The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-24
PROSPERITY SIGNS
PLAIN, SAYS AUSTIN
So Numerous and Striking
AS to Be Unmistakable,
He Declares.
INCREASES SHOWN
IN IMPORTATIONS
Revival of Era of Good Times Is
Worldwide, Is His
Belief.
By JOHN sNURE.


According to o. P Austin, chief of
the Bureau Of Statistics Of the Depart
n1ent of Commerce and Labor, the signs
OF prosperity in the United States are
so numerous and striking as to be UNI
r7tstakable. Mr.. Austin says the revival
OF prosperity I'm fact is worldwide So
far as the United States is concerned,
the indications OF it IN : statistical
way are many and indisputable.
Among the facts pointing 10 q great
revival Of prosperity in the United
States. as Mr.. Austin sees IL, are the
great increase in the movements of ore
on the Great Lakes, the heavy decrease
in the number Of idle cars, the growth
OF individual deposits In the banks and
the improving customs receipts. These
are not the only signs of better times
that might be cited, but they are among
the most important.
II villa be some days before the August
figures on imports Of merchandise are
out The latest are those for July.
While they are referred TO as imports
of merchandise, these imports include
the importations of manufacturers ma
terials. The increase in such inporta-
fions is little short Of remarkable when
compared with the figures for year
ago. The August figures will probably
make still better showing than those
for July. though the latter are salts
factory enough.
Importation of Copper
One of the best indications Of what
is doing in the land is seen in the i'm
portations of copper, in form OF pigs.
inEots, bars. plates. and old copper.
While this country is a great producer
of copper ore, owing to the high per-
lection OF the art of copper manufac-
turing in this country, there are still
large imports OF It IN the form OF ma
terisls for manufacturing. The impor-
tations of copper in the forms referred
70 have thus far been about double
what they were last year.
Take the case Of unmanufsctured cot
ton The latest 1893 figures, which are
those for July. show an increase In i'm
portatons Of about % per cent. as com
pared with 1905
sure index 70 the state OF the ma
lions pocket Is afforded by diamonds
and other precious stones. For the first
seven months of the year 1903. the i'm
portations of such stones amounted TO
~, $40 f9l- For the corresponding period
OF lpoe, when everyone was feeling hard
up. the importations were 81. 30. PIG The
August figures when out will no doubt
show the country is still feeling in the
mood TO buy diamonds. II Is more than
back TO the 1907 level in The diamond
business, and is purchasing more dia-
monos and other precious stones than
IN that year Of remarkable prosperity.
When Il comes TO tmportations OF
hides and skins, the material for the
manufacture OF shoes and various
leather products, the amount Is about
double what it was in 1905 and the 1907
amount and in value. the importations
OF hides and skins for the first seven
months of 1909 were about double those
OF the corresponding period OF 1908.
Other Increases
India rubber impOrtations show in in
crease OF about . per cent. Iron ore
irnportations have about doubled. six
importations have increased about 30 per
cent Importations of hbers have in
creased about . per cent. These are
some Of the most striking illustrations
of the fact that materials for use in
manufacturing are pouring into the
United States at a rapid rate. In some
cases, these impOrtations are reaching
unprecedented heights
Speaking OF the iron business, which
Is extremely active just now. Mr. Aus
tin pointed on that the pig iron produc-
ton for the eight months ending August
l, according 70 the Iron Age, amounted
10 15,250.oo0 tons against 9.333. 600 tons II,
the same period in 1sO- Not only this
Lakes have nearly doubled thus far this
year.
Individual Deposits.
Considering the growth OF individual
deposits In national banks. the last o
port OF the Comptroller OF the Currency.
as Of September /, showed 81, gSS. 900 G0n
as against 81. SOC 10000. for about the
came date last year
The number Of idle cars has fallen
about half as compared with a YEAR
ago. September /. the number OF idle
cars was 1ls,4Z4. For the same date a
year ago. IL was 22i III
Mr.. Austin says that consideration Of
the commerce OF the principal coun-
tries Of the world shows thar on the
whole there Is Improvement as com
pared with a year ago. France is one
Of the countries showing Lar rye incres 80
in export trade Germany IS bout sta
tionary. Canada shows a considerable
increase Of exports. Japan shows L
heavy increase. The United Kingdom.
90 the other hand. shows a large falling
on in expectations and so does the
United States