The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-09-11
SUNDAY. SEPTEMBER l1.lsos.
rurGLADTN INDICATIONS OLA BUsI
MISS REVIVAL.

More than one or the most saB"clOus
~ tho leading commercial papers OF the
land express q confident belief that the
ensuing fan viii witness q great in
crense In the general business Of the
country. There IS no more infolhble
aaroueter OF business conditions, ac-
,cording to the observations Of clear
headed merchants. than The volume OF
bank clearlngs These fer August ex-
ceeded the clearRgs for July By over a
psr cent. and exceeded those for Au-
gust OF last year by 10 per cent Indeed
The total clcarings ore said to exceed
those for the same month IN any previous
year OF our history. And it should be
borne n mind. as enhancing the favor
able indications or prognosties, that Au'
gust Is ordinarily the duilest month Of
ihe year.
The condition OF the iron and steel
trade Is also regarded az n very SAFE
criterion OF The general state Of busl-
ness. IN respect 10 this criterion, the
facts, according 20 the Iron and Steel
Age" are very signlncant That journal
says;
9TH, advance Of 81 TO 50 per ton which
has been made on almost all kinds OF
from and steel product has not IN amy re-
cpect checked the volume OF business
on the contrary, the activity IS greater
khan ever Without exception. al
branches OF the iron ana steel Industries
pre- In a most satisfactory condition.
Mills are declining business because they
cannot make deliveries Railroads are
ordering whatever lots Of rails they can
secure Tor this seasons delivery ana are
heavy buyers Of machinery and tooiS.
This may We think. lie accepted as
certain sign Of business revival, which
mas already put "a an appearance. When
'he smokcsGckJ o. The iron mills and
,oundries are vomiting their black hyeath
10 heaven, and The Titans and Tubal
Gains are laundering at their anyils,
then ne may detect smile on the ia-
lorors' face beneath the SCOT that be-
grimes e. fer then are wages high ana
employment easy 10 be procured. There
nre many indications tina. Richmond VIII
fcel the auicken'ng impulse Of this busi-
ness revival The circums lance re mem
toned in our Fridays paper Of the &c
ccptance by the Navy Department of the
bid OF Richmond contractors 10 build
several Of the new torpedo boats IS one
OF these fattering indications
And another important factor in the
problem is 10 be found 10 the almost un-
preccdented crops OF the current year
ana the generally good prices paid % the
farmers and planters Tor their products
Even the proverbiany complaining and
faul-hnding farmer ands It dimcult to
repress happy beam, or, at least,
contented serenity of countenance. And
The railroads always reap rich share OF
the omnipresen. advantage Of large and
lucratiVe-crops.
And last. but d. no means least. among
the encoura sing indications and har-
hineers is to be accounted the vast and
rich territory which the fortunes Of war
save let fall Ike an unexpected provi-
Dental boon into our hands. Already
the entire Atlantic slope OF our country,
far Up 70 the pine forests OF Maine. is
beginning 20 show signs of new vitality
from this tempting prize spread beyond
the oSpeetant ego OF eager industry and
business sssac.ty. Great enterprises are
being launched which win and a rcmuu-
esatlve field for idle capital in the fertile
helds and prolific mines OF Cuba and
Porto Rico.
The magnitude Of the preparations tnat
are even now pushing forward for the
appropriation Of these new and rich fields
OF enterprise and Industrial adventure
Is 30 great as h read like chapter
from the arabian Nights one
northern company recently organized
with capital OF sNo0.o)o has
In Wow project OF CONNER
cial. agricultural ana mineral develop
ment that IS absolutely bswildering IN
its scope snd prospects. There is no
doubt whatver that Cuba and Porto Rico
are destined speedily 70 Witness fabu-
ious influx. very Andaa stream, as It
were, OF capital from tho United States.
TIRE Queen Of the Antilles will soon blush
with a bloom of beauty with which the
prcGigslity Of American wealth ana sn7