The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1898-07-14

GREAT VOLUME OF BUSINESS.
TIE wonderful revival in business
continues Although the percentage Of
increase cannot. Of course. be as great
for 1855 over 1887 as that Of 1897 over
1886. the aggregate keeps up with no
sign OF a sIackening. The volume OF
business Is 10 a great extent measured
BY transportation returns and they
show invariabie increase. The Railway
Age has compiled a statement which
shows that in 1893 railroads with a cap
itaiization in stocks and bonds amount
ing TO 1870, SCI go went into the hands OF
receivers. Up 20 1887, the number Of
railroads which gave that indication OF
insolvency was IS. with capitalization
Of Slice, So. 600 Nearly ali OF these are
now running under their own manage
ment and paying their way.
The clearing house returns show
actions for the half year have been alto
gether larger than those OF any previous
half year, averaging at the fourteen
chief cities SOS. 900 900 for each business
day, against $l5s. ooo. 900 last year. an in
crease OF 3s.4 per cent. and against $780,
oo0. 900 In the month Of June, 1892. a gain
of 1913. Most comparisons are now made
with 1892, because that was the last good
year before the panic. The revival
serves TO strengthen the notion that
commercial prosperity runs in cycles OF
seven years. III that may be relied
upon, We may now expect seven years.
or six including the last twelve months.
Of good times. Prosperity will bring
will be forgotten and an era of specula-
ton will set in to be followed by bal
ancing which will leave some men in
the same fix as they were at the close
Of the last previous seven years Of busi-
ness activity.
The volume of trade Is most astonish-
ing even for this country. particularly
in view of the fact that We were much
of the time threatened with and prepar-
ing for foreign war whose effect on
business so many feared. Some rail-
roads have been cutting rates and this
considerable revenue to which they
would have been entitled. 1t has great
ly Increased the passenger traffic, but it
has not increased the income of the
roads In the same proportion as a year
or SO ago.
Another remarkable feature is the con-
tinued strength of the grain market.
Great as the foreign demand has been,
the exports of wheat and flour. amount
ing to 2ls.9ls.2 64 bushels for the crop
year. fall about 5000. 900 bushels below
the maximum In 1892. but the exports
Of corn have risen to 2l2 $50, i0i bushels
for the year. This shows an increased
appetite for that grain. The mainten-
ance Of prices is proof that the shippers
do not expect much decrease in the for
eign demand for some time to come.
There are reports about possible shay
Ing Of the next crop returns, on account
OF an excess OF straw and deficiency
OF grain In some sections. but that
would rather tend to keep up the price
There Is always dullness in the mid
summer months. so that we may expect
a falling off in industrial returns as
compared with the spring months. but
in all branches of trade labor Is well
employed at higher prices than have pre-
vailed for several years. The imports
from abroad appear 10 be the smallest
of any year since 1879. but the exports
have enormously increased. 1t is ex-
pected that the totals for the fiscal year
ending June 50 viii show a merchandise
excess Of about $Gi0. o00. coo. exceeding all
past records By $3.50. o0o. Geo or nearly Il
per cent The net imports of gold for
the fiscal year will also surpass all rec
ords. No nation on earth can show such
a balance ~ trade In its favor