Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-01-01
Uncle Sans Most Prosperous Year.

year l9Vo all agree tndt IN INDUSTRIAL,
commercial, agricultural, railway and
financial progress the year surpassed
all previous records. The facts and
figures, the tables and statistics which
they present enforce this conclusion iG
most emphatic fashion. Never before
has any country under the sun enjoy
ed decade of such progress and pros
perity as the United States has expert
enced since 1896, and in all that re-
markable period the year which has
mas just closed showed the greatest
advances. Moreover, the new year of
1907 opens under auspices bright be-
yond any precedent and as far as hui
man eye can see there is no reason
country even greater material bless
ings than came with 1906. In his an
nual report Secretary Shaw said I'VE
who are praying people should ask God
to save our country from any increas-
ed prosperity. 1t has all now 1t can
stand But whether the country can
stand it or not, the tide of prosperity
continues to roll onward with increas-
ing volume, and the spirit of kipling's
hold of the hearts of the American
people. A feeling of awe at the sup
erabundant bounty should be our NEIL
tai state as we stand at the threshold
of this bright new year.
An important factor in the cOntin-
ued and increasing prosperity of our
country during 1906 was a succession
of generous harvests. Not only have
I he harvests east and west, north and
south been exceptionally large, but the
farmers senel ally have received very
profitable prices for the products oi
Never before was the American farm
CT 80 we'll off as he is today Never
was he 50 little in debt and Possessed
Of 50 good Il bank account. ana never
before has he and his family enjoye /
so many of the comforts of life. The.
crops of three of our great agriculture
al staples for the past year, as com
pared with 1903, are as follows: Corn,
| 1877 100000 bushels in 1906 as against
2,7GS.00O00O in 1905; wheat, 735,oOoooo
bushels in 1906 as against 693,0oOo0O in
| 1906; cotton 12.;4S, 900 bales in 1906 as
against 1O.GOOOO0 bales in 1903. The
value of all the country's agricultural
crops in 1906 is set at $G.13l.O0O,O00 in
1906 as against Sc, 800, G00,O 900 in 1908. In
spite of the greater crops there seems
to be no more corn, wheat, cotton, beef,
pork, wool, butter, or any other staple
product than the world needs, hence
| there is Il continuance of high prices
| in all agricultural products.
Next to the abundant havestS the
development of our countrys mineral
resources has been a most prolific
| source of new wealth. Iron, copper.
| ana gold are all being produced in I'M
precedented quantities and there are
| no signs of a reduced yield in the COM
ing year. In 1906 we produced over
| 25,000,Od0 tons of pig iron, n gain of
the total product of Great Britain
and France. In steel, nearly all the
products are sold for year ahead. as
| is also the case with certain cotton
| fabrics. The copper production has
grown to 991,000.GV pounds. 8 per cent.
more than in 1908. and still the sup
ply is inadequate.
According to Dun'S annual review,
| the commercial failures during 1906
were 1913 in number against 11,J20 in
| 1905. In view of the large increase in
| the number of firms in business and in
constantly growing volume of business
! this decrease in the number of failures
is Very gratifying. no other year maxi
ing 50 good u showing for many years.
with the single exception of 1899. Tile
| figures for the fiscal years imports
| ana exports show that the imports of
| the United States were 81. -. 100000 as
against $l.1IS,OO 100000 for 1905 and the
| exports of our country We're $1,144. 900. :
600 against $1.619 100000 for 1903. TIL.
| bank clearings of the United States for
the first IL months of the year were
Sl455i0. 000. 900 as against $129. lao 00O, 000
for the corresponding period of 1906.
The gross railroad earnings for the
first III months of the year We're $685.
;,50.GO0 as against 1874. 100000 for the
corresponding period Of the preceding
year. One of the chief causes of los;
and complaint throughout the country
| has been in consequence of the inabil-
| ity of our great railroad systems tn
| handle the rapidly increasing business
of the country. 1t is said that the
producing capacity Of the freight car
| factories of the United States is about
10000 ears yearly. while to keep UP