The evening times. [volume] (Grand Forks, N.D.) 1906-1914, 1911-12-20
CONTINUED on page 5.)
GOOD TINES ARE
ALREADY OAWN|NG
The Outlook at Close Of the
Year Is Encouraging to
Business Men

New York, Dec. 2O.-A new era Of
prosperity is dawning. The general
situation at the close of the year is so
much better than business men had
expected that optimism has taken the
place of the widespread pessimism
that characterized their utterances
three months ago. Bankers, railroad
administrators. industrial managers.
and merchants who took gloomy
view of the outlook even 80 days ago,
now pitch their comments in q hope
full tone.
While the business of the country
has not yet reached the high record
established in 1909. it is stated by the
experts in the mercantile agencies
that 1t Is SO far ahead Of the corre-
spending period of 1910 that they con-
tidently look for condition Of revived
activity in all lines unusual for a
presidential year.
They believe that 1912 will not only
outstrtp 1910 but that it will make
large advance on 1911.
Travelling salesman for New York
houses, who are now returning to the
city to complete preparations for their
first trips of the new year. bring the
most hopeful reports from all parts
man Of the board of directors Of the
United States Steel corporation al
| ways extremely cautious in his utter
ances as to conditions and prospects
says the business of his company l.
| far in advance Of what it was at this
time last year.
THE volume Of our business il
large and satisfactory" declared Mr.
Gary Prices are still low. with
prospects of an increase"
For thirty years It has been ar
axiom in American business that stee
is its barometer. a satisfactory trade
in that commodity, is a sign Of gooc
times in other 5les. While the Brad
street agency is 4, little more conser
vativc than that Of Dun. SILL the re-
ports Brsldstreet liz now assembling
for distribution at the opening veal
Go not exhibit the usual signs of de-
preston to be looked for on the eve
Of Il presidential campaign. The heaG
of the r. G. Dun company said today
1.-THE betterment in industrial anc
trade conditions. signs of which have
been visible to close observers fol
two months. has now become plair
oeverybody. and Is reflected in the
expansion of bank clearings and rail.
road earnings, the big uplift in the
iron and steel trade. the advance In
copper. the increased activity in dry
goods. the brisker demand for money
diA LiIG Dy Itle
record breaking cotton crop Of up.
ward Of 100000 bales.
'"rhere is no disposition to minimize
the problems still unsolved, but husi.
ness men are disposed to move ahead
in spite of them, and the situation
as the year draws to close. is sc
much more encouraging as to be the
years most conspicuous development
The holiday trade is active. This re.
tail activity. coupled with the unus.
ually warm weather, and the end OF
the year accounting. operates to make
wholesale operations slower. but there
has been no real check to the expan.
sion in business"
William H. Gibson president Of one
Of the big warehouse companies. saic
today:
"Many manufacturers must store
their goods in warehouses pending
sale. The movement in and out ol
warehouse indicates business condi
tions
Labor day appears to have beer
the turning point for the better. Since
then business all through the ware
houses has been very much improved
much more active. particularly in the
line in provisions. dried fruits. greer
fruits. and hardware. Where we
found our business to he weakest wa:
! in dry goods and cottons. and theil
state was good indication Of the
state of the mills. In the last few
! weeks even those trades have showr
| very marked improvement"