The Wadsworth dispatch. [volume] (Wadsworth, Nev.) 1892-1899, 1897-10-23
RETURNING PROSPERITY.

The contrast by the condition of trade
last spring and at the present time is SO
striking that even the ordinary wayfar-
ing man has little difficulty in telling
what ii means.
SIX months ago commercial and in |
dustrlal wiseacres were seated at the tops
OF their respective towers, like Sister
Anne in the story of Bluebeard, eagerly
scanning the horizon for some sign of
the advance of prosperity.
At this time one can hardly 90 about
the city without having his progress im-
,peded or his sense of hearing deadened
by material evidence of the revival in
trade.
1t is four years ago last May since the
business pendulum began to swing
downward. The panic OF 1893 was sue
ceeded by commercial prostration in
1894. A little BOOM in iron began in
March, 1895, and expanded SO that it
could be easily seen in July, and the inn
preston became general that the evil
days had gone; that prosperity had be-
gun to smile upon the land again.
But September brought a collapse in
iron and steel, after which the prospect
for "a presidential campaign, involving
tariff and currency discussion, brought
so much of uncertainty into the situa-
tom that merchants and manufacturers
prepared to drift for another year.
There was a slight advance in prices
after the presidential election, but jan
uary and February, 1887, disappointed
those who had waited two years for good
times to return. During March, April
and May careful measurements were re-
quired to determine whether the tide of
trade had begun to rise or continued at
slack water; but by July prices were
plainly recognizing the rising ground
swell OF demand. ~9GssG.
A large crop ofwheat and fairly large
harvest of Indian corn in the face of ex-
treme shortages, particularly wheat, in
other exporting countries, is situation
which must benefit American farmers.
The boom Of 1881 to 1883 was based upon
favorable harvest here and dshort cereal
crops abroad.
Not the least conspicuous results OF
the stimulus due to increased agricultur-
al prosperity are higher prices for almost
all food products, the gains in some in
stances amounting to twenty-five per
cent advances in clothing from nearly
ten to fifteen per cent; and in iron and
steel from six to ten per cent.-on few
grades, more than that. With growing
demand for food, clothing and leading
metals, a demand which as yet has
not fully exerted itself, there will be
continuation of the upward movement
of prices and an increasing volume OF
general business.
There are at least three hundred thous-
and more industrial employees at work
than in October, 1895, which means the
distribution of more than two million
dollars in wages each week in excess OF
the amount paid out year ago. When
commercial, industrial, transportation
and agricultural interests are considered,
there is abundant evidence that fully one
million more wage-earners are'employed
than Just before the last presidential
election, and this points to The distribu-
tion of more than one million dollars In
wages daily in excess of the total so paid
years ago. Wages of industrial opera
tiyes have been advanced generally from
ten to fifteen per cent, and with the in
crease in prices of staples the captains
of industry find themselves even better
able to pay an advance to more men than
they were to employ small number at
lower wages year ago. Bountliul crops
higher wages, higher prices and active
demand from all classes of the commnn-
itv constitute evidences of growing pros
perity, and these we have with u.s.
Youths Companion.