Democratic Sentinel, Volume 7, Number 41, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 9 November 1883 — A FAVORABLE EXHIBIT. [ARTICLE]

A FAVORABLE EXHIBIT.

The ladnstoial Condition of the Greet Northwest A Favorable Outlook for the Merchant, the Farmer and the Mechanic. [From the Chicago Tribune. J Noting the anxiety with which financial signs and portents have been considered by i the people everywhere, of late, the Tribune has called upon its correspondents to furnish simultaneously a candid statement of the condition of trade and manufactures In their several localities. Tho reporters whose re- ! plies are here collated are in nearly all cases centrally situated in their counties, where the people ooming to court and to pay their taxes have given their opinions as to the good or bad aspects of the times. Three things become at once apparent in casual scanning of the dispatches: 1. Two or three of the great crops have proven disappointing. 2. A n enormous amount of money has been sent out West, which accounts for the wonderful development of Dakota and that region. 3. The great farming class within the wide compass of this inquiry is wealthy beyond common belief. Just now the farmers have been touched by fears of need in consequence of short crops in fields here and there, and have restricted communications with the distributors, and made close times for the non-producers. But, even with the thrift and caution of the farmers, we see the manufactories in full blast, and the reader will probably be astonished with the array and the diversity of industries which he may have believed flourished only at the intersection of scores of trunk lines. One of the States, Wisconsin, it would seem, has never seen flusher times than now. The complaints are loudest in lowa and Miohigan. For the convenience of the reader, pains have been taken to tabulate the answers which accompanied these general reports. By this means it is 6een that two-thirds of the farmers wiH not sell at the present prices, which alone leaves a large amount of actual wealth in their hands. With all this foodtreasure, the tables will make plain that the farmers have little need of extra money. In two-thirds of the towns trade is good. No more than the usual trouble, on the average, is realized in collecting, and the merchants are in no sense overstocked with goods. The manufactories are practically all running on full time at a good profit. Less than 10 per cent, of the whole population labor under discouraging conditions. Eighty per cent, of the correspondents answer the concluding question of the circular with the word “Hopeful.” The following circular was addressed to the correspondents; ' In order to furnish us with Information as to the condition of business in your vicinity, will you obtain for us answers to the following questions: . . . Are present prices satisfactory to farmers ( What proportion of their produots remains in their hands? Are farmers borrowing more than usual from banks to carry their stuff? Is money tighter or easier than at this time last year? Is mercantile trade good? Are the farmers paying their store bills promptly? . „ Are the stores overstocked with goods? Are the manufactories in your vicinity running on full time or half time? Are they making a good profit? The replies are tabulated as closely as possible below: ABB PRESENT PRICES SATISFACTORY TO FARMERS ? ,< Yes. No. Illinois Wisconsin 7 I# Indiana - "J Michigan 9 9 lowa 25 Total .•...39 101 ■WHAT PROPORTION OF THEItt PRODUCTS REMAINS IN THEIR HANDS? Large. Av. Small. Illinois 22 18 14 Wisconsin 20 6 2 Indiana...... 6 1® Michigan. 8 6 6 lowa 18 9 J* Total 73 47 25 ABE FARMERS BORROWING MORE THAN USUAL FBOM THE BANKS TO CARRY THEIR STUFF? Yes. No. Illinois 1® 33 Wisconsin 2 24 Indiana « J? Michigan J 11 Total 24 94 IS MONEY TIGHTER OR EASIER THAN AT THIS TIME LAST YEAR? Tight- Baser. ler. Illinois J* Wisconsin J* 14 Indiana JO Michigan J? 6 lowa 24 J 5 . Total 94 45 IS MERCANTILE TRADE GOOD? Yes. No. Illinois 31 18 Wisconsin. 18 Indiana 9 Michigan J® lowa " Total ;-95 46 ARE THE FARMERS PAYING THEIR STORE-BILLS PROMPTLY? Yes. No. Illinois f 28 21 Wisconsin. 13 13 Indiana ® 1° Michigan 10 lowa 16 Total 72 68 ABE THE STORES OVERSTOCKED WITH GOODS ? Yes. No. Illinois 9 42 Wisconsin ® 18 Indiana 4 12 Michigan 2 16 lowa ® 25 T0ta1...., 25 113 ABE THE MANUFACTURERS IN YOUR VICINITY RUNNING ON FULL TIME OB HALF TIME ? Full. Half. Illinois 35 4 Wisconsin 24 1 Indiana 10 3 Michigan 16 1 lowa 21 1 Total 106 10 ARE THEY MAKING A GOOD PROFIT? Yes. No. Hlinois : 33 5 Wisconsin 1..17 Indiana .....12 1 Michigan..... 18 lowa 18 3 Total 98 16 WHAT IS THE FEELING ABOUT THE FUTURE? DisHope- Uncer- conrful. tain. aged. Illinois 29 16 2 Wisconsin 16 8 2 Indiana 9 2 Michigan. 17 2 lowa 19 .. 8 Total 90 28 12