Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1908-01-07
FINANCIAL REVIEW AS TAKEN
BY AN INTERESTED CITIZEN.
The Pilot Takes Pleasure in Presenting the Views of Its
Subscribers on Any Question of General Interest
(c0NTRIBUTED.)


nounced, and as natural sequence,
wages suffered a slight depression.
Trading became more confined TO &c
tual necessities, and stock upon the
shelves of our merchants was carried
longer than usual. But through it all,
our people were hopeful, courageous
and loyal, and approached the holiday
season, with less outward show perhaps
than in recent years, but with supreme
faith that the renewing of our aggres-
sive prosperity could not, and would
not long be delayed. With no feelings
of bitterness for the things which 1907
brought US, we bid a kindly adieu to
the old year, not unmindful of the vaIu-
able lessons which the closing months
of the year administered to US.
WELCOME TO 1908.
Without in the least sense rupturiug
| the relations which exist between past
and future, the new year opens most
auspiciously. Great tidal waves of
prosperity. of enlarged manufacturing
or building activities are not in sight
The insane rush for wealth, wild specu-
lation and disregard of the fundamental
laws of finance, do moi appear upon the
horizon. In their stead comes the evil
dence of sane business methods, suffi-
cient money for home enterprises, re-
stored confidence in the operations of
our business centers, and patriotic in
tergrity OF the part of those to whom
great trusts have been committed.
As regards Wausau, and the trade
region tributary to it, the view is
strictly an optimistic one. All lines of
trade have received the evidences of
great activity. in which the raw mate
rial as well as the manufactured pro-
| duct will receive a satisfactory compen-
sation for their goods. The conditions
which confronts the lumber industry,
are only capable of one Interpretation,
even that of buoyancy, and he who
| would pass the view as one of no spe-
cial interest to the masses, shows per-
| verseness of spirit, and narrowness of
mind out of harmony with the prosper
| ity possibilities of 1908. Authentic
reports from the retail lumber yards
demonstrates that when the spring
stocks are ordered, practically every
| wholesaler will be unable to fit, further
orders except with the cut of 1905 A
| combination of circumstances, not pre-
meditated, has lessened the margin
between the demand and the supply,
and will force an activity the coming
season whose ramitictions Will extend
into the realms of many other indus
| tries
What does this mean to Wausau and
Marathon county? The great mills of,
| this city have not, and cannot supply
| the demand alone The smaller mills
throughout the country must and will
he looked TO, while much of their supply
of raw material must come from the
farmers who are clearing their land and
making the unproductive acres take
their legitimate place in the march of
progress as producing factors. 1t
means more labor, good prices. in all
of which every citizen will become "a
beneficiary. Reports from Chicago and
other large cities shows that in tine
| matter of the manufactured products of
| lumber, stocks are at low ebb, and
that the spring orders will, as natural
| result, be unusually large. These
views are substantiated by all of our
local dealers, who state that the spring
inquiries are more than normal, and
every mail brings additional proof, that
the country at large is passing into a
state of trade confidence, hopeful and
promising for the months of 1908. y
Very nearly the same conditions con-
fronts the mercantile trade. Buying,
either wholesale or retail has been con-
siderably reduced during the last three
months, and the usual activity spent in
that direction has been transferred to
the adjustment of financial obligations,
which makes the foundation for 1908 in
| this direction more secure, and well
calculated to inspire confidence. The
holiday trade was even better than was
at one time anticipated, but with the
opening of the new year the outlook
has been illumined by the unmistake-
able trend towards larger operations,
in which safe and sane buying on the
part of the producer and consumer will
be striking feature.
Real estate also promises good things.
A prominent citizen of the city made
the statement in the closing hours of
| 1907, that within the last two weeks he
had disposed of reality at advanced
| prices, and for q cash consideration.
which was in striking contrast to the
most of the trades for the last few
| months
The industrial or labor situation must
not be overlooked. 1t is after all az
pulse of trade, that gives most nearly
correct indication of the near future.
The closing Of banks here and there
during the incipient panic, caused less
anxiety, than the laying off of men in
the realm of our large industries. But
ehC Va lnc OSllc that mar kcQ the
birth of the new year, gave forth a ,ao.e
joyful sound, because of the restoration
of these men to their positions with lit
tie of any change in the wages paid.
The perspective is pleasant one to
contemplate, for the promise is rich in
its fullness of goodness The dark
clouds of the recent past are fast dis
appearing, and in their stead comes the
golden glow of radiant morning, be-
tokening day, season, a year of that
form of activity which rings with the
mu-ic of prosperity, bringing salts
factory rewards for all the labor that is
wisely aud industriously expended.
Ii tells story of Industrial and com
merciai conditions so tremendously
blended. that the Vaccinations of stock