New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-08-11
Crops AND RAILWAYS'IN TIE VEST
WHAT THE vTcE-PREsrDEyr OF THE WABASH SAW
IN HIS RECENT JOURSEY

WHAT THE vTcE-PREsIDENT OF THE WABASH SAW
IN Ills RECENT journey.
A. L. Hopkins. vice-president of the Wabash Rail-
road Company returned from long visit TO the
South and West on Wednesday night. lie was on
duty at the Office of the company yesterday. He
looked thin. and was suffering from a severe cold
which he caught in going from St'Louisto Chicago
In speaking of the crops and Of the probable bust.
ness of the railroads for the next few months Mr.
Hopkins was confident, but not enthusiastic. lie
sild that the production OF small grains was 40
sured absolutely. In all the territory that La
passed through he found plentiful harvest
of wheat and other small grains. Corn
was from two weeks to month Dehindhand and
consequently the production could not be Judged
correctly In relation to this he said Along
a narrow belt on both sides OF the Mississippi River
there is practically no whatever and the eids
have been abandoned. This strip of country is per
haps thirty miles wide on each side Of the river
The corn has been growing very rapidly in the last
few weeks, and nothing astonished me more than
the evident growth OF the crop in the regions which
] passed through twice. The recent rains in the
West, which have interfered somewhat with the
harvesting of other grains, have been Of
InestlTnable value 10 corn. Ii Is growing now az
if 1t were III o hOt-house The warm damp weather
makes 1t grow rs II it under artificial cutiya-
ton. On my return saw in Indiana corn which
was better at this season Of the year In tho
Southwest especially the prospects for large crop
are excellent. In Kansas the corn Is magnificent in
appearance At the same time do not think that
harvest certain but the result can be predicted
with no absolute certainty.
The business OF the railroads may not be so
large it has been in exceptional years. The
higher rate charged this year will make
the actual earnings from transportation larger
than before. Speaking of rates,
| think il great mistake that the EaSt-bound
rates from Chicago are not advanced. The Lake
Shore Railroad wiIl not consent to advance, and
am doubtful whether the Pennsy lvanIa will do
So | think their reluctance 10 advance rates a
great mistake. or course their chief argument is
the low rates by tine water routes but the Lake
vessels have made little money IN the last year.
and know that they would raise their rates If tho
railroads would give them chance TO do They
are Just as anxious 10 make money the railroads
are. The extensions OF the Wabash are APPROACH
ing completion rapidly. The line to Des Moines
will be finished certainly by the first
of next month. We shall put through trains be-
tween Des Aoines and st. Louis Tor this will be- the
shortest route between the two points. We are eA-
tending narrow gauge road that recently came
into our possession 10 Fonda, on the Illinois Cen
trail 80 miles northwest OF Dies MONIES. This line
Will also be completed by September /, and IT Will
give the Wabash IA immense advantage over its
rivals The Humeston and Shenandoah branch,
winch we are building jointly with the Burlington
and Quincy will be ready Tor business by the ~ OF
October. BY that time the new construction OF our
company will DE ended"