The Middleburgh post. [volume] (Middleburgh, Snyder Co., Pa.) 1883-1916, 1900-09-06
PROSPERITY.

tains. sent out letters to several
hundred business men in the large
cities and in country towns OF these
sections. :,
They were asked how the bank
deposits of their own communities
compared with four years ago to
what extent there had been improve
ment in the credits of their munici-
palities or townships; and what bet
terment, if any, was noticeable In
the condition Of the borrowing
classes.
The business men to whom letters
were sent were selected without any
reference to, and without know
ledge of their political affiliations.
In several instances extremely IN
teresting replies came from bankers
having a National reputation in
Democratic party circles, such as
John r. Walsh, President of the
Chicago National Bank.
The general substance OF the re-
plies show that savings and COM
merciaI deposits have increased from
so to 120 per cent. since 1896; that
municipalities are able to borrow
money at rate averaging more
than one-half of one per cent.
less than in 1896; that farm values
in most sections have almost dou-
bled; that about so per cent OF
farm mortgages have been paid up,
and the remainder renewed only
with "prepayment" privileges and at
lower interest rates; and that from
20 to 25 per cent. Of the debtor
classes, to whom Bryan four years
ago vainly appealed with his dis
honest propositions for cutting IN
two the value of money legal tender
in payment for debts, are now act
ually lending money in competition
with the business men writing these
letters.
Out of all the answers thus tar
received the only note dlscordant
with story OF remarkable prosper
ity among all interests and in every
community has come from a banker
in the town OF Deadwood, South
Dakota. The principal business
there is gold mining, and the COM
plant is that gold is worth no more
than it was four years lille
Al, coke, iron and c RI We
doubled in value. Oh course this
interesting instance only goes the
more to prove the utter absurdity
of Bryan's talk of four years ago te
the effect that the gold standard was
making "gold go up" and "man,'
incidentally with commodities and
wages, ego down."
Some OF the strongest replies have
come right from Bryan's own state
of Nebraska. The prosperity ther'
has been SO wonderful that Bryan
can have no excuse for being unob
servant of it. The town of Lincoln
in which Bryan is taxpayer, now
has 4 per cent. bonds selling at {
h. premium, whereas four years ago i
r experienced difficulty in floating
loans at 6 per cent. Adlai E. Stew
enson as taxpayer has also had I
= chance to see evidences of prosperity
3 right in his own town, for the city
e of Bloomington, Illinois, has recent
e ly sold its bonds on a basis of 3:4(
e per cent, which is lower than an.
< municipality in the United State
a could get in 1896.
a The letters will ultimately b.
: printed in full and given wide cir
n n,culation. Following are few tina
s the National Committee made pub
e lie last night
James b. Forgan, President
First National Bank of Chicago
y, Chicago, Illinois:
al I submit the following compar
slison of the deposits of the Chicag
r, banks in 1896 and in 1900:
i National Banks 1896 1900
> Individual deposits. @i: i:o5onS G@' MSlsS M 3.
A Country bank deposits, A9.o5S,926 lgI.C2,o'
i State and Savings Banks
II Individual deposits. aa,1'0.s46 66,429 81
! Savings deposits 2O.99S4 ei,IiO6l
q Country bank deposits. 7.Ss2,625 ls.ss5.SS
Total dept Chicago Bks SIT ia 1851. .s99 81
Mn regard 10 the Improvement q
:, Chicago Municipal Bonds durin
, the last four years, as shown b
Il