davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Railroad Men Were Wise.

The railroad employees Of the country
are not regretting their labors and votes
of last year in favor of Mckinley, sound
money and protection. The gross earn
ings of the year just ended for the rail
roads of the country are $75,0O0,0O0
greater than IN the year preceding, and
the number of people employed has large
ly increased, with higher scale of wages
in many cases. Railroad shops have start
ed up all over the country on full and
overtime, giving employment to thousands
Of old hands who had been thrown out Of
employment by the previous depression,
and the difference generally between con-
ditions in railroad circles now and year
ago shows remarkable change.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
A w Use Action

The Presidents action in the appoint-
ment of special reciprocity commissioner
to arrange our reciprocal trade relations
with the countries entering into our recin.
roclty agreements is spoken Of with gem
eral satisfaction. Under President Har-
rison's administration these matters wera
attended to through the State Dena IF.
ment, whose tedious routine methods occa-
stoned considerable delay, but the snb-
ject was In experiment at that time Will
under the last administration the room
rocity treaties were all abrogated. LEADING
to retallatory measures on the mart of
Spain, France, Germany and South Amer.
lean republics.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Continues to Sweep Over the
Land, Placing Prosperity
on a Solid Basis.
Various Sections Vie with One Another in
ProcIaiming the Return of
Good Times.

fall of 3U9, 0S9 tons. The amount of iron
made now and during three months past
is very closely equal to the amount in
1895; but the amount actually consumed
is considerably greater.
This goes to the root Of prosperity be-
cause the consumption of iron is the best
possible measure Of the activity Of rail
roads, both in maintenance and in new
construction, Of house blu lding and of new
manufacturing plants. This increased ac-
tivity also was chiefly in the past month
From July 1 to Sept. 1 stocks only fell
1862 tons. In September pig iron
stocks fell 1883 tons. Taking pro-
duction and stocks together, in July and
August, about 172, 100 tons were consum-
ed each week; in September 226,200 tons
weekly. Here is an increase Of $500
tons in the weekly consumption Of iron
in September over the average of July
and August, an increase of 81 per cent.
Such an advance in the consumption of
iron indicates very large advance in the
disbursement of wages, because the
amount spent on any enterprise for iron is
very small share of the total expended
for wages in the same enterprise.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Louisiana Business improved.

The Shreveport jobbers and wholesalers
unite in saying that the business season Is
opening nicely and promises to be unusually
active. They are in a position to know, and
we hope and suspect they are correct in this
conclusion Confidence is gradually increas-
ing in all departments of trade and 1t really
seems probable that the long expected era
of prosperity is about to dawn upon our fair
and fertile Southland. 1t is trusted that the
expectation may meet full realization
Shreveport Qa.) Times.
We are glad to learn Of this business i'm
provement, and trust that it extends
throughout Louisiana. The answering
efforts Of United States Senator McEn-
cry to secure protection for, and to pro-
mote the interests of, his State are
promptly bearing good fruit. Whenever
the sugar industry Of Louisiana is pros
porous, then all its wholesale and retail
interests must be in the same happy condi-
ton.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
What Com ptroi1er EckeIs Saws,

The statement Of Comptroller Ecke,s of
the United States treasury in regard to
the business Improvement throughout the
country is very encouraging He states
that 1.-The improvement has come rapidly
and permeates all lines Of industry. 1t
began with the agricultural class. The
farmers have large crops and are getting
good prices for them. The cattle raisers
are benefited by substantial rise in the
price of cattle. The same is true with the
sheep raisers. This improvement in agri-
cultural earnings has had its effect on the
railroads by increasing their earnings. 1t
has put money into circulation and en-
abled people to pay off their debts, and
has thereby benefited the merchants"
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Kansas Is Prosperous.

