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according to the official trade returns of the United States, will be seen from the following summary statement:

Value of merchandise (*) imported and exported by the United States in our trade with Puerto Rico during each fiscal year from 1888 to 1897, inclusive.

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The rising sun of peace shines upon a fortunate land. Prosperity is in the air. Its evidences are all about us, forcing themselves upon the blindest. It is not only felt, but is seen in the prompt start which enterprise, industry, and trade have taken simultaneously with the removal of the uncertainties of war.

The inquiries which the Post has made among representatives of commerce and industry in their various branches show that this feeling is universal. There are to-day no croakers, no grumblers, no prophets of evil. All feel the inspiration; all note the quick improvement already made in trade conditions; all look to steady and rapid advance, and all propose to push forward and take their share of the new prosperity.

PRICES OF FARM PRODUCTS AT THE TIME OF BRYAN'S NOMINATION AND AFTER HIS DEFEAT.

Following is a table compiled from Bradstreet's Journal, comparing the prices of articles mentioned on January 1, 1898, with those of July 1, 1896, the nearest obtainable date to Mr. Bryan's nomina

tion. They show that in practically all articles which farmers produce the prices now received are much higher than when Mr. Bryan was nominated and when his party insisted that improved conditions could only come through the free and unlimited coinage of silver; also, that in a large proportion of the articles which the farmers and others must purchase for daily use the prices have fallen. The figures relate to New York markets, except where otherwise specified.

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BUILDING RECORDS OF 1897-1898.

The following from the Construction News of Chicago gives the building record of ten of the larger cities of the United States for July, 1897, and July, 1898:

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A PYRAMID OF CANCELED MORTGAGES.

One of the sights at the Trans-Mississippi Exposition at Omaha, seen by every visitor, is a pyramid of large dimensions, composed of canceled mortgages lifted from the homes and farms of the people of Kansas and Nebraska, so that happiness and contentment abide to-day, where before were calamity and despair.

TIN PLATE FOR EUROPE-ELWOOD, IND., FACTORY RECORDS THE FIRST SHIPMENT ABROAD.

What protection has done for this industry is shown by the following Associated Press telegram:

"Elwood, Ind., August 11, 1897.-The first tin plate manufactured in America to be sent to Europe is, according to local manufacturers, that started to-day by the American Tin Plate Company of Elwood on its way to Italy.

“It was a carload, consisting of 500 boxes of the most expensive tin plate made here, and it is said that this will be followed by other shipments, because of a growing demand abroad for American tin plate. The company will to-morrow make a similar shipment to England."

After the passage of the McKinley law, which created this industry, Democratic stump orators all over the United States declared it to be a physical impossibility to compete with the tinplate manufacturers of Wales, and denounced Major McKinley and the Republican party for attempting to develop this industry at home. One plea was that this was special legislation, in favor of a few producers of tin ore.

THE SOUTH'S CREDIT-SHOWING HOW RAPIDLY IT HAS TENDED UPWARD SINCE 1896.

[From the Richmond Times.]

Some of our Southern exchanges are calling attention to the improved credit of the Southern States. They note that State and city bonds bearing a low rate of interest are now readily taken at

Decrease.

a good premium. Louisiana bonds bearing 4 per cent were recently sold above par, and Gov. Atkinson, of Georgia, recently borrowed at the North for the State's account $200,000 at 21⁄2 per cent interest.

On Virginia's behalf we may say that her centuries which were selling in August, 1896, at 53, are now selling for 721⁄2, and there has been an advance for the same period of more than ten points in her 3s.

There has been a corresponding advance in Virginia railroad securities. In August, 1896, Chesapeake and Ohio stock sold for 13; it was quoted yesterday at 23. We call the attention of the Staunton Spectator and Vindicator to that fact. In August, 1896, Norfolk and Western preferred stock was quoted at 92; yesterday it sold for 544. On the same date Southern Railway preferred stock was quoted at 181⁄2 and the 5 per cent bonds at 814. Now the stock is worth 32 and the bonds 97%. In August, 1896, Petersburg Railroad stock sold for $111. To-day it held at $150. What does all this mean? Why this difference between prices in 1896 and 1898? The answer is simple. Two years ago the country was threatened with free silver, and no man knew what State securities and railroad stocks would be worth, if free silver should carry. But with confidence restored and prosperity coming, investors feel sure that the States of the South will redeem their bonds in the best money of the world. In spite of the fact that the Southern States are all declaring for free silver, financiers know that the people of this country will not be so reckless as to destroy the excellent credit which the country now enjoys, by declaring that all securities shall be paid in depreciated silver. As for the railroads, with prosperity returning, their earning capacity is constantly increasing and as a matter of course their securities enhance in value.

But does any man believe that the South's credit would have been so good had the free silver party won in 1896?

RAILROAD EARNINGS FOR AUGUST.

Gross receipts for the second week in August:

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Minneapolis and St. Louis...

Pittsburg and Western...

St. Louis Southwestern.
Southern Railway

Wisconsin Central

1898. 1897. 1896. 45,114 42,081 35,834 65,791 58,691 54,050 85,553 81,827 71,300

442,987 396,346 304,607

96,744 92,163 90,647

PROSPERITY AS REFLECTED BY POST-OFFICES.

The advances of post-offices from fourth-class to third-class and those relegated from third to fourth class give perhaps the best obtainable index of the condition of business throughout the country, inasmuch as the grade depends wholly upon the sales of stamps. The number of offices advanced, based on business in the last three quarters of the year ended June 30, 1898, was: December, 33; March, 23; June, 23. Advances that will be effective October 1 to date number 51. The advances for 1893, determined by the then marvellously prosperous year 1892, numbered 229, while in the first year of Cleveland's last Administration they fell to 117.

Another excellent test of business is found in the relegation of third-class offices to the fourth class. The number for 1894 was 49. This exceeded that of any other year, the next highest being 47 in 1897. Relegations for 1898 are only 17, less than half that for any previous year.

The advances of the year are not confined to any one section of the country, but are general, being divided among thirty-nine States and Territories.

PROTECTION.

The Mongrel Kansas Board of Agriculture Cries for it. That the sentiment of the majority of the people of Kansas is for protection is demonstrated by a resolution adopted by the Board of Agriculture, supposed to be nonpartisan. The board organized by electing a Democrat president, a Populist vice-president, and a Populist treasurer, and at the same meeting the board adopted the following resolution among others:

"Whereas, the Congress of the United States is now gathering information from the productive industries of our country with a view of determining the fiscal policy of the Government; and

"Whereas, this body being representative of the most important industry in Kansas, to wit, agriculture; therefore,

"Be it resolved, That as farmers, and representing farmers and their welfare, we earnestly favor such legislative restriction as shall most effectually encourage home industry and our own farm

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