Marietta daily leader. (Marietta, Ohio) 1895-1906, 1900-09-12
\ PROSPERITY.
Some Facts as to the Era of
Good Times.
CALAMITY WALL AT TOPEKA
--------- -----
Gryan Attempts 10 Find Fault With
Present Conditions.
CALAMITY WALL AT TOPEKA
WHAT OFFICIAL FIGURES SHOW.

|
and Clearing House Returns Increase.
Mr.. Bryan, in his Topeka speech of
howl. All he could say, however, was
that there were more failures the past
year than in the previous one, and tnat
| there are signs, in his estimation, of
decline in the tremendous trade ac-
tivity. 1t will take more than a varia-
| ton in the number of failures and a
prediction of coming evil, to make the
American people believe in calamity.
Here are some facts as to our business
prosperity:
The reduction in failures from $780,
600 900 in 1898 and S226,000, 900 in 1886
to $4,000 600 in 1899; the increase OF
| clearing house returns from S52,O00,-
900, 900 in 1896 to $4,000, coo, 600 in
1883; an increase of 2S0,000,000 tons of
| freight carried by the railways in 1898
as compared with 1894, and an increase
of more than $2,O00,0 100000 of bank
deposits in 1899 a compared with 1894.
This great business activity, coupled
with heavy exports and light imports,
which have always accompanied the
protective system, has resulted in an
enormous increase of the money in cir
| culation. despite the assertions con-
stantly made in 1886 that there could
| be no material increase in the circu-
lsting medium without imitation by
means of free coinage of silver.
Notwithstanding the rejection of
this proposition, the money in circu
lation in the United States increased
from 81 SOC, ,434,9 at the date of Mr..
'Bryans 1896 nomination to 2062 49,
496, at the date of his nomination il,
1900, while the gold and gold certifi-
Gates in circulation which in July,
1896, were but s4s7 900 0OO were in
July, 1900, sS15.474 900, the per capita
of circulation thus increasing from
SPILL at the date OF the Chicago con-
vention OF 1896 to s26.50 at the date
! Of the Kansas City convention of 1900
Prosperous Industries.
The prosperity of our industrial in
terests is shown by the enormous in
crease in the amount of raw materials
required for use in manufacturing and
the equally striking increase of the ex-
ports of finished products The impor-
tations of raw materials for use in
manufacturing, which in the Demo-
cratic year 1894 amounted to only
| $13S, ,922, ,735 and formed only q per
cent. of the total importations, were
in the year 1900, 1902, ,264, LOG, and
formed 80 per cent. of the total impor-
tations; while the expectation of fin
| ished manufactures, which in 1894
amounted to but $lS3,72S,S0S and form
| ed q per cent. of the total exports.
were in 1900 S432, ,2S4 1866 and formed
81 per cent. of the total exports.
Prosperity of Farmers
The evidence of agricultural pros
perity under protection and sound
money as compared with conditions
under low tariff and currency agitation
| is even more strongly marked The
| growth in consumption of farm pro-
ducts among our own people under in
creased industrial activity and increas-
ed earnings is plainly shown in the
in the remarkable increase in the value
of their crops and farm animals.
The consumption of wheat in the
United States, which has ranged in
the vicinity of six bushels per capita
under the activities of the protective
| ta, ,,i al nd
one-half bushels per capita under the
low tariff and the business and man
ufacturing depression which accom-
panied it, but returned again to practi-
cally six bushels per capita in 1899.
Home consumption in other lines OF
farm products is equally affected by
prosperity or adversely in the great
business and industrial interests of the
country. AS result it is shown thai
the value of all farm products has
enormously increased, the value of the
corn crop alone, in 1899 being s14O,-
100000 greater than in 1896, while In
other linesof agricultural products the
increase is equally striking.
In farm animals the increased value
is even more plainly shown, the value
of sheep on farms having doubled since
the low tariff years 1895 and 1896, anC
the value of all farm animals beine
in the year 1900 nearly S7OO,OO0,OOt
greater than in 1896.
Workiugmsn Share Prosperity.
The prosperity of the laboring mel
is equally clear and striking. Reports
from state and national labor bureaus
and organizations are quoted showing
conditions in 1900 compared with thos
Of the late years of depression. ant
indicating increased employment AM
advance in wages in all lines of in
dustry.
The reports of the state labor bu
reaus in the great manufacturing AM
, industrial centers show marked i'm
provement both in the number of em
ployes, hours of employment an,
: wages paid This is especially marke
in the manufacturing. mining an