Protection--prosperity

It is not often that great buiness concerns touch upon political or economie conditions which directly or indirectly affect their prosperity. This is largely due to tlie fact that in a great niajority of the business concerns or corporations all ehapes of political faith are represented. It is gratifying, however, that occasionally there is an exception to the rule above stated, and this was well illust trated at the animal meeting of the greaNew York dry goods house of H. B. Claflin Company, held in New York on Monday, January 11. The report of the president, Mr. John Claflin, contained ;he following: "During July, August, September and October the whole country was prostrated by fears which were dissipated by the result of the Presidential election. After November 3, ahopeful tone prevailed, but the season was too far ad vaneed for any appreciable improvement iu trade, and the last six months of 1896 add a fitting final ehapter to a record of four years of difficulty and dissappointment. Our net profits for the six months are $103,402, against $359, 273 for the corresponding period in 1895. The last paragraph of the abouve is especially interesting. There is no more reliable or conservative naerchant in the country than Mr. John Claflin, and when he said that " whenever this country getsaTariff which will produce sufficient revenue for the needs of the Government, and will at the same time intellitfently encourage domestic ineustries, we may expect a general return of prosperity,', ie voiced the opinión of every Protectioist. Whenever this country gets a Tariff which will produce snfficient revenue lor the needs of the Goverment, and will at I lie same lime intelligently encoui domestíe industries, we expect a general return of prosperity. Meantime we think tliere will be a moderate recovery from the present unreasouable depression." We beg to cali the attention of every nieiiiber of Congress who now has, and who will have, to deal with tlie ïraiffof 1897 to Mr. Claflin's statement. A substitute for rubber wliich nan be produced in large quautities atless than a quarter of the cost of germine rubber has been discovered in California. The Bubstance is the product of a tree which grows abundantly in the central part of the state, and was discovered by accident. The tree is tapped near the base anl the sa]), which is quite dark colored, is caught in a vessel. After being exposed for a day or two a layer of tough, elastic material, closely resemblLng rubber, is formed. H this taken off another layer will form. This substance will vulcanize like rubber and when properly treated is a perfect substitute lor the genuino article. It has been teated by several scientific men, who say it will take the place of rubber for alinost any purpose.