The Emporia weekly news. [volume] (Emporia, Kan.) 1881-1889, 1883-03-15
TNTERYIEMED.
The Santa Fe and its Interests as Viewed
by W. d. strong.

The Santa Fe and ITS Interests as Viewed
by W. h. Strong.
Topeka Capital: Mr. VIM B. Strong,
president of The Atchison, Topeka s. |
Santa RE Railroad, spent Tuesday after |
noon and part of yesterday in Topeka,
on his return from the four months
vacation he has been having on account
of his impaired health. His many
friends will be gratified 10 know that
there are few traces left of the severe
and critical affection that came so near
carrying him of. He has gained in
flesh and strength, eats heartily, sleeps
soundly, and is in excellent spirits. Il
feel thoroughly WE'LL" he said to Cap
ital reporter yesterday, sand ready for
business again"
"Will you resume the active duties of
your petition when you get back to Bos-
ton 81 asked the reporter
"Not directly and altogether" ne re-
piled, II am not going TO work SO hard
as did befor nay sickness. Mr. Touza-
lin will have direction of things at the
front. l need not tell you what a thor
ough railroad man he is. 1t took great
deal of coaxing to get him, as he had
determined to quit the business; and
think he consented at last on my person
al account more than anything else. We
used TO be together years ago at Bur-
lington."
"The affairs of the company are in
good shape, of course suggested the
reporter.
admirable" he answered. avery
thing is going on smoothly and prosper
ously. Business was not so good in the
past two months as 1 had anticipated,
but that is TO be accounted for by the
general slaekening, and by the fact that
farmers are holding their products for
higher prices. There is a great deal
of marketable stuff IN Kar-
sas that is waiting for bet
ter prices That is a good indication,
too. 1t shows that the farmers are well
fixed, out of debt, and not obliged to
sell till they get ready. My impression
is that Kansas is in better condition
to-day than she has ever been before"
-"You find Topeka considerably inn
proved since your last visit, do you
not ?" said the reporter.
"Yes," he replied, "the town seems to
be going right ahead. 1 don't know of
a place in the country that is dong bet
ter"
"WiI your company do any building
here this year,"
eyes, but 1 cannot say how much.
That will be determined at the annual
meeting in April"
II suppose you have heard" the re-
porter ventured shat we have a railroad
law now"
"Well, yes" he answered, my atten-
ton has been called to it. don't know
what our Boston folks will think of it,
but it strikes me as being reasonably
fair and sensible. Some of its provis-
ions are rather stringent, TO be sure, and
might be made to operate injuriously.
With competent and straightforward
commissioners, however, there ought TO
be no difficulty about the law having a
fair trial. 1t will put US 10 some trouble,
of course, but we are used to that, you
know"
"How did you find things at the
south ?" the reporter injured.
bad enough" he said, generally
speaking l was in all the southern
states, and with the exception of Texas,
they all seem struck with a permanent
blight. Atlanta is good town, and
Chattanooga, Tenn, and Chariot, N. c..
looks thrifty; but that is about all,
Charlestown, S. c., is particularly for
lorn ana dilapidated, as if fate lad
singled it out for special scorn on &C
count of its attitude during the war.
The plantations in the cotton growing
regions all look neglected, weed grown
and desolate. In journey of hun
dred miles you will notsee a single neat
and pleasing farmhouse. Wherever
you see signs of life and business, you
find that Northern men are running
things. The Southerners, as rule, do
not seem to catch on as the boys say,
but stand around in dazed sort of fash
ion, waiting for something to turn up.
In Texas, however, it is very different.
Texas is worth more than all the rest of
the South.''
"How about Mexico?"
"Mexico in winter is perfectly delight
full. 1 can conceive of no finer climate.
If were selecting place to spend the
winter, would take Hermosillo or
Guaymas above any other. They are
good places to avoid in the summer,
however. Mexico is becoming Ameri.
canized very rapidly. and the old meth
DDS of business are being supplanted by
those employed up this way. The coun-
try is wealthy, and the trade from that
quarter, which the railroads are bringing
to our doors, must soon be an important
factor in our commercial affairs"
Mr.. