The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-10-08
SIGNS OF PROSPERITY

Were it not that there is harden
ing tendency in the money market,
that the insurance scandal is still on,
and that the cry of car shortage is
going up from the west, there would
be nothing at all in sight on the I'M
favorable side Of the business situation.
Our country is so prosperous that its
commerce has expanded until the facili-
ties for handling 1t are scarcely ade-
quate III. ~ ..
There are a hundred illustrations that
might be taken to show its condition.
A great guide is the iron and steel
trade, indeed majority look to this
as barometer. Every avenue of bust
ness in iron and steel is choked with
the pressure The railroad man, is like
~ to watch the statements of earnings,
and the Pennsylvania road is the favor
lite exemplar. Reports are of new rec
ords made, and Of the maintenance of
heavy traffic.
The bank clearings are another guide.
For last month they show record fig
ures and Minneapolis counts in this.
She stands ninth in the list this week,
with $26,70S,044 piled up.
The number of firms or individuals
who have found it impossible to keep
A&oat is another indication. Failures
Ore less numerous by considerable. For
aine months of 1905 they decreased al
most 4 per cent, and liabilities de-
or wit
1905.
Some observers say there is no such
reliable indication of conditions as the
imports, altho they are likely to reflect
conditions present or Immediately past,
rather than those certain to remain.
When all is prosperous, and the people
have money in plenty, our imports not
only run up, but the list becomes spot
ted with items Of luxuries, much more
numerously than ordinarily. For eight
months of this year we imported thru
principal Atlantic ports merchandise OF
all kinds of the value Of $770, 412,o26
while for the same period last veal
the figures were $667, 269,364. A veal
ago the summary headed Particles Of
voluntary use, luxuries, etc. totalet
$s5,529, 1854. This year it runs to SOL,
S36,542. The American people have
money and they are spending it freely
The crop-moving factor enters int
the financial situation just now in very
important degree. Ten per cent cal
money is a prediction for next week
for New York. This, ever if it comes
will not be serious, except in 50 far a
it affects speculation, but it is almos
q certainty that later on in tNe year O.
early in next year, the old question
of an inadequate currency supply will
L.. again be in the front. Secretary SHAY
took the country thru one such period
and handled our rather clumsy system
satisfactorily, using his discretionar,
power at greater length than usual.
It would be useless to borrow troubl
over this, or over freight blockade
and COMPOSITIONS that seem almost Gel
-. tain to come a little later. These ar
the troubles that are always to be foun
in times Of prosperity, for prosperit
creates them. While they disrupt bus
ness and make no end Of delay an
hardship, they can scarcely be avoided
and are infinitely better than man
other things that often come along wit
good times.
Just at present the labor situation
free from anything very serious. Their
are minor strikes, one Of them Of loo;
effect, and some great labor disturb
ances are limited at for next sprin
but at present the American workin,
100, man is we'll employed at good remuner
tion, and is enjoying the same benefi
of good times, i'm his own sphere, tn;
his employers are enjoying in theirs.