Evening journal., 1909-01-01
Friday, January |, 1909
REVIEW OF THE YEAR.


- for the incorporation # new industries in
the Eastern States, The combined capital of
concerns with capital of one million or more
, each, which filed papers in Delaware, Maine,
New Jersey New York during the month
amounts to more than SIoI,o5o,ooo. This IS
total larger than that of any other month of the
year and IS more than SISO,oooooo above the ag-
gregate capital of the same month of the pre-
ceeding year, but is $sS,ooo,ooo under the total
Tor December of 1000
These figures are interesting as showing the
return to normal business activity so far as the
starting OF new enterprises is concerned. 1t will
be recalled that 1000 was a banner year in which
industries of all sorts were either started or
projected. Prosperity was at the flood tide. 1t
is to be expected therefore that the December
which has just closed would show a falling off
as compared with the December OF two years
ago but it is gratifying to note that the de-
crease has not been so large as some feared.
The incorporation OF new concerns is a good
index of the feeling throughout the business
world. Everywhere it is believed that good
times will return. and that the day is not far dis
tant when we shall have normal conditions To
be sure the return OF prosperity has not been so
RAPID as many thought it would be when Taft
was elected President Just as it took a long
time for business to fall, so it will require con-
siderable time .or the resumption of trade as we
would wish TO see IT,
ln MANY respects the past year has been try
will welcome the New Year in the hope that its
coming will mean decided turn for the better
The most remarkable feattNe of the depression
through which we have passed, is that the period
marked by abundant crops and an unparall-
eled production of actual weatl from the earth
Another feature has been that although trade
halted there has been mo material decrease
in the price of commodities. With the
revival oi business, such as is hoped for the new
year there is promise OF still higher prices. All
this shows that during the season of prosperity
the standard of living was raised. People
wanted more and became lavish in their eNpen-
ditures fall in the standard of living, there
was of course but it, was not so great tumble
as might have been expected With times re-
stored to normal the standard OF living will be
maintained. il not advanced.
While from business point OF view things
during the year have not been happy, times
might have been worse. We should enter the
New Year congratulating ourselves that Amer
lea still is a country to be proud of with natural
resources unsurpassed, and with future
brighter than that of any other nation.
Apart from the abnormal business conditions,
the nation has made much progress. In our So
cial and political life we have advanced. The
country has witnessed a continuation OF the
movement for better things People are taking
more interest than ever in the doings OF their
fellows, in those things which make for our
national advancement
Political conditions have improved Every
where the demand for good government has in
creased We passed through election in
which far less money was used than formerly
That election manifested most clearly that Amer
ican politics is trending upward. Here in Della
\ ware with the new year, we enter upon new
NState administration A high standard in the
\Aluct of the State administration has been set
ThsCovernor Lea. who is soon to retire, and Il
\tifving to know that this standard will be
Nned by TIE incoming Governor, if we
Ne by the one official act already done