The Philipsburg mail., 1899-10-27
AN ERA OF PROSPERITY
1t Has Dawned Upon the Entire
Pacific Coast.
CAUSED BY ORIENTAL TRADE
Gradual Awakening to the Fact That the
Islands of the Pacific Ocean VIII
Become the Great Center
OF Commerce.

The great improvement in trade and
the steady development Of industrial
resources which have been so marked in
the Atlantic and central portions of the
United States, since the beginning of
the present year have had reviving eff
feet on the Pacific Coast, so long de-
pressed, says the San Francisco Chron-
icle.
Business in San Francisco has been at
a low ebb, but it appears now to be
generally conceded that the tide has
turned. There has been a gradual in
crease in volume and activity for nearly
a year past, but it was not noticeable
until few months ago. The improve
ment has been evenly distributed IN
all branches of trade and of such a sub
stantial character that values have been
strongly established on higher stan
dard. The revival is general and the
benefits accruing from it are being en-
joyed by all classes of people, the bank
er, the merchant, the artisan and the
shopkeeper sharing III their respective
proportions.
Throughout the length d breadth of
the Pacific Coast there is realization
that brighter DAYS are dawning and
that the future holds in store a pros
perity that will encourage the merchant
and the mechanic to renewed activity
and to an enlargement of ideas in the
line of industrial progress. This is not
an optimistic picture, based on hope
but fair, uncolored statement founded
on solid facts as they are shaping them
selves in San Francisco at the present
time.
California's crops are just about har-
vested and the yield has been bountiful
beyond all expectations. Prices have
advanced and the producers of the State
are liquidating Indebtedness. Money
is abundant and rates of interest are
generally employed than for several
been advanced. In this city the mer-
chants are carrying larger stocks and
orders are greater numerically as well
as in volume. The shipping interest is
looking up and there is scarcity of
tonnage to handle the increased traffic
The Oriental trade, particularly, is as
Stunning enormous proportions ard there
is gradual awakening to the fact that
in the expansion Of civilization the
Pacific ocean is to be the great center
of commerce in the coming year.
The fact that the savings deposits in
San Francisco show such su ostantial
increase shows that the saving oppor-
tunities of the working people have
been largely increased. Another fact
worthy Of mention as evidencing the
growth Of the export trade is the esti
mate of the cashier Of the u-tom-hOuse
in this city, placing the total of customs
receipts for October in excess of 500, 900.
There are single days when receipts
aggregate 800 900 and over
With more work for the people and
more business for the merchants, there
is nothing in the way of prosperous de-
velOpment. The almost general unan-
unity with which storekeepers ex-
plain how their business is good and
steadily growing and their enthusiasm
in endeavOring to set forth the favor
able conditions with which they are be-
ing surrounded stand out in sharp CON
trast as compared with the period Of
trade depression which prevailed not
many months ago.
These reports OF trade advancement
and the accumulations of savings by
the people at large are not beyond rea-
sonable expectation when the great
change in conditions in the city and
State are considered. In this city and
other centers of popula ion in California,
manufacturing is attracting more atten-
tion than ever before. ! his means
development of resources that will be
enduring. 1t will bring population
and it will bring wealth. and as the
gateway between the entire United
States and the markets Of the Orient
and the great islands Of the Pacific, San
Francisco is surely entering upon an
era of commercial and industrial pros
perity that will surpass the record Of
all previous years.