Ottumwa tri-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1903-1916, 1904-09-29
CHICAGO BUSINESS MEN SAY
BUSINESS PROSPECT is
ENCOURAGING.
TRADE is MOST SOUND
Business Leaders Unite in Predicting
An Era Of Prosperity of a substan-
tiaI kind-Good Crops and Brisk De.
mand Cause Active Business.

Chicago. Sept. 27-- The Chicago
Record-Herald, a paper which is indie
pendent as to politics, publishes today
an article declaring that the outlook
for the future of American business is
decidedly encouraging. Statements by
the best known business men in Chi
cago are published and all of these
men say that the outlook is splendid
The article follows:
Prosperity that is normal; economic
conditions which presage steady and
satisfactory development along gener-
al industrial lines; better times and
less agitation which has tendency
to disturb profitable manufacture and
distribution of products: an increas.
ing demand for merchandise, unaffect.
ed by speculative movements; lack of
restlessness and distrust owing to the
presidential campaign. and general
advance in the direction of business
growth based upon conservative meth
ods--such was the composite prophecy
made yesterday by commercial lead.
ers who spoke with authority and
whose interests are among the great
est in Chicagos field of activity.
Among wholesalers, whose calcula.
lions are based upon careful study
of advance orders by merchants
throughout the country, the feeling ap.
pears to be that strong. legitimate
demand will be the rule. State street,
the never-failing barometer of local
commercial conditions, is optimistic.
The railroads are taking a much less
pessimistic view than was the case a
few months since, and the banks. new
er first to be swayed by good times
talk. admit safe and reasonable de-
mand for money upon good security.
Briton Sees Bright Side.
Corroborating the views of Chicago
merchants and manufacturers is the
official report of Seymour Bell, the
commercial agent of Great Britain to
the United States. who, after careful
Investigation covering twelve months,
advises his government that the gen
eral business of this country is ahso-
lutely sound. In discussing reasons
for temporary reaction during the
last few months, he says:
The overeXtenslon of business led
eventually to curtailment of credit.
A natural contraction of business i'm.
mediately TOOK place. The country re-
quires time to rest and recuperate and
the gambler time to forget this period
OF inflated prices and excessive specu-
lation. At the present time 1t would
be difficult to float a company of any
size. How long this period Of recuper-
alton will last depends largely upon
the size of the crops. The present
indications do not point to long per.
iod of low prices
The dumping of iron and steel,
says Mr.. Bell, has ceased, possibly
with view Of sitting anti-tariff legis
lation. At the time Mr.. Bells report
was mailed to the British foreign Office
and prior to its release for publication
in London yesterday the American
crop reports indicated much more
than normal harvest of both wheat and
corn and gave emphasis to his proph
ecy that good crops would make fol
most prosperous conditions.
All On Sound Basis.
That the business world has come
back with rapidity to stable footing
and that the prospects this year are
much brighter than at the same time
last year is the belief of John V. Far
well, Jr., of the wholesale dry goods
house of j. " Farwell & Co. In giving
| his reasons for his views Mr.. Farwel
said:
"The immense corn crop, the big cot
ton crop, the good prices for both ant
the fact that while the wheat produc
ton is low the enhanced value will
make the total money value greater
| these conditions are largely responsible
for the spirit of satisfaction. Election
year fortunately has not brought stag
nation. Every business apparently il
increasing and collections are becom
ing easier. Factories are opening anG
there will be sufficient employment TO
all men who are wise enough to take
slight decrease of wages until the re
turn to prosperous conditions is accom-
plished. We are increasing our bust
ness all through the country"
j. w. Scott of the wholesale hous.
of Carson, Prize, Scott & Co., said thai
his firm was pleased with the business
outlook and that the orders booked
for next spring were very satisfactory
Outlook Held Roseate.
Charles H. Conover, vice presiden
of Hubbard, Spencer, Bartlett & Co.
who has been closely watching condi
tions affecting the hardware trade, salt
| that the immense corn crop and tn,
increased value of wheat had brough
big business and had made the outlool
most promising.
Travelling agents report small mer
chants as safely through period of de
preston and with small stocks, whicl
must be filed" said Mr.. Conover. "Ad
vance orders are running high. TIL
boom conditions have gone and the
country is now returning to a norm
/ basis
Speaking for the boot and sho,
trade, j. Harry SELF expressed satisfac
ton with the outlook, saying:
$50 firmly convinced are we that
good business is to come that we hay
added dozen men to our selling force
sending them into territory not here
4 tofore tributary to Chicago We ar
| going ahead with plans for two new
/ factories and have increased the facil
tiles of our present Chicago plant one