Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1916-01-14

! nounced that it is pardonable
mistake if one becomes overly en-
| thusiastic regarding the present
outlook. The foot of the wave of
prosperity inundating the east
ern part of the country has
reached our western shore and it
is almost an assured fact that
before it recedes we will have ex-
perienced one of the most pros
| porous periods in our history"
This is the comment of the Amer
lean National Bank of San Francisco,
| made in its latest review of the finan-
cial and business situation on the Pa
cific Coast 1t refers to conditions
generally, an optimistic view in which
all the banks join, as will be seen
from the later quotations in this ar
ticle; what this bank says about the
lumber business particularly is also
of special interest:
THE lumber business, the largest
industry of the Coast states, has made
decided progress the past month.
Thirty days ago indications for an i'm
mediate revival in the trade were
strong, but the improvement has been
faster than anticipated by even the
most sanguine. Inquiry is brisk and
prices advancing. The only drawback
pth q
outlook is the lack of available ton
mage for both coastwise and export
shipments.
"Dun's report of building opera
tons for November is a reasonably
sure barometer by which to gauge
and forecast activity in the lumber
trade. Seventy-nine of the leading
cities of the United States show a
combined increase of 20 per cent over
November last year, while the largest
city in the country shows an individ-
ual gain of 1892 per cent.
No Financial Stringency.
"For the first time since the Civil
War;" this bank adds, there have
been no signs of financial strain in
marketing the crops of the country,
notwithstanding that we have har-
vested the largest agricultural output
in our history"
"Record operations in most manu-
featuring lines, heavy increases In
building operations and railroad ton
mage and unusual wholesale and re-
tail business generally, is. in brief, the
story of the present business situa-
ton in this country" says the general
letter on trade conditions issued by
the Old National bank of Spokane.
From the financial standpoint, no
one could ask for sounder conditions
than now prevail in this city and
state" says the Anglo & London
Paris National bank of San Francisco.
"The close of 1915 completes a
year of the most remarkable business
growth ever recorded and which, in
view of the greatest war in the his
tory of nations, must long stand out
as momentous epoch" says the
monthly business review of the Ma
tional Bank of the Republic, of Chi
cago.
ACTIVITY in nearly every line of
business throughout the country
leaves little to be desired" declares
the First. National bank of Boston,
while the National City bank of New
York, the largest in the United States,
says:
1.-The last signs of the late depres-
sion are disappearing from the bust
ness situation. Every tagging indus
try is coming up into line and all of
the country's activities and product
i've forces will soon be in full motion.
Confidence in the future has replaced
the timidity engendered by the great
war, and private enterprise is again
busy with the thousands of local prof. !
ects which represent the natural ex-
pansion of progressive country like
the United States. The broad i'm
provement which has taken place in |
the last two months has given much
encouragement as to the endurance
of this term of prosperity"
After the War?
What is going to happen after the
war? The Financial Chronicle of
New York, which has been most re-
luctant to recognize the arrival of
comments that there can
be no question that the country is en-
Toying period of marked commercial 6
and industrial activity which does not
entirely rest upon the orders from s
abroad incidental to the war;" an
opinion in which observers generally
seem to agree and which leads the i
National City bank to remark, "There +