The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-07-24
BUSINESS no BOON.

That there is increasing confidence
among the business men throughout
the country, and especially in it's west
ern section, is the opinion of Henry
Clews, the New York banker and we'll
known economist. This means that old
General Prosperity is about to play one
of those famous return engagements
that has made this nation the great
est in the world. Mr.. Clews bases his
opinion on the returning confidence in
business circles on facts and analyses
which he presents in his current week
" financial review, as follows:
1.-THE prime factor In our business
situation at the moment is the splendid
crop outlook. Wheat has been doing
particularly well. The result has been
decline of about tic per bushel dur
ing the past month, and the outlook is
for a yield of about 700, 100000 bushels,
compared with 621. Oo0, 900 last year, pro-
vided no injury occurs during the next
ten days. The only crops of Importance
concerning which there is any I'M
certainty are corn and cotton. Both
are late, but have recovered much IF
the lost ground. Their present outlook
is for a very large yield, but both
before maturity. August is usually a
month of deterioration for both these
crops, whose chief danger is early
frost. Fortunately there is ample mar
gin in present conditions to secure a
full average yield if nothing more than
ordinary deterioration occurs. The out
look agriculturally, therefore, is emin-
emily satisfactory; and once more the
farmers who must still be considered
the backbone of the country are assur-
ed a profitable harvest.
prices are still high for nearly all
agricultural products, but that must be
chiefly attributed to relative scarcity.
The United States is much in need of
better results from the farm. The last
census shows that while our population
increased 20 per cent in the decade the
acreage under cultivation increased
about per cent. This, it need hardly
be said, has not a little to do with
the high cost of living. Our farmers
should get busy and increase their pro-
duct by more scientific methods, if not
by larger acreage. Living on the farm
is in many respects much more attrac-
tive than formerly, and it is high time
that the tide should turn back to the
farm, if only to prevent the unwhole-
some congestion of population in our
large cities which seriously augments
social discomfort and unrest.
Another direction in which improve
ment is noticeable is in the iron trade.
The railroads have again been buying
materials and equipment with greater
freedom and in spite of advancing
prices. 1t is many months since the
steel trade has been in as satisfactory
condition as today. Production is run
ming on record breaking scale. Cen
eral business cannot be expected 70
persistently ignore such encouraging
conditions in agriculture and in the
great basic steel industry. From all |
parts of the interior come reports of |
increasing confidence on the part of !
business men, bankers and those at the
head of industrial affairs Prepara-
lions are now being made for a good |
fall and winter trade. Politics are
much less disturbing and there is an
inclination to sidetrack such issues as
far as possible. West of the AL
leghanies the drift of sentiment is de-
c1dedly toward optimism, and this feel
Ing Is slowly but surely making itself
felt throughout the entire Atlantic
Seaboard."