Vernon County censor. [volume] (Viroqua, Wis.) 1865-1955, 1903-01-07
The passing of 1902
marks the clos. of a year
ar ,,,o,.a,aJo,,+nJ oo4iv.,x,
Chicago

49, Of Unprecedented actlyi ".
Never before has the general volume Of
trade been so large, never vas there a
more general report of satif factory con
ditions. Many new enterprises have been
launched and so large a measure of sue
cess has attended as TO surprise even TIA
most sanguine. Old firms have increased
their trade enormously and many houses,
especially in the industrial field. have
lost identity in the process of consol!da-
ton so characteristic of the times. As
the country has prospered,, so has Chi
cago prospered. The city has increased
largely in population, the building rec
ord is excellent. the retail trade has
grown wondt fully. the jobbing interests
have expanded, and number of new
iobbiug firms entered the field. When
the figures are compiled it will be found
that Chicago has increased her impor-
lance largely.
So many new records have been made
chat lack OF space forbids an enumeration
here. Most important of ALL perhaps,
in viewing the country as a whole, is the
result in iron. since iron is the barometer
of trade. In 1901 the country produced
the remarkable total of 15.S7S,000 tons
duction for 1902 will exceed this by
100000 and show grand total in eN-
cess of 17,T00.000 tons.
II we turn to the railroads VIC find
that the construction of 6,026 miles of
new road brings the present mileage of
the country 10 203, 600 miles, and that in
the matter of new rolling stock every rec
ord was broken. the roads having added
to equipment 1910 locomotives End l64.-
547 ears. and yets with this increase,
there is the old story of inability to han
de all the business offered. We have
assurance that the roads viii continue
The policy Of increasing equipment
through 1903 in the fact that the loco
motive and car building companies are
very heavily sold ahead The railroads
have not been in haste to spend their
heavy earnings of the prosperous year.
and have been adding TO surplus until
rs we turn into 1903 we find the largest
Sims ever known in the strong boxes of
the roads. Two great systems. the
Milwaukee and the Atchson. are carry
ing an excess of $20000,000 each, and
twenty-six leading roads will carry over
in all about S1G5.000.000. The bulk Of
this will go eventually for new lines. or
betterments. and new equipment on old
lines.
The leading feature possible of evil
Interpretation is the fact that list year
we bought much more abroad than we
sold. although this IS by 10 means the
unfavorable feature that Il superficial
view might indicate. In 1900 we had OK
ported "a 49,. 079 bushels of corn to late.
This fell to 20,550,245 in 1901. and so
far in 1902 we have exported only S,iSS,-
SIS We simply have not had a SURPLUS
of corn TO sell. But from now ON we
should wire out this unfavoraslc show
ing. and the fact that this week we sent
out 1.jO2. SOL bushels. against 424."iO
bushels in the corresponding week last
wear. is an indication that we *re start
ing in TO do it. This one item. under nor
NAL conditions. may swing the balance
the other way.
At the moment we are in period Of
tight money in New York, which may
pass soon or may drag well into the new
wear. But it is certain to pass finally.
and then we should be in for long pc
riod Of general good business.