The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1899-03-22
COL. DUDLEY EVANS.


He Has threat Confidence In The BUSH
ness Future Of the Uuited States =
Like All Careful Thinking Men he is
Apprehensive Of the Results Of the
spanish Var Hopes for the Best and
fwe are Wise 1t May Result For
food
New York Times Of the 15th.)
Col. Dudley Evans, whose obserya-
lions on the business conditions Of the
country are made from his informa-
ton obtaining position of General
Manager of the Eastern Division Of
Wells, Fargo & Co., is full of conf
dence in the future of American busis
ness, believing that our trade is being
built upon a strong foundation and
that it will enter more fully than
heretofore the foreign field. Col.
Evans is satisfied that If recent terri
torial acquisitions do not interpose
obstacles to business progress good
times are bound to long continue.
To representative Of The New York
Times Col Evans said yesterday:
Business at present is fairly good.
Steady progress is still being made. l
do not however, regard the situation
as indicative Of any boom. 1t Is all
most six years since the country was
visited by financial crash, and in
that period there has taken place an
important development OF industrial
enterprise Concurrently with this
we have had moderate increase OF
population and business requirements
have extended, augmenting consider
ably the volume Of trading at that
time. There have been liquidations
and settlements, while our unduly ex-
pensive methods Of doing business
prior to the crash have been thorough
ly overhanled.
'sFor the last two years, moreover,
we have had excellent crops and en-
joyed good prices for agricultural pro-
ducts, while at the same time there
has been growing up an important ex-
port trade which has now assumed
important dimensions. One of the
most encouraging signs of the times
and of prosperity is the voluntary in
crease In the wages of operatives in
the wool, iron and other industries.
All this reflects prosperous condi-
tion, and viewed from the CONNER
cial standpoint must be regarded as
of much consequence.
"Arislng out Of our contest with
Spain, it must be confessed that the
attention of the world has been focus
ed to a greater extent than ever before
upon the United States. European
nations not only regard this as a coun-
try of greater Importance, but they
have also recok nized our growing COM
mercial advantages and been attract
ed to our immense industrial develop
ment. To such an extent has this
gone that just now great many man
ufactured articles are being ordered
from America by the coun' ries OF the
Continent, and even by England.
The great British strike of last year
did much to place the English manu-
featuring establishments at a disad-
vantage and put them far behind in
their orders, and from the business
then diverted to similar establish
ments in the United States, this
country has reaped much advantage
since.
"Apropos of this, understand that
the Midland Railway of England has
lately placed large order here for
Germany is also depend
emit on us for several kinds of machin-
cry, and we are getting the advantage
Of large trade from that quarter. l
also learn that among Europeans gen.
orally our manufactures of electrical
appliances are regarded as superior to
they themselves can turn
out, and heavy orders for this class of
material are being filled in the United
States, especially for Russia, where
electric roads are just beginning to be
built.
''On the other hand, we should not
lose sight Of the fact that also grow
ing out of the late war we have assum-
ed certain insular, or what some call
esponsibilities; in other
words, we have acquired, whether
wisely or not, colonial possessions
that add to our National responsible
ties and that must necessarily be P
very heavy drain upon our exchequer.
In so far as the acquisitions in the
West Indies are concerned, these
would seem to be but natural re-
suit of the war. am somewhat ap-
prehensive, though, as to our Philip
pine possessions Under the most
favorable conditions, the expense of
looking after these islands will be
How long even the ex.
listing condition of war there will
last is an unsolved problem, and the
is one of heavy expense and
presenting serious difficulties, to say
of the possibilities of friction
with other powers. 1t is exceedingly
doubtful il the commercial advantage
cs which so many believe likely to re-
suit from the acquisition of the Phil
ippines would compensate us for the
of life and treasure.
s'Public attention has been so great
ly absorbed in the consideration of
our recent acquisitions that many i'm
portant matters of domestic or inter-
nal legislation have been practically
held in allegiance. have reference
to the great need of curren-
cy reform legislation. There should
be legislation to place beyond doubt
in the minds of the public all currency
matters. We are now maintaining a