The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1899-08-24
Admita Great Prosperily.


Admits Great Prosperity.
In view of the Registers frequent
references to bogus prosperity" and
its sneering illusions to what It calls
mo prosperity at all; that the only
prosperity was on ''walI street." &c.
we are pleased to note that our cOntem-
porary has given evidence, editorlally,
of a discovery that prosperity is ram
pant in some Of our own local indus
tries, and classes of Industries that
are wealth producers in various parts
Of the country. Some of these indus
tries are protected industries, and are
controlled by trusts and cOmbina-
tions."
Under the heading of 1.-THE Great
Boom In Iron." our nelghbor has a
lengthy editorial. the opening sentence
Of which is: 1.-The present tremendous
boom in iron has grown to such magni-
tude that the country's resources In
iron ore are greatly oyer-taxed, and the
outlook is problematical," and then
proceeds 10 quote the from the Iron
Age, the New York journal of Com
merce, The Trade Review. The Rail-
road Gazette and other authorities that.
whenever the 1nteIttgencer quotes
them, the Register charges them TO be
organs of the trusts" That always
settles the argument, so far as the
Register is concerned. Now the Reg
ister quotes from these authorities to
prove the great prosperity in the
lines they treat of, endorses them and
banks on their predictions Of unprece-
dented activity. This shows our friend
on Market street is getting more lib
eral and fair. unless it is possible that
some one beside the regular editorial
writer handled the subject.
AS examples OF the reform In opin-
ion, we may be permitted to note that
the Register approvingly quotes The
Iron age, which is certain that on
some lines. notably pig iron. the en-
gagements for 1900 have already been
heavy, and that a god deal Of tonnage
which cannot be delivered in time will
be carried into next year. 1t also
commends as remarkable good news
from the New York Journal of Com
merce that the Carnegie company has
placed contract to furnish a ship
building concern on tie lakes with
beams and plates in 1900 and 1901, 1.-TWO
years aheadO, at the current high
prices" The company could have car
ried the contract on the same terms
through 1882. had it desired to do so.
Our neighbor also jubIlantly quotes
the Trade Review Canother alleged
trust organ'D as noting the inadequa-
cy Of furnaces to supply sufficient
Bessemer pig iron for steel making re-
qulrements, and that 1t is really din
cult to say what would be the condition
OF the iron and steel market were a
suficlency of pig iron of all grades to
be had"
The Register proceeds to note. in its
own Language. that other branches of
manufacture dependent on the iron in
aus,ry are oyercrowded with orders,
and the clamor for iron grows instead
of dlminIshes." This was followed by
a quotation from the Railroad Gazette
(also corporation orgau'D giving a
partial list Of orders for costly cars
and increased freight equipments from
many railroads; and, in addition to
this. long list of new locomotives or
dered for numerous different roads"
Finally, our pessimistIc friend. who.
like its prophet, Mr.. Bryan, Is inquir-
ing for boosted prosperity utters this
delightful prophecy: "If nothing I'M
foreseen happens to disturb the present
situation, 1900 should be year of I'M
precedented activity in all branches OF
the iron business"
This last sentence contains plenty Of
truth. IF nothing unforeseen occurs
next year." &c. That may mean. or
II may be construed to mean, II 1900,
which is a national election year. does
not witness the same agitation Of the
financial policy of the country, the
same agitation for free trade; the agitn-
ton OF the proposal OF the United
States to disgrace itself before civil
lied commercial and other powers. by
abandoning It's treaty obligations,
throwing aside Its honor. and surrender
ing to opponents of every governmental
poiicy-a sound money basis, a tarifr
to promots industry.
As in 1896, this combination would
produce ten times the amount Of indus
trial and financial uncertainty that the
mere agitation of the unsound currency
basis did at the last presidential cleo
ton, resulting in a financial strinEency
which bordered on the verge Of panic
preclplce.