West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1915-02-11
BUSINESS REVIVAL
THR0UGH0UT NATION
Steamship Wharvcs Crowded and
Farmers More Prosperous than
Ever Before in Country's His
tory-Balanec of Trade In Our
Favor Shows National Prosperity

WASHINGTON. ID. c.. Feb. c.
From every quarter comes reports OF
renewed business activity. In many
lines business is booming as never
before. The present situation Is well
depicted In a speech delivered few
days ago by Secretary OF Commerce
Redheld. who said In part:
How great tho contrast between
the financial facts OF August and
those OF January /. Then the currents
OF exchange ceased to flow, and for a
time ceased also the movement of our
treat trade. Now one finds exchange
plenty and cheap, and few have wit
messed such an outward rush OF NOR
chandise as today taxes our ports and
overwhelms our shipping facilities.
The progress has been steady. The
temporary adverse trade balance of
the summer was changed to favor
able balance on merchandise trans
actions I'm September OF $4,000. 900.
This was multiplied by three in Octo-
ber, and to the total 80 per cent was
added In November and almost an
other 30 per cent I'm December when
the favorable balance was S11O.O00.-
600. The facts thus far during Janu-
airy are such as to show n probability
that this Will be exceeded during the
present month.
Our floating debt to Europe, which
II was once felt might have to be paid
fully In gold. has instead been paid
In goods, and more than paid. SO that
there seems to have bbgun an inward
flow OF gold responding to the reduc-
tion I'm the price OF exchange.
1T must be remembered, too. that
most of this has been done without
the presence I'm our exports OF that
which has at this season usually been
largest OF all. namely, cotton. This
has now begun to move and at rising
prices. justifying the hope that since
our current debts abroad are paid we
may accumulate further credit balan-
ces. Surely this Is a strong financial
position, a sound basis for courage.
"Coincident with this nature be-
came generous to us. There are two
places at least I'm America where no
one dares to talk pessimism. One IL
on the wharves In our ports and the
other is on our farms. The men who
have been raising wheat know nothing
OF distress and the steamship, whose
crowded hold entered the other day.
gave no sign Of disaster. / am told
that not only have we bumper crops
OF cotton and wheat. but that we have
surplus OF over forty million barrels
OF apples above last year, which, IL
facilities can be found to shop them,
VIII be eagerly taken abroad. 1t Is
not long, however. since sixty car
loads OF them lay I'm this port unable
to find transit abroad
The world turns to us today for
| goods, for food, for raw materials.
We draw from all the nations orders
for that we have TO sell. Just as we
are selling to all the belligerents.
II do not mean by this to imply
that the consequences of war can be
fruitful only of good to any one. We
have had our share OF wars ills, as
those who have carried the country
through the recent months know, and
1t still impends as a cloud upon us all.
II has, however, had as an incidental
| effect the necessary result that when
two out of the three greatest nations
doing international trade are busy in
destructive tasks. We must for the
time at least become in part the bene-
ficiary Of that which they have laid
aside.