Rensselaer Republican, Volume 16, Number 9, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 8 November 1883 — A FAVORABLE EXHIBIT. [ARTICLE]

A FAVORABLE EXHIBIT.

The Industrial Condition of the Great .Northwest A Favorable Outlook for the Merchant, the Farmer and the Mechanic. [From the Chicago Tribune.] Noting the anxiety with which financial signs and portents have been considered by 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. The reporters whose replies are here collated are In nearly all ease* centrally situated in their counties, where the people coming to court and to pay their taxes have given their opinions as to the good or bad aspects of the times. Three things become st once apparent in casual scanning of the dispatches: 1. Two or three of the great crops have proven disappointing. 3. An 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. ■ • . .._ J ust now the farmers have been touched by fears of need in consequence of short crops in fieldshere 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 MichFor the convenience of the reader, pains have been taken to tabulate the answers which accompanied these general reports. By this means it is seen that two-thirds of the farmers will not sell atthe 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 ninning 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 “HopefUThe following circular was addressed to the correspondents: ~~

In order to furnish us with Information as to the condition of business in yqnr vicinity, will you obtain for ns answers to the following questions: . _ « Are present prices satisfactory to farmers. What proportion of their products remains in their hands? Are farmers borrowing more than usual from banks to carry their stuff? Is money tighter or easier than at this tame last year? Is mercantile trade good I Are the fanners paying their store mua P Are'the stores overstocked with goods? Are the manufactories in your vicinity running on full time or half time? Are they making a good pront l „ The replies are tabulated as closely as possible below: ABE PRESENT PRICES HATMFACTOBY TO FARMERS ? „ Yes. Nd. Illinois. » . 38 Wisconsin ’ " 1ndiana........... " S Michigan ® ® 10wa... 8 28 T0ta1...101 WHAT PROPORTION OF THtUic PRODUCTS BEMAIN» !N THEIB HANDS? Illinois 22 18 14 Wisconsin 20 5 2 Indiana 5 1® } Michigan. 3 8 10wa........... Total 73 47 28 ABE FARMERS BORROWING MORE THAN USUAL FROM THE BANKS TO CABBY THEIB STUFF? ■ Yes. No. Illinois...!. 18 33 Wisconsin.........— —— * " Indiana ® Michigan 7 “ lowa ••••• “ “ Total 24 94 IB MONEY TIGHTER OB EASIER THAN AT THIS TIME LAST YEAB? Tight- Baser. ier. Illinois ..J* Wisconsin.. J 4 14 Indiana 10 Michigan. - “ lowa 24 ° T0ta1..... 94 48 IS MERCANTILE TRADE GOOD? Yes. No. Illinois ............31 18 Wisconsin 13 J Indiana ® Michigan • 1® lowa ........21 J Total • -® 8 48 ABE THE UABA&BS PAYING THEIB BTOBE-BHU Yes. No. 111in0i5..... Wisconsin 13 13 Indiana... Michigan... 10 8 10wa...... » M Total... 7 2 « ABE THE STORES OVERSTOCKED ' WITH GOODS 1 Yes. No. Illinois.... 9 4 2 Wisconsin ® 18 Indiana 4 Michigan 1 2 M lowa 5 25 T0ta1.... 25 113 ABE THE MANUFACTURERS IM YOUR VICINITY RUNNING ON FULL TIME OB HALF TIME ? Full Half. Illinois .z..,.. 35 4 Wisconsin.. 24 Indiana 10 3 Michigan... v 16 1 lowa - 21 1 T0ta1.......... Ij6 10 ABE THEY MAKING A GOOD PROFIT? Yes. No. Tllinole 3» » Wisconsin 17 . 7 Indiana ............12 v 1 Michigan 18 10wa...... ~.18 3 Total 98 : 16 WHAT IS THE FEELING ABOUT THE FUTURE? Dis- —__—— . Hope- Uncer- cottr1 ful tain. aged. Illinois... .29 16 2 Wisconsin.,.". 16 8 2 Indian* 9 2 Michigan. .......17 3 10wa.... ....19 .. 8 Total.l 90 28 ‘ M ■' ■ ■■■■ , ■ ■ '.♦