Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-06-10
The 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
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 in the United
States. They will repay careful ex.
animation. 1t will be seen that the
editors, who have their hand on the
public pulse through their army of 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
an increased movement of merchandise
has been obtained for April by "Dun's
Review" which has secured statements
from 357 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
1892. Some houses reported actual ig-
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 coun-
try, the volume of sales last month was
only about 10 per cent less than in April,
1892, year of more than usual pros
perity, and 9 per cent greater than in the
same month of 1896. In estimating the
value of this statement the decline in
prices must be considered. Since 1892
Sauerbeck's index figures show that the
decline has been a little under 10 per
cent; "Bradstreet's" index figures, con-
fined 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
30, and cottons p per cent. If the vol
ume Of transactions has fallen off only
10 per cent, the actual amount of mer-
chandise handled must have been greater
than in 1S92.-Journal of Commerce
Dem.).
Improved Demand in the West.
A general survey of the business situa-
ton for the past week affords good
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-
mand for goods at most of the great West
ern distributing centers, in spite of the
unreasonable GOODNESS of the weather.
There Is a better call for iron and steel,
but production is still ahead of consump-
tion.-Boston Journal Rep.).
Great Activity in Railway Building.
If the disposition of railroads to extend
their 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-
on the country's horizon.
The Age, in a recent issue, gives in tab
ulated form statistics of new mileage
either already in process Of construction,
or expected to be constructed during the
year 1897. The grand total represented
in this table suggests genuine boom in
railroad building all over the country.
The total thus given reaches the startling
figure Of IL 800 miles Of new track as the
probable record for the present year
Memphis Scimitar Dem.).
Good Crop Prospects aud Good Prices.
The prospect is highly encouraging to
the Northwest. OF course, the crop Is not
yet harvested, and will be subject to the
usual contingencies which sometimes blast
the hopes Of the husbandman; but the
fact remains that a crop well started, with
favorable soil and climatic conditions, al
most invariably turns out well. The
Northwest this year faces the pleasing
probability Of good crop and good prices
for 1t Is hardly possible that even a phe-
nomenal yield of spring wheat in this
section can force prices down to the old
low plane, with available supplies 50 near
ly exhausted and the probability of less
than average crop in the rest of the
world.-Minneapolis Tribune Rep).
Farmers Feeling the Improvement.
In all Of the different classes of indus
try in the United States, then, the person
who has the stick-to-it-iveness to hang
on till a change for the better comes Is
sure to be the one to first regain his lost
resources. This change has set in and as
1t develops the farmer who has not closed
out his business will be the beneficiary
of the improvement in the financial and
industrial condition.-Albany Journal.
Better Times at Least In Sight.
The report made by r. G. Dun & Co. g
trade review, showing an activity in le-
Ultimate business transactions during the
past month, little short of that during
April, 1892, the year of the largest bust
ness, emphasizes the cheerfulness of the
present business outlook and points to the
conclusion that the good times which have
been predicted through many weary
months Of waiting are at least in sight
Memphis Scimitar DEM.
Frightening ON the Pacific Coast.
In spite of the occasional sneer of Pop
ocratic philosophers that the dawn of
prosperity is being strangely delayed, II
cannot be denied that the trade situation
IL Frightening and that business Is better
tfxn IN 1885, The exports of produce
xssm Che United States thus far this year
SAs,x~ "A. fncrea 40 Of x114 OOO 900 over the