New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-07-04
War Prosperity
Our American Precedent AMI
Moral for Canada
Ry = DENNIS
By J. s. DENNIS


per capita average in savings banks w,.'I
creased during this period from SIS to co..
/ Our export trade during the year ensss 10
/ TENDER /, 1916, reached the grand mt,
/ 81 ,O52, 100000. Canadss total trade "a,
same period showed a gain Of about "a
cent-mark that within 10 per cen, Of ~
/ ling the total trade OF the previous ,,.s
months.
The estimated value Of the agricu,,.
production Of Cansda's Western Prov;,.
during 1915 reached a total OF NOR, ..
1921 900 900. This great wealth was e,,,,
by rural population Of only slightly =,
than three-quarters of a million people
These figures indicate wonderful pro,.
ity in Canada They tell story Of pro,..
ity in nation at war that is almost nj.
I lievable to the outside world Residsr,,
the United States who come into Canal,
press amazement at the signs of prosperi.,,
be found on every hand. The crowds "a
seen at the theatres and places Of amuss-..
and indulgence in practically every lsrr. !,
indicate that our people have plenty Of r..
10 spend. The manner in which the war l,,.
have been oversubscribed may be taken a, a
other indication of The food Of war prOr..
ity in Canada to-day.
But what of the period after the war, Y,
this prosperity last? Will Canada, al =
close of the war, be able to maintain n, l.
balance of trade in her favor which >,
being piled up at the rate OF S5OOOOo9
wear? When the demand for muni,.
ceases. will we be able TO transfer all ~.
factories TO normal trade conditions and s
hold this wartime prosperity?
After-War Conditions
Accepting the possibility that the w,r,
continue for another year or more, il is vi
we were evolving some plan to care tcr a,
after.war conditions. But to plan is !,
enough. We must act. That Canada a.,
serious situation in this approaching "a,
bellum period is predicted in the hlstor Il
the Civil War in the United States, y.s
conditions in the Northern States were a., !
similar in many respects 70 those which -
prevail in Canada.
From 1852 on 10 the close OF the war .
Northern States showed prosperity on ur1
hand. The raiding parties from the Cc,a
crate army, breaking through into Penn
vania. carried back TO the half-starved ST. !!
stories that Northern industries were ~
ahead, as if the nation was running urn
well -organized peace schedule instead o. n
ing engaged in a momentous civil war. m
Chicago Tribune near the close Of the "
said: Commerce. business, manufactures
labor are going ahead as in profound psgI
save with more impetus and whirllng setV-I
than peace ever knew" THE New Yrl
Economist" however, pointed out that M
of the apparent prosperity was fictitious
declared that the laboring people were su,r
ing because of war conditions, because var
had increased only about IL per cent Y.
the cost of living had more than dOuss
Professor Roland P. Falkner. recogrw
statistical authority Of that day, pres,r'
two important conclusions after a cart
study Of Civil War conditions: During n
war period the advance in wages was III
commensurate with the advance in rrin
The late Nelson W. Aldrich, the great ee':'
mist of the United States Senate, reyir,
the apparent prosperity during and after \
Civil War in the following statement: "N:'
wages responded with unmistaksble slors
10 the initiating influence Of the Civil "
In 1865. when prices stood At OFT, as -
pared with 100 in 1850. wages had c.
touched 49,
Labor Shortage Inevitable
We find also that the demand for lsooiu
the greatest in the history 81 the States
to that period The extensive recruitingM
the farms and farming districts and thee
traordnary demands of the munltion pi,i
brought a shortage Of labor eyeryEHI
During the last two years OF the Civil WI
many Of the farms in the Central W's''-
States remained -1lie because it was irE'
sble to secure help. From 1863 TO 1853 =
migration from Europe 10 the United SUE
! increased AT a rapid rate, yet the demsrs y
laborers was so great that Congress u' I
to enact laws to still further incres. 2.
immigration.
4 According to Rhodes's History Of y
United States" il was tradition in snt
/ labor circles that times were hard JUS
\ fore the war and began to be good durlrs@
/ Civil War. According TO this authority y
wage earning mechanics bought lots
saved money during the war period y
/ the clerks. teachers and others on 'ir
i basis suffered.
At the close of the war there was ~
spread of enthusiasm for a continuatoi
the so-called war prosperity. New c1
prises were launched on every hand; ~"
lation was rife The returning soldier y
mers migrated in large parties 70 ferts "
) legs tributary TO the Mississippi. Thiso''H
ening of the agricultural situation broVg'''
demand for more railway mileage snd ",'
thing more than $4,000 miles were const'1sf
| in the West from 1865 20 1873. This WI
brought employment 10 thousands. me ~
annual report Of the Commissioner OF Law
published in 1886, reviews this constrs''"
period as follows
No Crash Till 1873
"The stimulation TO all industries reses~
from the war, the speculative enterprises
dertaken, the extension Of credits ah'
slackening Of production necessarily a.s
q reaction; but the period was hardly sp''.
of by business men as one OF any pslI"'S
hardship. People for a while began
conservative. but the impetus engende''
the war could not be overcome. and II v"
until the crash of 1873 that the es"a
undue excitement in all branches OF ous'I"
and trade were thoroughly realized -
Comparing these Civil War conditions
those prevailing in Canada, we see many :
ger signals. The most important OF 'sss