Evening star., 1899-03-08
Material PrOsperfty,

The prosperity cry Is becoming more than
a mere sentiment. On all sides are material
evidences that business is on the boom in
a wholesome, substantial manner. Wages
are being raised in many directions, either
to restore them to old bases or to grant
positive increases to employees Mills and
factories long idle are starting again, while
new firms are entering business. Here and
there failures are reported, the result as a
rule of injudicious management but the
steady trend of the commercial tide is
toward gain over last year. Statistics of
this advance are daily being served through
the news columns. From New England
especially come tidings of better conditions.
| one days grist means an advance in wages
of about 10 per cent in the case of over
I,ooO cotton mill workers. Other operatives
are being recalled to work after varying
periods of idleness. At the present rate it
will not be many weeks before every loom
and spindle in New England will be hum
ming. with the people attending them re-
ceivins high wages and in many cases
working over hours to comply with the
heavy demand for goods. In Pennsylvania
the same conditions are observable The
iron foundrymen are returning to work
from enforced idleness i'll large numbers
while others who have been on strike are
being called back to receive the terms for
which they have been contending Mill
owners are recognizing the drift of the
times with increases of 10 per cent in wages
here and there. The Pennsylvania and Ohio
wage increases yesterday, as far as noted
affected a total of nearly 5000 men.
These are symptoms of the general con-
ditions now affecting business in the man
ufacturing centers of the country Just
how far this state of affairs is due to the
reaction after the wartime depression is
not. of course, to be definitely ascertained.
1t seems to be stable disposition of events
rather than a freakish fuctuation upward
1t is assured that new markets are opening
to American manufacturers. The war has
undoubtedly aroused the buying world to
the fact that the United States is capable
not only of taking care of itself but of ad-
ministering to the wants of others The
raising of the embargo on certain American
goods exported to Germany has aided in
this movement to throw open the world
market to the products of this country.
The European political rivalry for Amer-
can favor now conspicuously in evidence is
Clearly having a commercial effect With
France, Germany and England coquetting
with Uncle Sam for his governmental
favors the chances grow that the balance
OF trade will soon be proponderantly in his
favor.
Locally there is every reason to believe
that prosperous conditions are developing,
even beyond the stage set before the war.
In yesterdays news columns was an ac-
count of the large sums of money soon to
be expended in this city for various public
works, the greater percentage of which will
flow into the pockets of the Washington
workmen and tradesmen. The activity of
the government and the District in under
taking large enterprises cannot fail to pro-
duce corresponding effect upon the ordi-
nary commercial and trade factors of the
city, and TO stimulate building, expansion,
immigration and investment. With large
street railway enterprises now under way
or soon to be commenced and other lines
of activity about to open there is an out
look for a season of exceptional prosperity
| for Washington.