The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1909-09-13
CAPITAL SHOULD Be
ACENTEROF TRADE
This Is the Argument Set
Forth by Angus
Almond.

General Prosperity Is in the saddle
the next nine or ten years. Not since
the financial disturbance Of two years
ago has the commercial horizon seemed
so clear as just now. II has dawned
upon business men everywhere that an
era OF good times stretches before them.
and with that energy and spirit typical
of Americans they are beginning 20
wake up and do things"
II is with the assurance OF A business
man keen TO note. In the revival Of
trade IN all it's branches. another decade
Of prosperity. that Angus Almond. Dis
trict manager OF the New York Life IN
surance Company. makes this optimistic
prediction. From his viewpoint, he de-
tects no cessation OF the couutry's In
dustrial wheels. On the contrary, Mr.
Almond predicts a steady movement
along the upgrade 20 even a greater
development than the most sanF7iine
now venture to predict. Returning con-
fldenoe in the countrY's future, ne
holds IS the great moving force behind
the present trade boom, and il will take
no more than a general acceptance Of
this view TO make the view widespread
FactOr1eS Are Busy.
As the one-t time president OF the
Louisville Commercial Club, one of
the south's most progressive business
organizations. Mr.. Almond learned
TO take prosperity by the hand" as
he chooses to express II, EFF prosper
ity's benefits are TO remain with you"
Business men here and elsewhere. he
says, are following this dictum, with
the result that factories are crowded
with rush orders. shops are busy. rail-
roads are moving the crops, money is
in abundance. and there are evidences
OF good faith everywhere.
One convincing evidence OF returning
prosperity Mr.. Almond finds I'm his own
business. He cites that in the several
months prior TO the financial disturb
ances of two years ago all the big
insurance companies suffered severe re-
verses along with other lines OF bust
ness. In December Of 1907 only fifty
Ave agents Of his company qualified
in that companyss so-called 1900 900
Club" whereas one year later 122 agents
qualified. and their business represent
ed three-fold what had been done the
year before.
''It is true" says Mr.. Almond. that
the life insurance business is ar ex-
cellent barometer by which 20 judge
the general financial condition Of our
country.
More Business Being Done.
THE reports show that all OF the we'll
established insurance companies are
doing a much larger business this year
than last. In spite Of the fact that the
limiting the AMOUNT of business a life
insurance company must do, forced us
not only to close seventy-eight branch
olices but TO terminals the contracts OF
about 400 agents. my company. on Sep
TENDER 1. 1909 had paid for more thar
Slf0o0000 more insurance than It had
paid for up to the same time last year
ali OF which goes TO show that General
Prosperity is again in the saddle"
Mr.. Almond Is exceedingly optimistic
for the future prosperity of Washing
ton Although one OF its comparative
~ newer citizens. he sees that as a
residential and commercial city IL has
many advantages over other cities far
IN excess Of its population. The fact
that other cities suffer the baneful ef-
feets of local machine politics. and thai
their merchants pay tribute TO Die ever
present party CRATER. or. declining e
Go so, are subjected 70 the constant an
With their business, puts washington
this insurance man thinks, in a position
OF security above that of any Other
American community
Washington Admirably Situated.
1T has occurred 10 me-" says Mr.. All
mond, that with Federal laws encour
aging the promotion OF legitimate bust
ness enterprise-mind you. not wldca
schemes-the Capital City might hav,
q greater share or commercial prosper
fly than IL now enjoys. In my opinion
this city is admirably situated for ligh
manufacturing purposes. Such enter
pTises would certainly give employment
to more Of our citizeIs. while at Tn,
same time there need Je no occasion 2,
mar the beauty OF the city nor chang
its residential aspect.
Il have heard this question discusse'
bv local business men and I am con
WINGED that there Is a strong sentiman
IN favor Of developing the city CONNER
cislly. so that local merchants ma
benefit by some Of that trade that nov
goes 10 other cities