Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1916-01-01
SATURDAY. JANUARY /, 1916.
1915 THE RED LETTER YEAR IN
THE BUSINESS HISTORY OF
THE UNITED STATES.

tended distribution, OF commodities TO
the retail trade of any year in our
national history.
In aggregate volume and in aggre-
gate value OF the retail trade It'll has
no equal in the past, and this i'm
mense trade hass cleared the shelves
of the merchants, emptied their store
houses and given them cash in hand to
an extent that cannot fail to aid large
ly in their future business affairs.
the past three weeks by manufacture
ers and importers have been not only
significant of the huge business trans
acted throughout the country, but
point directly to the lack of surplus
stocks between the sources of origin
in this country and the ultimate pur
chasers, or in most cases the words
ultimate consumers might properly be
used
The great clearances of retail
stocks that have been effected since
December l mean that large orders
will soon be given by the merchants
for the spring and summer needs, and
given with view to the fact that stocks
on hand are al minimum and that the
current demand for goods is now run
aing at the maximum, if comparison
be made with demands of prior sea
sons.
The huge retail trade of TIE past 80
days is guaranty of heavy demands
upon manufacturers, guaranty OF
large purchases of materials for manu-
featuring uses, a guaranty of employ
ment of large forces of operatives in
the manufacturing establishments, a
guaranty of the development and ex-
tension of retail trade and the conse-
quent employment of larger forces of
clerks and salespersons.
We have outlined above the retail
business of the country and it's most
excellent position at the present time
and its bright prospects for the fu-
ture, now that the masses of the peo-
pie are enjoying real prosperity.
The striking features of the news
reports OF the last week were the
noting here, there and everywhere in
our industrial districts of pay rolls
unparalleled in total amounts, of bon
uses and gifts distributed by prosper
Gus corporations and firms to their
faithful employees, of increases in
wages by public utility companies
and of extraordinarily heavy gains in
earnings by the transportation lines
East, West, North and South in the
United States.
II there are any pessimists left in
the United States, even the most con-
firmed of these would have to accept
such evidences as these as establish
ing the presence of great good times,
but when to these are added goods for
export in so great quantities that YES
sells cannot be found in sufficient
numbers to carry the tonnages offer
ed at the ports and that railways lin
it acceptances of freights by reason
of scarcity of cars, lack oil. terminal
facilities and insufficiency of side
tracks there is no place for doubters
save in some sanitarium for those men
tally infirm.
Taking local conditions, those par
MIA ri lpff IN +ho ~
the country around the District of Co
iumDia, they surely are of the very
best.
The financial institutions strong il
resources, liberal and broad in th'
views of their managers toward thu
development and assistance to sount
business. the merchants energetic
keen and progressive; the agricultur
lists able to cash quickly all their sur
plus products at profitable prices
the great shipbuilding works and al
manufacturing establishments wit
orders for months ahead and compel
cd in many instances to increase ca
paeity TO fill them; the mining dis
tricts of Pennsylvania Maryland, Vii
GINA and West Virginia swamped wit
orders for outputs at highest price
ever known. and the transportatio
companies IRON Florida TO the Del;
ware with use for every locomotiv
anu every car 10 care for the offere
traftlcs
The year 1915 viii surely stand a
a red letter year in business histor
Of the United states.-Washingto
Post.