The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1899-04-08
PROSPERITY CONTINUOUS.
Business Under Republican Legisla-
ton Is Constantly Inn
proving.

proving.
That 1898 was record breaking year
in the domestic and foreign trade of
the United States has been shown so
conclusively that to repeat it now
seems trite and superfluous. What is
of more Importance at the present time
is the fact that conditions are favorable
to still more remarkable showing in
1899. The New York Herald has done
excellent service to the public in Sc
curing the views of leading business
men and the grounds on which they
rest their confidence as to the immedi-
ate future. 1t is authority for the
statement that the wholesale dealers OF
that city, who are in close touch with
will be the most prosperous business
year the country has ever known. In
interviews these representatives OF the
commercial world base their opinions
on these causes: The ratification of
the peace treaty. The return of bust
ness confidence, which set in as soon as
the war with Spain was practically
over. Better times among farmers be-
cause of good crops in 1898.
The merchants interviewed declare
that as results of these causes the fol-
| lowing effects may be enumerated:
Farmers and other classes who have
| been spending little for several years
| again are spending money freely with the
| local merchants.
Merchants who have carried only small
| stocks, waiting for affairs to settle down,
are buying heavily and early. They in
! tend to restore their stocks to the condi-
ton in which they were before the bust
| ness depression of 1893
| "All classes of buyers who have been in
New York recently are ordering better
quality of goods than formerly"
The trade improvement noted is not
confined to special sections, but ex-
tends to the entire country. In the
west and south especially, where the
former depression was most severely
| felt, there is marked revival of pros
perity, the orders for goods are more
numerous than ever before, and the
people seem to have plenty of money
and are ready to spend it freely.
Much is anticipated from the expan-
sion of American trade at home and
abroad as natural result of the war
with Spain, the enlargement Of Amer
lean territory, the enhancement of the
national prestige and the new political
importance to which the United States
has attained. In order to reap the full
benefit of the opportunities now before
us, however, there is much work to be
done. William +. King, president of the
Merchants association, who is quoted
by the Herald, puts some of these du-
tieslclearly and forcibly before the pub
lie when he.says:
1--WE need the freest possible communica-
ton from the interior with the ports
whence the products of interior factories
and farms must be sent to all parts Of the
world.
"We need steamship lines under the
American flag, owned by American capital
| and governed by American laws.
| 1--WE need business agents for this gov
eminent in all the principal cities of the
world who shall know something about
| business and the conditions that foster it
! that is to say, we need consuls who are
capable business men.
These things, we may depend upon It
the nation will look to, but we here in New
York need to look to certain details for
ourselves if we intend to share as we
should in this coming tide of prosperity
| The highways of commerce between this
| nation and others now pass through this
city We have got to keep these highways
open and improve them If we want to keeI
the current going through New York.
1--WE must fight for the very best harboi
| facilities, and must break down the re.
strictions that now harass the commerce
of this port, the charges of terminal
rings, of dock rings and of warehouse
rings.
1--WE must defend our canal system, the
great artery upon which the life Of oul
commerce depends against the interests
that seek to destroy It,
I'VE must cultivate friendlier relations
with other Cities must assist the great
manufacturing interests of the interior ir
obtaining new outlets and, above all, must
defend the great business and financial in
terests of this city against the continue
assaults of ignorant and venal legislation
which otherwise will make 1t impossible
for men with money to continue business
in this, state.
mo nation was ever so favored by ma.
tural and political conditions as this Nc
city was ever so favored as the natura
center of all these beneficial influences "a
is this city, but we should see to 1t that we
do not throw away the good gifts that fol
tune Is showering upon us"
That is programme to which The
business men of the nation, of the En-
pire state and of the great metropolis
may we'll address themselves. Fol
lowed with the energy, honesty and
ability which are American character
istics, it will make not only 1899, but
every succeeding year phenomenal fol
the volume of our commerce and the
equitable division of its benefits.-Troy
Times.
|