Year: 1868

raise cotton and corn with as much anima
tion rs though they were Just commencing
life. In the culture of rice, too. very few
have failed 10 make remunerative crops,
while the profits of those who have held
on for an advance have been very large.
Under an impetus such as this land is rising
in value, and tracts that have been aban-
dored for several years are now being taken
up for cultivation. The press is most ur-
gent In pressing upon Northern men the
advantages v aich the present holds ont to
them, and there is an increasing disposition
among capitalists to avail themselves OF
them. Within a few days past planters
have been able to negotiate loans here in
New York.


OF course this activity at the South has
its effect upon trade here, the more espe-
cially as Southern merchants are buving a
fair bill of dry goods and general merchan-
die for the spring consumption. Cotton
goods have materially advanced, and mills
which had stopped or were running on
short time are employing more hands. In
the foreign dry goods trade there is also a
perceptible improvement, and the same is
true ot business generally, not only here,
but in New England and the West Down
East there are signs of disposition among
the slIip-builders to resume business, aud
several contracts have already been made.
In Massachusetts the shoe business is lock-
ing up; tie iron mills of Troy have started
anew; locomotive works are increasing
their scale of operations; the building
trades here and at the West promise an
amount of work for the coming season
fully equal 10 that of last year. The AL
bany Board of Trade reports the business
of that city as largely on the increase. and
in the main prosperous. This is the pleas
ing information that comes to us piecemea
from various quarters. Let us hope that
the promise of returning prosperity will
not fail of the fulHllment for the interests
involved are Of incaiculable benefit to the
country.


The expansion Of our trade and the re-
turn of former commercial activity are in
dispensable 10 our continued activity as a
nation. Without il all legislative contriv-
ances for reducing our burdens can avail
nothing. We have heard tie question of
resumption and the schemes for adjusting
the currency discussed from every con-
ceivable standpoint of financial ingenuity; /;
but any measure adopted, however wise
can never be one half so potent as that sim





our annual growth and expands with the
development of our resources IL we take
the history of the past fifteen years as a
guide, We shall readily perceive that time
alone may accomplish all that Is required
to remedy present evils. Following the
like ratio of progress, the present redun-
dant volume of the currency will be alb
sorbed by the business of the country at
the end OF fifteen years. A nation, like an
individual, can only work his way out of
debt by The slow process of developing the
value of his property. Fifteen years hence
our greatly expanded resources, ourincrcas-
cd productive power, and the greater vol
ume of our products seeking exchange, will
6suom Isdsd pus pIo5 10 onIrA ON Su!Iq
to a close approximation. Besides, our
present annual gold produce OF 5 90, 900, 900
would of itself nearly suffice TO pay off the
national debt in fifteen years. The volume
Of our currency will rest on no doubtful
basis then, and resumption must come nat
urally and necessarily, if not accomplished
sooner by extraneous means but so long
as the currency continues disproportionate
10 the commercial necessities Of the coun-
try, we must suffer financial disturbance.
ANY decided Improvement in tradei IS to he
hailed rs substantial advance made toward
'he final accomplishment of tho great ma
tional purpose.-Uayper's Weekly.