The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 18??-1935, 1918-12-27
FUTURE is BRIGHT.

None but the gloomiest pes simist
can view the business outlook in Amer
lea with anything less than confidence
that the coming year is to be one of
prosperity in every line of commercial
or industrial activity. To properly es-
innate the weight of the opinion of
pessimists who think otherwise one
has but to refer to the files of news
papers published at the beginning of
Americas part in the war when fore
holdings of calamity were croaked by
pessimists who saw certain ruin be-
fore American business. How COM
pletely those 9pessimists missed the
mark is safe indication of the falsity
of their evil predictions now.
For the sake Of conservatism, the
optimists are conceding that there
may be shorS period of reaction dur
ing which commerce and industry will
be readjusting itself to peace condi-
tons, just as they were compelled to
readjust themselves to war conditions.
But American business men do not
waste much time in their readiust-
ments. They take view of the situa-
ton, form definite conclusions, make
practical plans and drive ahead to-
ward the accomplishment of them.
Money is abundant which is the
first requisite for prosperity, provid-
ed the money is sound American
money was never more sound than it
is today The federal banking system
has stabilized the money market and
its distribution is evenly spread
throughout the land. With capital
sufficient to finance any enterprise
and abundant enough to tide over any
period of REIMBURSEMENT, there is moth
ing to fear from that sector of the
situation.
While awaiting the opening of the.
enormous foreign trade that is coming
to America as soon as. the war strick-
en- nations recover their balance and
begin buying, domestic industry and
commerce will be sufficient to keep
everybody busy. Building of almost
every nature has been curtailed for II
months. Even ordinary repairs and
engagements have not been made.
With the removal of building restric-
tions public and private enterprises
will be developed as rapidly as pos
sible, thus creating work for all the
labor that can be located and a de-
mand for all the material that can
be produced. Buying of domestic
commodities such as food and cloth
ing will be on much larger scale
than during the months when we we're
admonished to save and to conserve.
With money in their pockets from war
profits and savings the buying public
will not be slow to fulfill the desires
that have been Juggling at them for
twelve months or more.
Then, about the time the Ameri-
can people have caught up with their
domestic business, the foreign field
will be opened. Europe will neces-
sarily be compelled to come to Amer
lea for much of the material with
which to rebuild the devastated re-
gions and to restock their depleted
stores OF merchandise. OF equal inn
portance will be the trade of South
America and the Orient. heretofore
outside the zone of American ship
ping, which will of necessity be divert
ed to America because Europe will
be unable to supply the demands.
BY cultivation of that trade the future
commercial strength of America will
be assured
Locally business was never better
than it has been during the closing
days Of this year. Conditions in