A correspondent in Wichita tells Of re-
markable revival thus: Ho~ a miracle
been wrought beside the Kansas Nile?
Is this a case of the dead brought to life?
Truly prosperity has breath into the
nostrils of Wichita. The fever of boom
ing ragged here in its most malignant FORM
1t was followed by trance-ike state of
such continuance that some mistook it for
death. But an awakening has come The
flush of returning health is plainly visible
The pulse is beating strong. In the banks
OF Wichita are more deposits to-day than
at any previous time since the boom was
at its height nearly ten years ago. They
are exactly double what they were one
year ago.
On one of the principal corners stands
bank which has been organized a year,
with $4,000 capital. 1t has in deposits
to-day $2oO,OOO, just ten times its capital
stock. Six hundred loans came due this
year in Sedgwick County, of which Wi
chita is the seat, and $50 of them have
been paid off. Money is going begging.
Block, the millionaire capitalist, has been
trying for thee weeks to place $4,000
where it will earn something and still
has it. Travelling men for Wichita job
bers, whose sales year ago averaged S.
OOO week ale now turning in orders for
$4,000 week. A new mill grinding 300
barrels Of -four day has just started.
In the directors room Of one of the
banks eight or ten of the substantial men
of Wichita were gathered to make prepar-
atoms for the Kansas bankers conven-
ton, to be held here. One of them talked
and the others acqu;esced in this view Of
the changed conditiCy,: "We are infinite
ly better off than we were last year. We
have doubled our deposits and are carry
Ing stronger reserves than ever before.
We have on an average 60 pc. cent in
cash in our vaults. Our jobbers are doing
double the business they did last year.
There isn't one Of them that can keep I'D
with his orders. We have five wholesale
grocers, two wholesale drug houses, two
jobbers in dry goods and the same num-
Der in boots and shoes. Ten or fifteen
more jobbers could come here and do well
The country banks all around us are in
fine condition with larger deposits than
they ever had. The live stock interests
In this vicinity are larger than they ever
were. The reports show that we have
$4,000 hogs in this county Of Sedgwick.
In Sumner, the next county, the wheat
crop this year was 100000 bushels, more
than was raised in any other county of
the State. More people are buying homes
in Wichita than at any time since the
boom period. The books of leading real
estate firm show more transactions in six
weeks past than in six years preceding.
We think good times have come to Wi
chita to stay" And these are but a few
Instances of Wichita's prosperity.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Trade, Price and Iron.

All other facts and conditions in the
business situation are of small conse-
Quence by the side Of the sudden and
rapid increase in September in the con-
sumption of iron. The production of pig
iron is no greater-in fact, it is a little
less-than two years ago. The weekly
production, Oct. 1, 1895, was POI, Ala tons
c'Iron Age" fgures), and on the first of
the current month the total product.
weekly, was POOL tons. This makes
the product practically equal now and
two years ago. The consumption has,
however, greatly increased. In 1895,
when the product rose 10000 tons in three
months. from July to Oct 1, against
$4,000 tons now, the unsold stocks stead
lily grew. This year the unsoId stocks
have fallen in three months from 1,0OO,-
e12 tons July ! to e91. 527 tons Oct. /. a
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19

son why the British manufacturers should
not do equally well, and says that 1.-THE
American machinery is inferior to that Of
British make, and cheaper, but it sells
well, and that is the principal thing" If
few English firms were to subscribe to-
gether and send out man to visit the
Islands of Principe and S. Thome, and
then Loanda, Benguella and Mossam-
medes, so that they might get an insight
into what class of machinery is required
in those parts, their money would not, the
vice-consul stated, be badly spent, and
they would learn a great deal. They
would probably learn something about the
superiority of the American machinery.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
American Bluntness.

1t is Secretary Sherman's blunt way
that is displeasing to Englishmen, and
it certainly does not place Salisbury in
the most favorable light. The American
people will not think any the less of Sec
rotary Sherman for the opinions regard
ing him of the English press. He may be
wanting in the useless arts and wiles of
diplomacy, but he knows how to state
facts so that everybody can understand
them and he has shown himself to be a
match in controversy for Salisbury or any
other British diplomat-Omaha Bee.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Far from Discouraoins.

The free trade organs are fond of compar-
ing the tariff receipts of the first sixty days
of the Dingley law with the first sixty days
Of the Wilson law-well knowing that spe-
cial conditions operated in favor of the VIII
Dingley law was pending. -Doyestown Pa.)
Inteligencer.
Allowing for the disadvantages under
which the Dingiey bill suffered, during
the first sixty days of its enactment, a
comparison of its results with those of
the Wilson bill during its first two months
incubation, is far from discouraging to the
friends Iof protection. 1t will be found
elsewhere
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
A Sure Barometer,

The monthly statement of the postal re-
ceipts of the principal cities Of the coun-
try, which has just been made public, is
of great significance as AN indication of
the condition of general business. A
handsome increase in the income of the
postofiices Of the leading cities was made
IN September, as compared with the same
month in 1896. In only a few places of
oO,OOO inhabitants or over was there anv
falling off in the month. One Of these
was New Orleans, where the decline was
probably due to the yellow fever, which
has seriously depressed business in that
town and throughout large part of the
region bordering on the Gulf of Mexico.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
They Acknowledge the Corn

The silverites have at last weakened in
the face of the rapid depreciation in the
value of their metal. 1t was a matter of
surprise that they should have shouted
silver as long as they did, in view of its
steady depreciation, but they We're doubt
less in hope that something-wheat or
something else-would carry it up again
to its price Of last year. Instead of this,
it has gone down like chunk of lead, lit
orally, and finally stands at such a ridcu-
lousy low figure that they have been fore
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Have Money to Spend.

