Omaha daily bee., 1898-01-07
HOPEFUL BUSINESS OUTDOOR.
The New year Luminous with tho
Rays cf Prosperity.

Philadelphia Ledger
A Frightening business outlook Is reported
from 90 many portions OF the country that
1895 promises to be a notably prosperous
year. The encouraging prospect is not re-
ported from few localities, but 1t seems TO
be widespread and includes many representa-
tive centers OF commercial activity, One OF
the salient features OF the business situation
is the fact that the transportation lines are
showing a recovery from the depressing con-
ditions which during the past ten years re-
suited In the creation of many receiverships.
The revival Of the business Of the carrying
companies Is Indicative of the renewal OF
trade generally. The Railway Age is author
ity for the statement that the list OF new
railway receiverships in 1897 was surpris-
ingly small as compared with the record OF
any of the FIVE preceding years.
The gross earnings Of l2i railroads for the
year show em increase over those OF 1896 OF
S2S 900 600, the increase occurring during the
last six months Of the year. The net earn
ings make a better exhibit. The net earnings
of lis reads for the tea months ending on
November L. 1897, revealed an increase OF
more than II per cent over the same period
in 1896. The more hopeful situation OF this
great interest may be accepted as a trade
barometer foresLadowing better conditions
for our manufactures, agriculture and COM
merce.
From the Chicago Clearing House. repre-
centing the colossal transactions OF the
west and northwest comes the cheerful intel
ligopce that the clearings for the past year
show Il handsome gain over those of 1896.
The rising tide of western prosperity was
noticed in the beginning of August last, and
the December clearences were greatly in ad-
vance of that Of any month since December,
1892. The trade done during the last year
at the Union Stock yards In that city is Sug-
gestve of the improved and improving food
buying capacity of our people. Prices nat
urally Increased in sympathy with the rise In
the price OF cereals, but there was an en-
couraging gain in the demand for live stock.
The gain in carloads of stock was 1000 over
the record for 1896. The stock handled in
1897 made close approach to that handled
in 1892.
In New England general business has con-
spicuously improved according to the state
mont of the Boston clearing house. The Bos-
ton bank clearings for December show an in
crease of more than l2 per cent over Decem-
Der, 1895. The bank clearings in Baltimore
are still more encouraging, showing an in
crease Of more than $40 900 over 1896, and
$25 900 900 in excess of the clearngs of 1892.
an exceptionally prosperous business year in
that city. 1t is announced that 1898 prom
ses to be the most prosperous year the south
has had for many years. The marked eX-
pansion of the cotton and woolen manufac-
lures in this portion of the country will
contribute greatly to its development In
st. Louis the bank Clearings for 1897 broke
the yearly record.
The heavy balance of trade in our favor is
resultant upon tho dimensions of our export
trade, unprecedented in our commercial his
tory. Much of this enormously increased eX-
port trade has been caused by short crops
abroad The foreign demand for American
breadstuffs has Injured to the advantage
of our western farmers, who have been ena-
bled to cancel a large amount of mortgage
Indebtedness, and to increase their ability to
buy commodities of all sorts. The increase
in available capital in the hands of the
farming population of the west must be re-
feCted sooner or later in many industries
and enterprises. The financial rehabilitation
of the west, the progressive Improvement of
the transportation business, the decided in
crease of bank clearings are substantial and
significantly hopeful factors of the business
situation without reference to the possibii-
ties of the new tariff as a revenue producer,
or to changes which may be introduced i9
our financial system.