The Virginia enterprise. [volume] (Virginia, St. Louis County, Minn.) 1893-19??, 1899-01-06
CHpHECEDENTED PROSPERITY.

D, IA. on Thursday.
C>pHECEDESTED PROSPERITY.
The year that is just passing
lnto history has, in q business
way been q remarkable one for
this country Of ours. There have
been years Of prosperity before.
but the best year the country has
ever before seen under circum-
stances that have been the most
favorable has not made record
that approaches that registered
by 1898. While good things
were expected after the happy
closing Of 1897. sober expecta,
lions and even the widest dreams
have been more than realized
Conditions at home and abroad
have turned out more favorable
than was expected by any one
Not only have individual circum
stances contributed to the gen
eral results, but everything
seems to have combined to help
along and bring the totals up in
to figures that are almost be-
You'd conception.
The opponents of the present
policy OF government cannot
hope to explain away the facts
that are substantiated by figures
of actual business. The element
of luck may have entered into
affairs; an unusual combination
OF circumstances may have
favored the country, but after
all these things are considered
it remains that governmental
policy and confidence in that
policy are the prominent factors
that have been responsible and
to which credit is due.
IN trade with foreign countries
there have been balances in oul
favor before, but never has the
balance in any year approached
the figures for this year. In
fact the balance in our favor is
larger than the total amount OF
the value of what we have re
quired from outside the confines
OF our own country. We have
supplied to others more thar
twice what we have required.
and the balance has come to us
in the form of cash. We have
had an expensive war, more sc
in proportion to it's length oil
duration than had it been sever.
al tines as long, but notwith
standing the fact that we have
spent enormous sums for equip
ment, supplies and current
necessities, the balance of gold
in the treasury has steadily in
creased until it is now larger
than it has ever before been.
About billion and a quarter
dollars represents the value Of
the staples and merchandise tina,
have been exported, and every
mooth has shown an increase
over corresponding months oil
previous years. There have
been those who have thought OF
have professed to think that the
country had about reached its
limit of growth, commercially
It has been said that about all
the available land had been tax
en- up; that in many sections, re-
source had commenced tC
dwindle; that the practice o.
waste that was going on had
brought progress to a standstil
and that perseverance along
present lines would ruin the
country. but the magnificent
array OF figures that represen
the business transactions of 1870;
has given the lie to all such pre-
dictlons. The country has grown
and now there are opening OF
the horizon new hopes. There
are new worlds to conquer. The
pathway to greater prosperity is
open and broad before US. We
cannot stand still; we will no
recede. Forward is the order.
AFFECTIONS WITH Il PRICE.
Miss E. W. Vandever begar
suit in district court yesterday
says the News Tribune, to re-