Profits and wages being good in the States
may cause such demand all round that the
British trades will feel something of it in
spite of the tariff.-Bradford (England) OBJ
server.
We think So This was the result dur
ing our prosperity under Mckinley pro-
lection. When money is abundant here,
our people always buy freely of British
luxuries. 1t is from such purchases as
these that we add largely to our customs
revenue under a protective tariff.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19

for county fairs through the country. Mr..
Bryan 'lectured" at the Wichita, Kan,
county fair the other day, under an agree
ment to receive one-half of the gate re-
ceipts. This was paid him, amounting to
2,40O, but it was then discovered that ne
had been swindled by the management,
which had made extra charge for grand
stand tickets and for selling beer, the pro-
ceeds of which were not divided with Mr..
Rry9D
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
They Are disappointed.

The Democratic orators who were ex-
pecting to make mince meat of the feature
of the Dingley law relating to expectation
of American manufactures have lapsed
into singular silence. Nor are they max
ing comparisons of the expectations un-
der the new law and those of year ago
under the Wilson law. For their exclu-
sive information, attention is directed to
the fact that these expectations aggre-
gated during the second month Of the
Dingley law sos, 800, 900 as against $685.
$4,000 in the corresponding month Of
last rear.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
American Machin ory i'm Africa.

The British vice-consul at Loanda states
that up to the present no British firm has
sent out a representative to Angola.
There is a fair demand for cane-crushing
mills, steam engines and turbines. A
representative Of an American firm is out
for the third time within four years, and
has done good business. He sees no rea-
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
A Rebuke to Demagogues.

To the demagogues and agitators who
are assailing the corner stone of Ameri-
can government, the judiciary, the ex-
ample of Justice Field comes as speak
ing rebuke. Field entered upon his duties
just before the most trying time in Amer
lean history, the period of reconstruction.
During his long career on the Supreme
bench he won the respect even of his
btterest political opponents. He was
ever true to his convictions.-Cincinn
Times-Star.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Sectionalisn

The spreading of protectionist sentiment
in the South, the impartial and wholly na :
tional spirit which has determined tha
provisions Of the Dingley law, and the
wise and statesmanlike utterances Of
President Mckinley have gone far to de-
stroy the remnants of that sectionalism
which, forty years ago, threatened to de-
stroy the Union. There are enemies of
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Good for the Dineley Law.

Senator Jones of Arkansas called atten-
tion-in speech in the Senate-to the
remarkable record of the Wilson law as
relating to the expectation Of American
And yet the expectations
of this class under the second month Of
the operations of the Dingley law were
% per cent in excess of those of the CORE
spending month of the Wilson law Of last
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Banks Attest Revival

st. Louis bank clearances in the week
just ended, which were, in round figures.
$oo,OOO,OOO, were up near the highest line
ever reached. The increase over the same
week in 1896 was 2S.2 per cent. Proba-
bly, if the yellow fever scare in Texas and
along the gulf coast were ended, st. Louis
c!earings these days would be breaking
all records. Part of the territory thus
anected is, in a business way, tributary
to st. Louis.-St. Louis Globe-Democrat
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
THE record of mercantile and

/" HE record of mercantile and
manufacturing activity continues
- to verify the predictions Of those
trade Optimists who have been contend
ing all along that the upward move
ment Is not spasmOdic or speculative
but actually rests on a basis of growing
demand which is destined to be perma-
nent. 1t is now over three months since
the new tariff law was approved by the
President. While the most ultra-pro-
tcetionists will not contend that the
new law could have such a marvellous
effect upon trade conditions in so short
a time, no careful observer will deny
that the revival Of business confidence
has been steady and continuous since
its enactment. 1t is an Illustration of
what a settled economic policy on the
part of the Government will do for the
business interests Of the country.
The significant features of the phe-
nomenal trade Improvement are the
heavy increase in iron production and
consumption, the largest payments
through clearings ever known in Octo-
Der, the increase in the employment Of
labor and the record breaker In wheat
exports. At every point where actual
production can be tested it appears
greater than before, The increase in
the employment Of labor has continued
and there are daily reports of resump-
ton of work in idle factories and sharp
advances in wages.
The September exports of wheat sur
pass all records, amounting to 25,S6S,
1873 bushels, against 17,646,S15 bushels
last year, the value being over 100 per
cent larger for all breadstuffs. For the
week just closed the total exports of
wheat from both coasts of the United
States aggregated 6,O39,720 bushels,
against 1885, bushels last week, f.
156,S17 bushels year ago and 100000
bushels in 1895.
With such a fayora BILE showing in
all departments of business activity
the pessimistic calamity wailAr hasn't
a leg left to. stand Oh.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Nebraska's Best Hone.

