The citizen. [volume] (Berea, Ky.) 1899-1958, 1906-04-26
PROSPERITY INCREASING.
viii Continue Unchecked for Years
II Discomfort Does Not
Creep In.

A bulletin just issued by the de-
partment Of commerce states that
American exports for eight months
ending with February exceeded In
value those for eight months ending
with February, 1905, by $4,000, 900.
OF this increase $l3S,000,00O was Of
agricultural products, while S4o,OOO,'
600 was OF manufactures.
BY themselves, says the Chicago In
ter Ocean. these figures mean little
but considered in their proper rela-
lions they give a striking indication
OF our national prosperity. And to
understand what these relations are
we must reWember that there are four
great groups OF articles OF foreign
commerce, three consisting OF both i'm
ports and exports and fourth Of
imports alone. The progress OF for
eign trade with respect TO each OF
these groups Is here summarized on
the basis OF Che figures OF each for
the first seven or eight months OF the
last three fiscal years-the months
ending with January OF February.
l. Foodstuffs, agricultural exports,
end food imports. This Is still our
largest class OF exports. It's value
vas s700.000.000 for the period end.
Ing with February last. as against
t567 100000 and s65S 100000 for the
came periods ending with February in
1906 and 1904. II grows, but irregu.
larly. from year TO year. according to
,he harvests here and abroad. Food
imports are practically stationary,
aow ranging around $4,000. 900 for the
period. But for our failure so far to
develop as we might sugar and coffee
growing IN our new possessions these
imports would decline rapidly
.. Materials. raw or partly manufae-
tured Of industry. Our mine and
forest EFFORTS are practically sta
tionary and tend to decline. We are
using these products more and more
at home. But our imports OF materi-
ais are increasing steadily. They
we're si99.000.O 900 In the eight months
ending with February, 1904: $751;.
100000 for the period ending with
February. 1905: had already reached
1921 .O00oOO by the end OF last Jan.
uary. and by the end OF the year viii
doubtless break all records.
3. Manufactures. Imports practical
iy stationary. ranging now around
So .0000 900 for the period and tending
20 decline. Exports growing steadi.
~ and rapidly. and increased from
sass 100000 for the period ending with
VTah-,tar.. fanH O.. anfn nnn 0au - ~.
period ending with February. 1905. TO
1887 600. 900 for the period ending with
last February
& Luxurles; imports only They
were s6.0o0.000 for the period ending
with February. 1904; 100000 for
tho period ending with February.
1905. and about si2.5oO. 600 for the
period ending with last February.
These figures show prosperity all
along the line Those OF the second
and third groups are particularly IN
terestlng. The prosperity Of our sgri.
cultural interests requires no argu-
ment. These figures show that not
only Is this nation one Of the worlds
great food storehouses but that II Is
also becoming It's greatest workshop.
We are selling 10 other countries
less Of our materials and buying more
OF theirs We are buying less OF
their manufactures and selling them
more and more OF ours. We are
STRENGTHENING our position as increas-
ers Of the value OF commodities by
industry. And our increasing pur.
ehases OF Injuries show that not only
are we doing more work. but that II
IS also profitable work. giving as
money to spend for things not neees.
sary.
There Is no question about cur great
and Increasing prosperity And, while
all things human are transltOry. there
Is no question that this exuberant
prosperity will be unchecked for some
years. II We do not become discon.
tented with II and spoil Il by falling
20 treat the conditions and institutions
under which Il has been attained with
common sense.