Show 1 I OUTLOOK IS ENCOURAGING The outlook for 1910 is distinctly encouraging is Henry Clews optimistic view The Christmas trade throughout the United States far surpasses all records and the year is ending with great groat indus industrial industrial trial and mercantile activity In h his s weekly letter Clews says As the year draws to a close there is an improved undertone in circles Uneasiness is gradually disappearing and a amore amore more hopeful feeling prevails I President Taft is shortly to issue two messages one dealing with the railroads and another with large c corporations Nothing is yet known concerning the Presidents purposes on these subjects but his views which have been repeatedly expressed in inthe inthe the past afford assurance that no radical proposals will be offered It is not likely that the railroads will object to any reasonable reg regulation regulation nor are arc the corporations likely to any longer resist a rational application of the antimonopoly anti law The business outlook is somewhat unsettled by prospects of o f labor agitation There are signs of unrest not only among railroad d but in the steel and several other industries In many man Y 1 I I I II v J cases the present high cost of living is the basis for increased de demands demands mands but a determination to secure as large returns as possible is probably an equal motive for these demands The general trend of values of commodities is upwards and the necessary process of ad adjustment adjustment to the higher cost of doing business and living is perplex perplexing perplexing ing and uncomfortable Food and clothing are now very high with little prospect of declining until the next harvest brings relief as it probably will The present high prices price for cotton grain and other products should induce very large crops daring 1910 assuming that no disasters interfere The acreage of winter wheat already shows a large increase and ami every acre capable of growing cotton will be brought into requisition next spring Of corn also the acreage in 1910 is sure SIDe to be heavy and the meat supply must soon increase Farmers both West and South are now enjoying prosperity to a de degree degree gree which they never anticipated and the effect of this is already being felt in an excellent demand for all classes of merchandise The promise of continued prosperity is a pleasing message to I every home And Anci best of all this prosperity is reaching down to the farmer fanner and through the farmer to the great body of the people Of course prices of all kinds hinds of goods are re l high gh but while there is work for all there can be no serious complaint made against the cost of living When the people are employed and through that employment are made greater consumers there of necessity must be a higher range of prices than when the laud land is filled with un unemployed unemployed employed Those hose who most feel the effect of the increased cost of living through dwindling pocket books are people with fixed in incomes incomes comes The indications are that 1910 will be one of the banner prosperity years of this country |