The Minneapolis journal., 1902-07-01
The NEW YEAR IN BUSINESS.

To-day is the first day Of a new fiscal
year. All of the great railway companies
and most of the industrial companies begin
magnificent prosperity has passed and a
new one opens without cloud in the
sky, though there are prophets Of evil
who declare that in the very activity and
prosperity Of the business world are to
be found omens Of an evil day coming
to tell. s.n
AS an indication of the wonderful busi-
ness expansion of the past year which has
come right down to the line with in
creasing figures take the earnings re
ports of the railways that center Minnes
.apolis: Figures for the entire twelvs
months are not yet available, but during
eleven months the increases In their gross
earnings over the corresponding period
last year were in excess of $24 900, 900,
the figures being roundly $3.50 100000 and
$159, 100000 The Northern Pacific tops
the list with gain of s7,eoo,o00. The
Great Northern shows almost as much.
The Burlington increases $4,000, 600; the
Milwaukee about the same amount; the
Minneapolis & st. Louis slightly; the
G. Northern and Wisconsin Central show
gains of some hundreds of thousands; ;
and the $500 an increase OF $1,000, 900.
Some of these gains are large because
some of the roads had rather lean year
to compare with, but even those roads
which did very we'll the preceding year
did better during the year just ended.
So far as the northwestern railroads
are concerned the outlook could not be
better. Grain men assert that the crop
prospects are better than at any time
since 1895. Nothing but calamities of the
good crops now. And good crops mean
good railroad business. Good crops mean
also general good business, with such
prosperity prevailing throughout the
whole country. ~ ~
Business is now all: that: could be de-
sired. Credit men report that II they
could have looked forward few years a. go
to the enormous credits they are giving
this year with cool. judgment they
would not have believed that they could
remain sane. This is not wild confidence,
but careful business calculation - based
upon the prosperity of the past year and
the promise of the coming one.
Wealth is now being accumulated so
rapidly in the northwest that there will,
if this sort of thing keeps on. be pleth-
ora Of local money for Investment in
new enterprises. This will mean stimu-
lation of prosperity. Business chances
long neglected will be taken advantage Of.
City real estate will attract some OF this
money. Much of it will go into farm
lands. And large quantities will be used
for the general material Improvement Of
city and country. -
year or two more Of such genial pros
perity as we are now enjoying will do as
much to better the material aspect and
condition OF the northwest as ten years
preceding. Whole regions will cast off
the rough appearance of q new country
and take on the smooth exterior Of an old
country. We shall have better store
buildings and public buildings in the
towns and cities, better residences and
better farm houses, more Of the comforts
ard pleasures and opportunities Of life.
And with this magnificent material ad-
vance will 90 d forward movement in cul-
ture and education.