New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1903-12-31
GREAT BUSINESS YEAR.
The Government Reports Shoe
Heavy Home and Export Trade.
[TRoM TIE TRIBUNE BUREAU. J


Washington, Dec. 3O-With the close Of business
tomorrow there will have been added another year
of unparalleled prosperity to the long record made
by Republican administrations The wealth of the
country has grown rapidly. the per capita wealth
has increased, foreign commerce has expanded
with giant strides, and. Notwithstanding the fact
that there has been liquidation IN Wall Street &C
companied by the destruction OF paper profits and
the annihaton of fictitious values-a speculative
cataclysm which under less prosperous conditions
would have caused disastrous panic-the opinion
expressed by financial experts is that the business
OF the country to-day is on irmer basis than ever
before in the history Of the natior
Never before have the imports Of manufacturers
materials reached the figures attained in 1908.
Present estimates place the Importation Of this
class OF goods at S4s0s2S 1856 and, in view Of the
fact that this class is composed mostly of goods
which are but slightly removed from the class
known as raw materials, and are TO all intents
and purposes raw material TO those importing
them. the figures sre held 10 indicate a thoroughly
healthy condition of American manufacturing in
terests Taken WHOLE the expectation Of ag-
rcutural products for eleven months shows an
increase OF 100000 the previous year. en- in
crease which includes almost every class of agri-
cultural product, but considerable portion OF
which is made up no doubt of cotton, which, at
the greatly enhanced prices Of the last year. has
the selling price OF last year It is further esti-
mated that before Europe can possibly satisfy its
imperative demand it VIII have to purchase Amer
lean cotton TO the amount of sl5,o0DO00 more.
An interesting opinion is advanced regarding the
slump in speculative values in Wall Street by one
of the ablest hnancers in Congress He declares
that the bear market has sent many men. among
them some Of the most abba wealth producers OF
the country, back to their factories and mills their
mercantile establishments and warehouses; where
duction OF actual wealth. instead OF wasting It
attempting 10 pile up profits paper in Wall
Street. which add nothing to the real wealth OF the
nation. and are never actually realized. Be this
as it it is evident that the Wall Street crisis
has produced serious effect in the West, where
magnificent crops at exceptional prices have aided
in producing the most prosperous era those States
have ever experienced
The aggregate wealth Of the country Is con-
servatvely estimated at 500 900 100000 an increase
of s6o0000000O over the last year. 1900 The
population Of the country is variousy estimated in
the absence of recent census at from IS 900 to
10000 900. but the lesser figure is probably
! the actual total. and. taking that basis for
computation, the per capita wealth of the country
can be paca2 at I245, Increase of 80 per capita
the last census year The per capita indebted
ness OF the nation has been reduced 10 the con-
servativ. figure of 81 so and the national debt has
diminished to the gratifying figure Of 1914 100000
Taking the figures fo- the first eleven months
| Gals announce that the total foreign commerce
for the year will exceed that of any previous year
I'm the history Of the nation. The total exports for
the eleven months ending witt: November amounted
| TO N.309.934,11 compared with SLIP So. $50
for the same period OF the previous year While
these figures have been slightly exceeded notably
in 1900 the banner year, the total imports surpass
all previous figures. the aggregate for eleven
months being 9177s40c9 against 1914 S59 S3S for
the previous year. The balance OF trade for the
calendar year IS estimated at S427 500 900.
Banking statistics furnish ample ground for self
congratuation. according to the Treasury officials
TIE deposits in savings banks never larger.
aggregatinG g 2OS45, increase of S1I50 O5S
SIS for the last decade Total bank deposits also
show enormous increase, the present figures
being estimated at ;l0,0Co00oOOo The per capita
circulation OF the country is now placed at $50 81
an increase from 80 06 in the last years Prob
ably no figure gives better indication OF the vol
urne OF business transacted I'm this country during
the last year than the estimated bank clearngs
which are placed at the enormous aggregate Of
sl14 0SS So. $50.
CONDITION OF TREASURY