New Iberia enterprise and independent observer. (New Iberia, La.) 1902-1944, 1911-01-07
THE ENTERPRISE
AND OBSERVER. CoHsoLrDarpD
1910 A PROSPEROUS YEAR.

despite I'LL udI q huochs, hlChs anu
cuffs it received from those who
for one reason or another were
displeased with things, was not so
bad for Uncle Sam after all.
In the first place he harvested
the creates agriclll ural crop ever
vouchsafed to any one country on
the face of the earth, in a single
year valued at the stupendous
sum of $S,924, 100000. OF this
amount corn with lis tremendous
record breaking contribution OF
S,121, ,391 600 bushels valued at
81 500, 100000, stands foremost
among the country's wealth pro-
ducing assets for the year. Cot
ton, although supplying a reduc-
ed number Of bales, comes second
with a product of 5000 100000
which is 13 per cent higher than
ever before
In the fifteen months ending
November 1st. Uncle Sam doubled
his exports to the Philippines, the
figure for that period being $23,-
392, 1856 against $l2,64l ,623 for
the preceding period of the same
duration. The prosperity of the
tobacco industry for the twelve
months is interestingly reflected
in the declaration of forty per
cent dividend by the Amdrican
Tobacco Company-double that Of
five years ago and fifteen per cent
higher than in the panic year OF
1907. The increased earnings OF
American Best Sugar is disclosed
in a dividend Of twelve per cent
five per cert more than last
year. Notwithstanding the pes
simistic reports Of certain railroad
managers, the railroads Of the
United States during the year
showed increased net earnings OF
1872 per cent over the previous
year and in the northwest there
were 5000 less idle freight ears
reported for the month of Decem-
Der than in the previous months
Of the year, indicating material
betterment Of conditions.
Chicago reports an aggregate
business by it's manufacturing and
mercantile interests during the
twelve months of $500, ,OOO,O0O a
substantial increase over 19O9.
Minneapolis has attained a new
record for trade, reporting $l4O,-
600, 900 in excess Of 1909 or a total
of 81, 100, 100000. Missouri gath
cred its largest oats crop in its
history and Delaware had a "a per
cent gain in the value OF its farms
and the improvements thereon
as we'll as a II per cent increase
in the number of its farms, dis
missing the oft emphasized idea
that the population is drifting
from agricultural pursuits in the
east to the cities. For the flrs,
time the resources Of the banks
of California reached the One
Billion Dollar mark, revealing un-
precedented prosperity for that
section of the country. In the rub
Der industry, thanks to the great
impetus given to it by the develop
ment Of the automobile and the
introduction of rubber to many
Few manufacturing uses the year
was unusually good, several of
able to retire large volume Of
their outstanding bonds in add
tion to payingl dividerlls. Be
sides holding our own against the
world in the manufacture OF cot
ton goods, great strides were
made in the manufacture Of Amer
lean linen by the Oxford process.
ses one of the most promising OF
| Uncle Sam s new industries. With
few exceptions the manufacturers
of machinery in all parts of the
country have had year OF in
creased business and show aug
mented net earnings. North,
south, east and west have shared
lin the geenral improvement OF the
times. Here and there dissenting
notes have been heard but the
good news has everywhere over
shadowtsd the bad. Optimism
has replaced pesslmism and cheer
the blues.
Reports from all parts OF the
country give promise that 1911
will be marked by stead,
Strengthening Of industrial and
mercantile conditions, increasing
confidence and a big improvement