The Washington times., 1915-12-19
COuntry'S Prosperity
On Substantial Basis
UnrivaIed Crops Record Exports and Mounting
Railroad Earnings Give Assurance That Increas-
ed Business Will Continue

That the era Of prosperity upon which
American business has launched is
founded upon substantial basis is
being evidenced further with each sue
ceeding week. The Department OF Az
riculture. in a report just issued, gives
to the crops of the country an almost
unrivaled wealth; export records show
that the percentage of goods destined
for civilian use Is increasing steadily.
and retailers are enlarging their orders.
Another factor that stands out promi-
nently, is the record being made by the
railroads of the country. II has been
only few short months since railroad
men were complaining bitterly about
the shrinkage in revenue. Reports from
400 roads in october gave the heaviest
earnings in any similar month. in the
history of American railroads.
Stock MARKET Hesitates. ,
The stock market alone fails to reflect
general conditions and remains in a
state of hesitancy. Several factors.
however. have combined to produce this
situation in the securities market.
In reviewing the country's condition.
and commenting on the factors that
! have produced 1t, The NetO York Times
or today says:
Some emphasis was given during the
past week to the announcement from
the Department Of Agriculture OF the
value Of the principal rops raised in
this country this year This showed an
| increase Of 900 on eighteen of the
crops. The added circumstance should
be taken into account that 6l this vast
| yield will find market, much Of 1t
being already bcspoken. At the prevail.
ing prices. moreover, there will be a
very substantial profit TO the growers
| This is kind of business which adds
TO capital without depicting the sources
OF wealth, excepting only in the matter
| OF fertilizers, which can be replaced
! il means a continuing income without
! an encroachment on capital, and differs
/ in this respect from such industries as
coal, iron. and metal mining and the
production of mineral oil. A profitable
year IN agriculture has always been re-
| garded as the principal pillar in the
structure OF prosperity, and this yeaT Is
no exception At the same time, the
other factors are strongly in evidence,
and continue 20. Practically every in
| dustry is active, and much more so for
| domestic needs than seems to be gen.
orally recognized. And In the expoT is
showing up Of goods destined for
civilian use. The buying, impulse con
tinucs, also, in practically every line
Of retail trade, and this in turn be-
tokens larger orders for the future on
jobbers and in the primary markets OF
production"
Railroad Conditions Change.
The NetO York Press sets forth the
remarkable change in railroad condi-
tions. as follows:
Earnings of the railroads in the
United states for the month of Oc-
tober, according to the final compila-
tions made by the accounting officers
Of more than 100 companies, were
heavier than in any similar month in
the history of the American railroad
business. The increase in gross earn
ing as compared with tho correspond
ing month in 1914. amounted to a lit
tic more than s37,5OD.OO0. or about 49,:
per cent, while the increase In net
totaled so, 1O0.JN, or about "a per cent
Compared with October. 1913. the in
crease in gross aggregated $4,000. 900
October. 1915, held the record for his
earnings until October of the current
year.
Railroads i'm their period of poo
earnings spent money cautiously, yo'
Ieftectivcly, upon their properties