discerned
on the country's horizon.
The Age. in a recent issue. gives in tab
ulated form statistics of new mileage
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
building all over the country.
total thus given reaches the startling
hgure of 1850 miles of new track as the
record for the present year.
Memphis Scimitar Dem.).
6Ood Crop Prospects aud Good Prices.
The prospect is highly encouraging to
he Northwest. OF course. the crop is not
yet harvested. and will be subject to the
Usual contingencies which sometimes blast
he hopes of the husbandman: but the
remains that a crop we'll started. with
soil and climatic conditions. al
most invariably turns out well. The
this year faces the pleasing
probability of a good crop and good prices:
or il is hardly possible that even a phe-
yield of spring wheat in this
can force prices down to the old
ow plane. with available supplies so near
= exhausted and the probability of a less
han average crop in the rest of the
Uorld.-Minneapolis Tribune Rep.).
Farmers Feeling the Improvement.
In all of the different classes of indus
~ in the United States. then. the person
vho has the stick-to-it-iveness to hang
till a change for the better comes is
ure to be the one to first regain his lost
This change has set in and as
/ develops the farmer who has not closed
ut his business will he the beneficiary
# the improvement in the financial and
cOndition.-Albany Journal.
BETTER Times at Leaat in Sight.
The report made by II. G. Dun 4 Co.'S =
rade review. showing an activity in le-
business transactions during the .
'ast month. little short of that during ,
April. 1892. the year of the largest bust
less. emphasizes the cheerfulness OF the
business outlook and points to the
that the good times which have
'een predicted through many weary
of waiting are at least in sight,
Memphis Scimitar Dem.). J
Frightening on the Pacific Coast,
In spite of the occasional sheer of Pom
cratic philosophers that the dawn of ,
prosperity is being strangely delayed. il ,
annot be denied that the trade situation ,
Frightening and that business is better
han in 1896. The exports of produce
rom the United States thus far this year
how an increase of S14i.6s0.0OO over the :
anne period in 1896. which is a gain g.,
lfCe enough to satisfy the most exactinx 1