Mr.. Bryan's remarks in private letter
of admonitiou to his friends in Nebraska
that the Republicans are working night
and day to carry the State. No doubt
this is true, and it will be great good luck
for Nebraska if the Republicans succeed
in their object.-St. Louis Globe-Demo-
crat
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
More of It.

The Financial Chronicle notes many
proofs Of improving business. Bank clear
ings in August were SO per cent better
than in August, 1896, and September
clearings are 80 per cent better The
September clearings, in fact, are the larg-
est in our history. Failures were but
1,O12, with liabilities of $10,309, O33,
against 1,514 failures, with $29,774,917
of liabilities in the same month last year
Railroad earnings were 1875 per cent bet
ter on eighty-four roads than on the same
roads in the same month Of 1896 These
are cheering signs of a general growth in
business and returning prosperity. If we
could only quiet our jingoes and give prac-
teal interests a chance Il bright future
might be anticipated.-Ba Sun
Oem.)
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
won,t Acknowledge the Corn.

Already the law Dingley) Is INDICATED so
far as its effect upon the Industries of the
country is concerned. It will be justified In
due time as a revenue measure.-Omaha
(Neb.) Bee.
True. But the free traders win never
be honest enough to acknowledge It.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Sneak Up. MFR. BRYAN.

Mr.. Bryan was heard to say some
months ago that he would be glad if the
Mckinley administration could bring
prosperity to the country. That was very
patriotic, but has anybody beard his ex-
pressions ct Satisfa ction since It has comet
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19

ed out of self-respect to quit bowling for
free coinage, and are now kicking around
the political junk heap for some other
worn-out kettle which they can patch up
and hang over the DOlitical fire
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
Hardly Possible.

The country wants a rest from tariff agita-
ton and tariff tinkering. and besides there
is no reason to suppose that the present Con-
gress would pass any better tariff law
Lynchburg (Va.) News.
We doubt whether any Congress could
pass better tariff law.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION.

u Of he p hrs # hhgnnD c, nd hf@bl b w dp
y
for incl k l frs
d h$ t m d from h n Congress
OF h of
mos
Theonera nwash Ma d lis On Jan
the pamny y by fire from however pr
al dhepf
mtsonanI h hp@hoyo % ccnno
OF nd O. foreign nj i @ an
nhhyGo ~
thhnd proportions it d bghm change pub
This ytem which nery16 m dphnn
the fnd WILL WI h O.
The oman Library rlyeasag otd to h o. Congress- IN d forms
the National SdceIi Library. %
ledge" second nocav Ml n t a Report The
edd j
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
DlScouRAGlNG TO BRYAN,1es
money Circulation Increases a Hun.
dred Million in a Year


Mr.. Bryan and his free silver co,ahorars
"oulo IKE to blot out the newspaper rec
ords of their speeches year ago. It was
Just TINS time in the campaign of 1896
tnat they were asserting that the country
was SUFFERING from lack of currency, and
could only be supplied by the free and un-
limited coinage Of silver. The people
OF tne country did not agree with them.
ana free and unlimited coinage has not
peen put into operation. Yet the October
statement of the Treasury Department
SHOWS that the money in circulation to-
DAY IS, IN round numbers, $1O,OOO,OOO in
excess OF that one year ago. Curiously,
more than one-half of this increase is in
gold. The following table, issued by the
treasury Department on Oct. 1, shows
the money in circulation Oct. 1, 1897. COM
pared with Oct l, 1896:
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19
A Pitiable Spectacle.

The American people must be proud of
the record the defeated candidate of the
Popocratlc party Of last year is achiev-
ing in making of himself a drawing card
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19

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The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19

| Kererence. Enci0se OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES HET6uR NJ
velope. The National, Star Building, Chicago.
The Mason County journal. [volume] (Shelton, W.T.) 1886-1927, 1897-11-19

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