Decorah public opinion. (Decorah, Winneshiek County [Iowa]) 1895-1928, 1898-01-19
INCREASING CONFIDENCE.
Reports From All Sections Indicate
: Advancement in All Lines
of Industry.

That prices can move upward, not
withstanding the claims last year OF
the silver men that permanently in
creased prices could not come under
the present standard Of money, has
been thoroughly demonstrated Slight
reactions, of course, occur, and are
looked for; the trend of the market is
steadily for improvement. The activ-
ity in the stock market at the opening
of the year was most marked and
strengthens the opinion that money
now idle will soon find its way into
the channels of trade and enterprise.
The failures for 1897, in spite of the
general depression and stagnation with
which the year opened, show the
smallest aggregate of liabilities of any
year since 1892. The figures by differ
ent branches of business show that in
fifteen out of twenty-eight classes the
failures were lower than in any pre-.
vious ear of which there is a record.
Pledged to definite economic policy
and the continuance of the present one
hundred-cent standard with the in
coming of the Mckinley administra-
ton there was at once very marked
decline in banking and manufacturing
failures. The number has been grow
ing smaller and smaller as compared
with the corresponding periods of last
year, and the first week of the new
year finds all branches of business and
industry standing upon basis of per-
manence which stimulates all other
independent industries to activity.
Bank clearings last week, largely swol-
len by the annual settlement, reached
81, AIS, 900, 900, one of the heaviest fig
ures in the history of the country, be-
ing an increase ofeighteen per cent.
over the week previous and of twenty
four per cent. over the corresponding
week of 1897. With weekly increase
in the bank clearings all over the
country and constantly increasing fac
tory pay rolls, the trade outlook at the
beginning of year was never more
promising. Especial activity is seen
in the iron trade and IN the fiint-glass
factories, the latter finding difficulty in
keeping up with orders.
No trouble has been experienced in
the payment of the enormous sum of
S54, ,OOO, 10000 by the Union Pacific
syndicate to the Government. This
was done without its effect being in the
least felt by the money market, not
wilhstanding it is transaction which
eclipses anything of the kind ever be-
fore known in this country. All
trouble and stringency was avoided
through the skill of Secretary Gage,
whose practical knowledge of banks
and banking guided his action.
Farm prices keep up and our export
trade is enormous. The United States
furnished in 1897 more than one-half
of the wheat required by European inn
porting countries. Our exports of
American wheat and flour aggregated
1S2, 900, 900 bushels out of the worlds
shipments of 800, ,OOO, 600 bushels of that
product.
The increased demand abroad for
corn has been ore of the most satisfac-
tory commercial features of 1897. Dur
ing the month of December nearly
twice as much corn went to Europe as
in the corresponding month of 1896.
The people of Europe are slowly learn
ing that corn is good for man as well
as beast. The total exports of corn
last year amounted to 1856, ,000, 900 BUSH
els, or nearly 70,00O,00O bushels more
than in any previous year. In the six
years preceding 1897 the average an
nual expectations of corn was only &c.
100000 bushels. 1t is clear, therefore,
that the various efforts which have
been made to bring this king of Amer
lean cereals into favor with foreigners
are beginning to bear fruit. There is
no country In the world tnat can In |
anywise compete with the United
States in growing county, and if We
can establish large and increasing |
market abroad for the product, it will
bring our farmers untold wealth. |
What is most needed to insure gener-
al demand for corn abroad is knowl- |
edge of preparing it for the table. OF
the large amount of corn meal sent to
Ireland during the famine many years
ago, much was wasted, as the poor
people could add nothing to it but
water, and insisted it was COW feed.
w. A. HUNTER, of Belle Plaine, has