Aberdeen herald. [volume] (Aberdeen, Chehalis County, W.T.) 1886-1917, 1907-01-03
A BUSINESS RL,'IEW OF 1906 BY
BRADSTREETS.
The Progress of Nation During the
Year Was a Record Breaker. The
Standard of Living Shows Notable
Advancement. Prices Reach the
War Time Level.

Nineteen hundred and six was a very
remarkable year. And yet this cbarac-
terization appears incomplete in view OF
the fact that old records were retired and
new ones set up in the disproving of old
proverbs, and the predictions that 1905
was so favorable that better results were
hardly to be expected the following
year. Not the least remarkable feature,
too. was the fact that the apparent draw.
backs, and there were number. did
not retard the onward movement, and
the course OF events, commercial, indus
trial and financial, viewed from the van
tage ground of achieved results, was a
grand triumphant march OF progress.
Concisely stated, 1906 saw very favor.
able crops yield; record output OF cere-
ais; close to highest yields and record
values of other farm products; unprece-
dented activity in all kinds Of mining
except coal; enormous output OF pre-
cious metals; land speculations assumed
enormous proportions, building activity
surprising the wonderful record of 1905;
unprecedented totals OF foreign trade {;
an unparalleled immigration surpassing
totals of clearings and railway earnings !;
employment active and labor scarce as
never before; record volume OF the cir.
culating medium-money-proving alto.
gether inadequate for business purposes,
and finally, and what is. perhaps, the
most remarkable development Of all,
the reaching, in time Of profound
worlds peace, of a wartime level OF
prices Of commodities without the slight.
est apparent effect upon demand. which,
throughout the year, pressed hotly upon
supply and caused, from the beginning
of the year to its close, general COM
plants Of the backward deliveries OF
goods. After even cursory review OF
the results, indeed, one is impressed with
the inadequacy Of adiectives to give full
expression to the wonderful development
of the year now drawing to close.
OF the drawbacks. Interruptions, and
what, in some years, would have proved
to have been absolute checks to progress,
there we're several we'll deserving OF
mention. Mild winter weather has not
usually been associated in the past with
present or future good trade or crops,
and yet the country had the mildest win.
ter in years. Later on in the year, the
greatest city on the western coast was
leveled by earthquake and fire, a shock
to financial circles which might have
been fatal in an ordinary year. Legisla-
ton Of a somewhat radical character al.
fecting railroads and large corporations,
with numerous prosecutions OF companies
and individuals, was marked feature
resulting from the previous years moral
agitation and uplift in state and nation,
without any. apparently, other than
beneficial effects to the country at large.
Tight money at home and abroad put a
strain upon general business which re-
suited in stiikingly little friction, judg-
Ing iiOiA AuliulO iCtulios IIiC LlO5t uO'
ticeable effect being feeling Of conserva-
tsm which proved to be beneficial. Con.
gressional and state elections had little
effect, the general conclusion being that
the people were"too busy to talk politics."
Transportation congestion of the acutest
kind, resulting in loss OF trade and some
actual suffering where fuel supplies were
concerned, perhaps arrested, but certain
ly did not check, progress. Strikes were
numerous but, except in the coal, mold
ers' and printing trades, not Of long
duration, owing to spirit of compromise
and yielding on the part of employers,
who realized that the cost as we'll as the
country's standard of living justified
larger compenss.tion.-Brad