Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1916-12-30
FABULOUS wealth
IN nation Golfers
Year of SuperlativeS in FL
nancial and Business
World Closes Today
RECORD IN EXPORTS
AND HUGE DIVIDENDS

BY Inc lnlled fleos.
NEW YORK, Dec. 30.-A year OF
superlatives in the financial and business
world closes today From all quarters
have come reports Of staggering totals
OF the years commercial and financial
activity.
The month Of December, which closes
with a hall holiday session IN most
quarters today, has beer remarkable as
the turning point in the tide which
sw,pt the United States along to record
exports. record earnings and huge divi'
dends.
On every hand as the year closes,
bankers. business men and economists
are specializing and talking peace and
its meaning in dollars and cents IN
America. Opinions vary, the bulk Of
them being that prosperity viii con-
tinue-with readjustments.
Veritable mountains of money are
represented in the year-end figures
and estimates Of the country's busi-
ness.
During the year s1,5OOOOO,OOO Of
world financing was fioated in the
United States.
Europe shipped $3.50, 100000 in gold
here to pay for munitions and sup
plies and to bolster her credit with
us.
Bank clearings are estimated at
$3.50 900 100000, a thirty-hve per cent.
increase over the record year OF
1915. Although crops failed pro-
duction falling behind last year 10
10 35 per cent, farm products we're
valued at seven and half billions or
more. 80 per cent. increase over
last year.
Railroad earnings are estimated at
s215 900 900, which is 10 per cent.
increase over 1915.
On the Stock Exchange sales Tor
the year showed a 35 per cent. jump
the years total sales being nearly
24O 1000 900 shares Railroads order
err 1900 new freight cars and is
sued countless embargOes In their
fight TO move the nations freight.
In Wall Street new war babies
were born, grew paper values with
mushroom speed and tottered as
peace appeared on a distant hori-
zon. As this year closes big financial
men in Wall Street are talking peace
babies" and conservative interests
are reported loading up with shares
OF railroads and industrial compan-
les which are not dependent upor
the war for their prosperity.
The general crash in prices, which
followed Hollweg's peace proposals
and Wilson's message to the belliger
ents-the greatest since the Northern
Pacific panic in 1901-made bargain
prices for the peace baby expon
ents. Advance information regard
ing the Wilson message, of which !
Is charged insiders made millions
has given the street and Washington
a tea party of some operation
which still brews scandal charges a
the new year approaches.
Spectacular individual performer
in the 1916 speculative marts IN
clude:
Pip cent cotton during the heav
lest operation on the Cotton Elk
change since the Daniel Sully poe
operations May wheat at Sl.95 S-4
the record price since the Civil Wal
barring one day when a 80 level pre-
vailed during the Hutch corner
United States Steel common a
s129.75: Bethlehem Steel at $500
share.
Peace discussion has shrunk tn
prices Of these leaders. Cotton no'
ranges from 16 to II IL cents
pound: May wheat closed yesterda
at S1.7O; Steel common at S106.zo. an
Bethlehem at S525. Stock Exchang
records reveal in contrast, that man
railroads. largely western, and man
Industrial stocks, especially preferre
issues, have crept forward to thei
highest or nearly their best prices
the year during the panicky mont
now closing.