The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1898-01-01
THE IRON AND STEEL TRADr.
Mr.. Moore Sees In the Signs OF the Time:
Increased Prosperity In '9S.

Increased Prosperity In Us.
Retrospective reflections, while not SO
agreeable and interesting as optimistic
predictions o: the future, based main
~ upon hopes and expectations, are
nevertheless, necessary and profitable.
We can looli back over the Travelled
paths and always learn something OF
wisdom from experience: unfortunately,
that furnished by experience does not
often illumine the mist, into which we
are always advancing.
In selecting this strain to open his
remarks the writer does not intend to
convey the impression that the gear
Just closed has been an unsatisfactory
one in the iron, steel anG kindred
branches, as but in very few years In
the current decade, has the revival Of
the iron business been as satisfactory,
as wholesome and as regular, as In the
year 1851? During the fou: years In
(which the Wilson tariff bill was In
force. economy In purchasing 70: con-
sumption was enforced. by the pos
crlptures imposed by this bill, and Che
iron business, In SO far as opportunities
4ot 10 olI4 ablOll NAo SOIl-
cerned. were slender and discouraging
Hence. as the depression was severe
and eNhausting, recovery, since the cor
receive has been applied, has necessar-
ilY been measured and somewhat slow
But at no time since June has 4 well
defined panic occurred,or has confidence
lost anything of the growth Il, has been
making, ever since the passage OF the
present tariff bill.
Details OF the recovery from depres-
sion would lengthen this article out OF
all proportions for the use for which II
is intended: 1t is sufficient 10 remark,
that the progress since midsummer has
s been constant. The improvement In
conditions has stimulated improve
Ments and extensions OF plants, ma
chiriery and processes, and In no To-
ca!!ty or district has this been more APP
parent than In the Wheeling district.
An enumcrating OF the improvements,
extensions made ana the divers frae-
t!ons adopted, would be telling a twice
told tale" rs the newspapers keep thei:
readers well posted as 10 these rarticu-
lars. The advances az prices have
been SLOW ana not very Uniform, this
is 10 be accounted for by the measure
% production, which f1r the last two
months has been enormous. The fur
naces. mills and factories have been
operated Since the beginning OF fall
well UP TO their full capacity and the
producers OF pie metal. steel billeis,
steel pipe and sheets. are net express
ing dissatisfaction with the conditions
prevailing.
Economics of varied descriptions have
been adopted and applied during the
year. which tend to lessen the costs O.
production, and as they have been cs-
fect!vc, they so impair. the force of a
ccra2ar!son OF current prices. with those
that prevailed one year ago, as TO rem
der such worl; unsubscrvisut
What OF the future? It IL easy to give
rem to the Imagination. but predictions
which 10 rot rest upon Bnbssin.IaI
basis or probability are worthless All
that We can bc sure of Is the next step,
and even this Is attended with n meas
nre OF uncertainty; the gift o. prophesy
does not consist In faculty for sfrewJ
guessing. II does not need thc Gift OF
Dfophesy. however; 10 forecast the ru-
lure In general outlines. There IL cause
10 Delieve that the revival o. the last
!cw weeks Is the harblnge- OF Il sub
shntial recovery. That the country is
Feauy Tor stable recovery cannot, be
questioned: great and growing need
exists throughout the country, which
mas already had enough nt initial i'm
pulses to quicker demand; the contin-
ua'Ion OK this awakening influence viii
establish activity and an e:a o. fair
prosperity Will be inauGurated. There
hre but few who VIII not welcome tho
coming of 1923 with confidence that It
WI be a satisfactory year, To mo
great army az workers the chimey OF
ne new year Signalize proGrcsa toward
nctte" times and they inspire hope and
trust In many hearts. that have passed
through siege OF doubt and d!gsap-
pOintmcnt
PHILIP HENRY MOORE,
Editor Ohio Valley Manufacturer,