Polk County observer. (Monmouth, Polk County, Or.) 1888-1927, 1915-10-29
PROSPERITY Is HERE.

For a long time the talk has been
that prosperity is coming" Now,
however, the people are commencing
to appreciate the fact that prosperity
is here; that it has returned while
we have been talking about it, and
that already this nation is commence
ing to enjoy conditions of prosperity.
There are numerous signs and indica-
tions of this, which have sprung UP
almost over night, as it were, and
which even yet have not attracted the
attention they deserve. Reports from
the east, for instance, declare there
has been a tremendous revival of
freight traffic within the past month
or two. Every eastern railroad is
being rushed to the limit to handle
the vast volume of freight being Of
fered for transportation, terminals
and sidings are crowded with loaded
cars, and thousands of extra men are
being employed to help handle this
new freight rush, which in itself is a
sure sign of strong revival in gen
eral trade and industry. In our own
Willamette valley shippers have been
appealing to the public service com
mission to compel the railroad COM
pany to supply them with cars. Ev-
cry ship leaving for Europe, more
over, is loaded to the limit, and Of
fetal export figures have far out-dis-
tanced all previous records. Domestic
trade also has taken sudden squirt
and jobbers and wholesalers are be-
ing rushed to fill the orders which
are pouring in on them. Industrial
activity is also speeding up, factor
les and mills are adding new help
and increasing working hours, and the
stimulating effects of this new pros
perity are commencing to be observed
in every quarter.
Similarly, trade and financial re-
ports from other parts of the coun'
try are commencing to tell Of the re-
turning good times, or, rather, of
good times that already have arriv-
ed. In the south, which year ago
was in a panic of fear over the de-
pressed price of cotton, trade and in
dustry have regained their reguluar
stride and everything looks rosy.
Throughout the central west, the west
and the northern sections the story is
the same-bountiful crops, good pric-
es, fast reviving retail trade, increas-
ed activity in all industrial lines, and
returning confidence in the future.
In other words, prosperity is here
and this nation already has fairly en-
tered a period Of good times, which
the shrewdest business experts tell
us will continue for at least several
years and will discount any similar
period of prosperity heretofore, ex-
perienced. We have had our clean y
years, but the "fat" years seem to
have arrived, which means that this
nation is headed for real world lead
ership in industry, commerce and fl
nance A golden opportunity has lit
orally been thrust on the people of
this most favored nation, and while
the east is more speedily feeling the
effects thereof it will follow to the
coast country, and the whole land will
again enjoy more than its share of
'peace, plenty and prosperity" Yet,
favored in this manner, the American
people must not forget they owe a.
duty to the world in general, no less
than to themselves-the duty of be-
ing of real service. And this is a
point which President Wilson has
carefully emphasized in his annual
Thanksgiving proclamation, just is
sued, and which every true American
should conscientiously study for its
patriotic meaning.