The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1898-08-25

Ohio Railway Company. said: Il see
every indication that business generally
this fan will be much improved. since
the signing Of the preliminary peace
measures the outlook has been growing
steadily brighter. Already business Is
improving. The people are staying longer
in the mountains for their summer vaca-
tons than ever before. This IS good
sign. l am sure there are more kich-
mond people enjoying summer trips ana
vacations this month than ever before.
People are doing more travelling and TINS
is. OF course. an encouraging sign.
"Our passenger business has been
enormous during the past month We
have been really taxed 20 handle II. and
yet there is every indication OF an IN
crease this fan The mountain resorts
and watering places generally have done
a fine business during the summer
Everything looks brighter for better
trade conditions. and any man who will
keep his eyes open will see that there
are moro prosperous times ahead. The
country Is more settled since the closing
of the war and business men generally,
with few exceptions. feel more conf
dcnco. Investments are more liberal,
and money is being turned loose more
freely"
BUSINESS TO PICK Up.
Passenger Agent of tho Southern Rail-
way. who covers a good deal OF territory
I'm his business and has good oppOrtuni
ties for observing business conditions
throughout large part Of Virginia and
North Carolina. said. "Our business has
been very gratifying, and We have no rea-
son TO complain. We have carried a
large number OF passengers over our
line, and / think business will pick up
ID i. I.f -
Peace will naturally bring a certain
amount Of prosperity. The crops
throughout the territory through which
/ have travelled are excellent. and there
seems 20 be moro confident feeling
among business men as well as among
the agricultural classes. The outlook. Il
think. is brighter than for quite a while
past FOR better times"
PROSPERITY FAIRLY IL SIGHT.
Mr.. j. II. Whitty. Southern Superin-
tcndont Of tho Improved Mercantile
Agency. said: "As the tide goes out so
it surely comes I'm again While the
wave OF prosperity IS not folt yet, still it
appears fairly in sight. The peace ar
rangements have been a great relief 20
the business community and offer more
security TO capital looking for Invest
ment The merchants are making re-
newed efforts 10 reach out after trade.
and while present indications point to
considerable money going 90 Porto Rico
and other newly acquired territory, and
tho cry .s heard of Young man 20 90
Cuba. still She advancement In those
quarters means progress here. and par
ucularly throughout the South. 1t Is
rather early 10 forecast the general re-
Suits but ll indications tend towards
the best fan trade IN many years. Some
business houses. however. complain OF eX-
treme dullness, and intimate that while
tho immediate present holds out little
encouragement 10 them. yet they are
also hopeful that the turn towards pros
Ierity may come this fall
BETTER TIMES COMING.
Mr. j. l.. IIill. of the J. l.. Hill Print
ing Company. said: "The outlook for
improved business conditions this fal
certainly appears TO me 10 be brighten
Ing. Since the war closed and IL was
settled that we sars- 10 have peace, |
think there Is a much more settled ana
confident feeling and there is more dis
position 10 branch out upon new lines.
I think merchants Will DE buying more
goods and covering more territory THIS
fall The fact that England IS buying
large quantities of coal from this coun-
try is n good sign My business has been
much better during the past month than
| before. and / am preparing Tor better
| business still this flll So far as can
see every thing points 10 better tunes
since the war closed
GREAT FUTURE AHEAD.
Mr.. John l.. Williams. OF John l.. VII
Hams a Sons, bankers, said:
"The long period OF semi-panic and Sc
we're trial TO which our business world
| has been subjected has had a very whole
some effect upon the entire country. IL
has forced weak institutions TO reorgan-
ize or settle down on a business basis.
| ii has woeded out much nOXious growth,
and relieved us OF a great deal OF what
| is known as dead wood. lt mas maze US
| deeply TO feel the absolute necessity on
! character and legitimate methods IN the
| conduct of business. 10 has CROWDED US
with experiences. and given our young
country the "age' that We so much
need
AT the opening of the year we were
an feeling that our good time was upon
us Everything seemed 10 favor iuii
tide OF prosperity. But "a grave and most
important work was thrown upon on,
hands. The settlement or CUBAN ana
West Indian affairs and relations was
precinltatcd upon us by the destruction
Of the Maine. and we found ourselVeS<it
war with "a great empire. BY manlfes-
tations OF business readiness, OF Skin, OF
courage. OF heroism OF power, or wealth,
OF natriotism. and OF magnanimity, we
have astonished the world. We nave
summed up advancing civilization in the
word 'Americanism.
"Au the cnergy, enterprise and man
hood that so briefly accomplished the
Spanish war. as a matter Of business, arc
now ready fer peace and its victories.
Tho neXt thing rs something else. Ana
these are the conditions that are before
, Americans. Europe indebted 10 MS on
balance of trade $4,000 900; wheat crop
the largest ever harvested; a corn crop
up to the average. % cotton crop possibly
surprising an before: railroads reorsan-
! ized and reharllltated abreast OF the
times with steadily increasing business;
inexhaustible mines OF coal. iron, copper
and other minerals worked and being en-
larged. sterile regions being irrigated; f;
| electricity daily developing its powers,
manufactures awaking 10 new life.
"Generally there IS before us an open
ing OF power and wealth, and fields FOR
energy and inventive genius hitherto IN
known 20 the world.
"The only question Is will American
character prove Itself worthy or the great
future that Is before us.
I "Practlcallv. our overwhelming produc-
tlons necessitate new consumers Tor
them. The Nicaragua Canal must open
10 us an the markets Of the Pacific and
the East.
Financially. We must throw OF the
war-chain OF the tax on State bank cur
rency and have free banking under Fed
eral control No one VIII want free dis
credited silver or irredeemabie greenback
currency. II neighhorhood banks are all
lowed 10 issue or-as the physiologists