The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1897-10-07
THE INTELLIGENCER,
Causes Of Prosprrity.

The Democratic theorists are fond OF
asserting that the present improvement
in business is wholly due to the shortage
Of crops in Europe and the abundance of
the crops in this country. While this
has something to do with the improve
ment, the conviction is being forced each
day upon these gentlemen that their
sweeping assertion is not based on facts.
Events that are taking place are prov
Ing that, while the greater demand for
American wheat Is contributing its
share TO prosperity, revival would have
come even In the absence of the crop
failures abroad, The fact exists, in spite
OF all the free traders and free silverites
may say to the contrary, that all indus
tries are sharing in the revival The
Philadelphia Press, In an article call
ing attention to this tndisputable truth.
says:
The exports OF breadstuffs for the year
ending June 30, 1896, were In value S26,-
100000 greater than for the preceding
year, while other exports Increased SO
that the balance OF trade in favor OF the
United States was $2S7. 613,1S6, the great
est In the history of the country, exceed
Ing by $S5 100000 the favorable balance
of 1882, the record year OF prosperity.
But was there any business revival In
1866 such as there Is to-day? No one
with any regard for the truth will so so.
That large Increase In exports under
the Cleveland administration, exceeding
by S21, 100000 the total OF the record
year of 1892 did not bring prosperity,
because under the Democratic tariff
much OF the business had TO he done
either without profit or at loss. As q
matter of fact. the aggregate exports OF
wheat, corn and oats, so far as returns
have been received, are less this fiscal
year than for the corresponding time
last year, when the mills and factories
were running, as rule, on short time
or were Idle. In July this year wheat
exports were 1887 1852 bushels, as com
pared with 6,O62. OS6 bushels in July last
year. Since the beginning of the crop
year the exports Of cotton have been Co.,
900 bales less than in the corresponding
period last year.
While the crop situation and its eff
fects on business are gratifying, the re-
ports of exports of cereals are thus
shown not to be wholly responsible for
the fact that the mills have resumed
with Increased help on full time and that
the general business situation Is improv-
ing daily. The Press published a day
or 60 since returns showing the condition
OF business in the state OF Pennsylvania
which showed that a protective tariff
and an administration which upholds
honest money are large factors in the
situation
These reports show that notwlth-
standing the country was flooded with
advance tmportations Of woods and wool
ems to escape the increased duties, the
wooden mills are running on full time
and In some instances the great mills
about Philadelphia have advanced
wages from ten to fifteen per cent. mo
one" says the Press, will attribute that
to foreign demand"
In one OF the reports It Is shown that
thirteen mills in Lehlgh county. Pa, in
which, in many cases, the employees were
working on part time before the pass
age Of the Dingley bill, are now all
working full time, and the total num-
Der Of employees has increased l,Oil; In
Dauphin county the additional employees
number 1870 in fourteen industries; In
Fayette county the number of unem-
ployed who have been given work In
manufacturing industries Is 1880. The
reports show similar facts existing
throughout the state and the CONNER
cial and trade reports show like condi-
ton throughout the country, as for In
stance, the following from the Press ar
tlcle:
First Assistant Postmaster General
Heath. who has recently returned from
his home In Indiana, tells how In Mum
Gle Anderson, Marion, Kokomo and TIP
ton, known MS natural gas cities. the fac
tories are running on full time and many
of them double time, whereas year ago
three-fourths Of them were running on
short time Assistant Secretary Of the
Interior Webster Davis, who has recent
fy returned from Missouri, says that
Missouri zinc has risen from $40 to Ri
a ton and lead from 81 10 S25 1000
pounds. lie tells Of glass; railway car
and other factories which have long been
idle. now running at full time. Similar
facts come from all over the country,
The Pennsylvania railroad earnings In
August were, without any increase In
rates, 1904 900 greater than In August Of
fast year and tho Reading, Jersey Cen.
trial and other railroads also showed very
favorable returns,
II cannot be- said truthfully that a
shortage of zinc, glass, iron, steel wool
and wooens and other commodities IN
Europe has been the cause Of the zen.
cral advance In this country, and the
general revival Of MI our manufacturing
interests, giving work to thousands OIL
unemployed with a tendency toward an
advance Of wages certainly steady nm.
ployment, where year ago men were
working on half time or not at Nil All
thla In going on under q Republican tar.
IN policy and an honest money policy,
and white There sits tn tho presidential
chair a Republican President pledged lo
uphold these pulclca
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