The enterprise. [volume] (Wellington, Ohio) 188?-1899, 1898-11-23
THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.
Bryanism Menaces the Industrial
Growth of the Southern
states.

The election result the country over
has stimulated trade sentiment. The
republicans won sweeping victories,
closing in on the populist strongholds
of the west, either winning or crippling
the populist organizations so as to rem
der them harmless. Washington, Ne
braska, Kansas, South Dakota, Nevada
all voted the republican ticket SO as to
increase republican representation in
congress, while the great central and
eastern states rolled up tremendous re-
publican pluralities. Minnesota alone
broke the uniform republican victory
by choosing governor from the op-
posing forces; but as this result is
analyzed, no comfort is found in the
victory for unsoundness in the money
policy of the country. The state elects
seven republican congressman, the bal
ance of the state ticket, and largely
republican legislature. 1t is not parti-
san to refer to this result as business
victory, because it is. 1t means that
good times will continue; and since it
was known that sound money princi-
Piles are maintained boom in stock in
vestment has followed, with stock trad
ing trebled since election day, The fact
is less important that people are buying
the best railroad securities in the coun-
try, than it is that they are not afraid
to invest money following the election
result. Sound money democrats the
country over voted for republican leg
islatiye and congressional candidates,
because they felt safe, from business
standpoint, in SO doing.
The official statement of the export
and import trade has been issued dur
ing the week, and the showing proves
beyond question the prosperous condi-
tion of the country. To every grand di-
vision of the world we have increased
sales, while we have decreased pur-
chases from every grand division ex-
cept Asia and 0ceanica. To Europe
sales were increased from $56s, ,S05, 900
to $666, 1856, 900, while our purchases
dropped from 1892, 1894 900 to $240, $685.
600. These are striking figures, and
they mean nothing less than that
Americans are profting by this dis
posal of surplus, the making of which
is keeping men employed.
The force of the strong trade under
current is clearly outlined by the large
totals of bank clearings and the general
large distribution of goods 1t is sig
nifcant fact that the last few days has
developed unexpected new inquiry for
pig iron. 1t is stimulating sentiment
wonderfully, because it is revealing a
reserve business force that is very en-
couraging. 1t is demonstrating that de.
velopment is not finished and that there
is more work to do throughout the
country, which in turn means the em.
ployment of labor and increased con.
sumption of products. The -four manu-
facturers, as an instance, are breaking
all production records. They are watch.
ing water power closely, so that no in.
reference with production may check
the operation of mills. The domestic
consumption of -four has developed in
marked degree. And this is true of all
general food products. The people as
a mass are eating again.
The tendency of trust staples is to
sell lower in price rather than higher
Sugar competition is sharp, and devel
opments show that, on the whole, con
sumers are getting the benefit of trust
work in food staples. An in industria
lines generally, manufacturers are real
izing profits from the economy of trus'
operation, rather than from increase Of
price. Take the proposed tin plate
trust, now forming, and which will in
clude the 40 tin plate plants of the
country. Without increasing the pric,
of tin plate, the trust will make a saving
of 25 cents box of 100 pounds of plate
or over 100000 on the years produc
ton. The trust expects to realize it,
dividend from this saving, rather thar
from an increase of price for plate.
Running through the business lines
of the country, a generally healthy con
dition is reported. Wheat and floul
exports fell off this week, but the large
average is maintained by the heavy ex
port last week. There is firm sentiment
in foreign markets with no speculative
activity to develop it. The export de
mand for iron is breaking all records
Forty thousand tons of steel rails have
been placed recently for northern Eu
rope, while export orders have been re
ceived for 100000 tons of tin plate
Seven years ago the United States wal
importing its tin plate, while under tn,
tariff it is now supplying large part o.
the European trade and the consump
tion of this country besides, and keep
ing 43 plants in operation.-Mi Minneap
oils Journal.