The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-11
The Business Situation.


 Henry Clews in his Saturdays review says in part:
 For months past the street has been stimulated by optimistic views and activi- ties of all kinds; some of them genuine, some of them far from trustworthy. Much of this so-called prosperity talk has been exaggerated and unfounded. Only in the steel trade is there extraordinary ac- tivity and prosperity combined. This in- dustry is certainly enjoying phenomenal success; all records of production being far surpassed, and the best authorities agreeing that the country will witness 1 tremendous demand for steel at good prices for some months to come. This is due to the fact that the nations increase in population, activity and purchasing power compels large extensions in rail- road and industrial plants. Our railroads, 1t will be remembered, deferred many Improvements during the period of econ omy which followed the panic, and many new enterprises of an industrial character were also postponed. Just now there is an almost too violent rebound; constructive work is very active in all parts of the
 
 for large quantities of iron and steel in various forms. The widening use of steel as constructive material Is also i factor of much importance In this re- spect.
 "Outside of the steel industry, however, 1t is difficult to find any cause for inn moderate enthusiasm, business as whole not yet having reached the volume of 1908. Our farmers, as a class, are enjoy ing great prosperity because of the very profitable prices realized upon all agricul- tural products. Yet their prosperity is of the kind that is not universally desired, because it is unevenly distributed and is mainly at the expense of other classes of society. Present agricultural prosperity is based to a considerable extent upon scar city; which can never be considered en- 1 tirely beneficial because of the certainty that somewhere hardship is imposed in consequence" Don't Overlook Suburban Children. q notice in the advertising of Children's Day that the management of the Fair has arranged to sell tickets for the young sters here in the city at the redueed prices of 15c, but at the gate for 25c," said a citizen.
 q desire to call the attention of the proper persons that 1t will work hard ship on many children from surrounding municipalities and the rural districts in street car touch of the Fair grounds to tax them with an extra fare to get the benefit of the reduction. It would be well to set up a childrens ticket office in a tent if need be, for the day.
 "The 1Oc additional charged at the gate is hardly fair to all children and there are many thousands outside of Birming- ham proper of the 70 odd thousand school children in Jefferson county"
 MT. Carse Here.
 Henry R. Carse of New York, vice president of the Hanover National bank of that city, and president of the Bir- mingham Realty company, is at the Hill man. He will remain here until Wednes- day.
 "The business situation has been fm- proving rapidly and conditions, on the whole, are now very satisfactory" said MT. Carse. "The country recovered from the panic much sooner than even the most optimistic of us thought 1t would. It is not yet two years since the Wal l street furry paralyzed business It was generally felt at the time that four or five years would elapse before confidence I could be fully restored and business be- come normal. But in one year after the panic many of us found that our security holdings were worth 10 per cent more than they were before the crash. conn dence is not only restored, but all lines of business have shown remarkable re- covery"
 MT. Carse said he was naturally glad to see old-time industrial activity in the Birmingham district.
 Birmingham looks good to me- re- marked MT. Carse. and the future Tor this district is certainly bright MT. Carse stated that the Realty board