Rensselaer Republican, Volume 26, Number 23, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 1 February 1894 — THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK. [ARTICLE]

THE BUSINESS OUTLOOK.

The weekly trade review issued by Henry Clews, a 1 New York, Jan. 15, states that speculative transactions are likely to be indefinitely postponed, but that holders of securities are not on that account disposed to part with their holdings at a sacrifice. The opinion is generally prevalent that a revival of buying is an early probability. Money is abundant at low rates of interest. The extreme fright of the silver panic, strengthened by a prospective change in our national commercial policy has induced a collapse of business in which other considerations, that ordinarily would be conclusive evidence of an assured condition of prosperity, have not been given their due weight. Sober second thought must soon produce a favorable reaction. It cannot be otherwise. The paralysis of production of the past six months is incompatible with the current wants of consumption. The contraction of sales by manufacturers has been much more than double that of merchants in the most important branches of trade. This process of contraction at the source of supply can not fail to have produced a depletion of stocks that is virtually unprecedented. Merchants in leadI ing branches of trade are not carry- ! ing more than a three weeks’ supply *at the present curtailed rate. This puts a hopeful aspect upon the prospects of labor. Careful inquiry throughout the country has developed the fact that estimates of the unemployed have been exaggerated. Wall street observers have an eye upon this correction of estimates and an early revival of confidence and activity upon the Stock Exchange is predicted by this standard authority.