Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1898-03-14

The material wealth. Of this country
was Increased by about two thousand
millions of dollars last year.
Nearly three fourths of this vast iii-
crease came from products OF the soil
and the remainder of the increase re-
presented :he value OF minerals and
metals. Agricultural operations re-
quired only intelligenty directed ef-
fort. The principal mining operations.
however. called for more or less eKe
pensive mechanical appliances and pro-
cesses in aid of partially skilled labor.
The money expended In gathering and
in distributing the agricultural crops
and in preparing the minerals and
metals for commercial use benefited
those who were employed in these pur-
suiths, and the net results of the
years crops and Of mining are being
enjoyed and VIII continue to be en-
joyed by the farmers and the mine
owners.
A very large proportion of the cereal
crops has been marketed, and to the
extent that these crops have been sold
the proceeds have gone into circulation
In one form or another, contributing to
the payment OF debts, TO the procure
ment of necessaries and luxuries, and
generally TO the stimulation OF business
everywhere. The money has followed
the customary channels Of distribution
from the local bank or tradesman to
manufacturer. the importer. and the
final temporary or permanent reposi-
tory In bank or Investment, benehtlng
each interest in turn. The transporta-
ton lines have enjoyed their share OF
the distribution of this money, and
the country is richer, therefore. not on
~ by the addition To its material
wealth, but through Its wide dlstribu-
| ton.
There Is scarcely a section of the
| country which has not derived some
| benefit from this increase to the matte
rial wealth of the country. Therefore.
there is encouragement for renewed
| efforts in the coming agricultural sea-
son, and. profiting by the results of the
| past year. doubtless fewer errors or
| judgment will be committed The high
| prices which have been obtained for
| wheat have stimulated the planting OF
an Increased acreage of fall sown grain.
and preparations are being made Tor
| nm increased planting of spring wheat
| and of other crops. Conditions being
| favorable there will probably be
| large yield of the most valuable of the
| cereal crops this year. But 1t Is scarce
| ~ reasonable to look for so urgent a
| European demand for our breadstufis
as was enjoyed last year, and, there
| fore. orr farmerH should not be dis
| appointed If prices are lower. The
cotton crop was pheuomenally large
last year The yield was prolific in
those sections which suffered from
overflow in the Mississippi river early
In the year, thus in great measure
| compromising for losses sustained by
reason of that disaster Consumption
| did not keep pace with production,
! however, and prices are still which
| is discouraging to the cotton grower.
| Efforts are being made to induce far
mers to reduce the area of cotton. rms
Is usually done after seasons of eN-
10
cassiVe production. but II is rarely sue
cessful The temptation to grow cotton
In so great, the cultivation of the plant
Is comparatively so easy and the
marketing of the staples Is attended
with so little trouble, that. though
there may he voluntary reduction of
acreage In some sections, it is not like
~ to be general
Conditions being favorable, large
crops win probably continue TO be
produced. The true remedy for over
production would seem to he well di'
: rected effort to increase consumption
| Cheap cotton, improved methods OF
manufacture and the production of O
superior class OF goods should enable Us
| to enlarge markets for cotton fabrics
! American cotton manufacturers shoult
be able to successfully compete will
Europeans in commercial fields in th'
Far East.
, There will be a large production o.
. gold in the United States and in Cana
, da this year. Gold mining will be g
attractive as TO materially lessen eff
forts to produce silver, especially from
low grade ores. The price of silvel
may. therefore, be more stable, and SO
, to greater or less extent, influence th'
price of manufactured goods sold II
silver using countries. Increased pro
duction OF copper must necessarily fol
low demand for electrical purposes.
l demand already enormous. Consump
/ ton of iron In various forms is likel!
: to he very heavy this year.
The outlook. therefore, is for n pros
= porous year In agricultural, mining
: commercial and manufacturing enter
? prises Americans are encouraged b.
D successes last year in foreign fields, or,
! profiting by the advantages gained IL
those fields: and the results Of thei
future efforts will doubtless be graft
: flying. An addition OF more than 80,
: 600 900 900 this year to the materia
4 wealth Of the country from agricultur
al and mining pursuits alone certainl!
does not appear to he an eXtravagan
4 estimate.-Commercia America.