Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-10-25

The world war now being wagcd on
three continents leaves us the only
great or'vcr devoted to the nrts OF
peace and able to do business in n neu-
trail ard friendly way with nil the war
ring nations. Once we have settled
our Industrial and social problems at
home, hrond and peaceful paths to
power stretch out before us in allur-
ing and bcwildcrinE profusion.
In fact. the results already obtained
from our brief experience with the
new freedom stdEger the imagination
Following are some significant figures
comparing American business condI-
lions i'm 1912. the last year of the TAFT
ndmiaistr ton. with those at the close
OF the years 1915 and 1916:
The total output Of the manufac-
tories of the United States for 1912
was s20.600. 100000. while for 1916 Il
was $4,000. 100000. OF which less than
. per cent consisted of munitions of
war;
In 1912 the total resources of the
banks of the country were s24.5OO, 00O,-
600. and in 1915 1906. 900. 900, making
an Increase Of more than 100000, 900
for the three years;
Our gross railway earnings for 1912
were $4,000. 100000. and for 1915 $780,
100000. or an increase Of more than
26 per cent;
On July ], 1916, there was balance
or sl74,s00,000 in the Treasury, and
there was Il surplus for the fiscal year
of 1916 of s7S.7OO.OOo:
The Treasury statement for the last
day Of the fiscal year 1916 shows a
stock Of gold in the United States
amounting to $1,000. 900. 000-the great
est amount ever held in our history,
and compared to which the gold stocks
of other countries look like small
change;
Our total exports for 1912 were
s2.lo0. 100000. and for 1916 s4.2oO.0oo.-
900. OF which only IL 1-2 per cent con-
sisted Of munitions Of war;
In addition to the billions OF, dollars
worth of American securities brought
back from European nations. this coun-
try during the past two years has
loaned to European countries $500
100000;
The total wealth Of the United
States in 19l2 was estimated at $751;
!00,00o.00o. 1t is now estimated at
s22S. coo. 900, 900, an increase in four
years of $4,000 100000. Before the
outbreak Of the European war il was
Estimated that the wealth of Great
Britain and Ireland was SIS. 900. ooo, 900
of Germany, 100000, 900. 900; Of France,
$4,000. 100000. and OF Austria. $685.
000. 100000. Therefore, taking into ac-
count the destruction of property in
those countries. the wealth of the
United states is now probably far in
excess of the combined wealth OF all
these nations.
AS compared with the Wilson brand
of prosperity. the much advertised and
boosted prosperity of the Mckinley,
Roosevelt and Taft cras. look like a
poor relation"
1t has been said that we are living
I'm "a fools paradise" The business
paradise in which we are now living
is foors paradise only II We arc fools
| enough to make it so. If we are as
| intelligent as the world gives us credit
| for being, and we believe we arc.
then to-day we are living in what
| might truthfully be called the prelude
to an industrial and business future as
much more splendid than anything we
enjoy to-day, as our present business
prosperity is more wonderful than any
| thing we can point TO in the past.
Prosperity to stop at the end of the
European war? What u grim jest!
| The prosperity that stretches out be-
| fore this country for years TO come Is
| so dazzling that II almost appails one.
Our greatest problem from now on will
be- not To secure for our country pros
pcrty-Providence and the Wilson adj
ministration have taken care of that
but rather to prevent our unprece-
denied prosperity from rotting our
moral fiber.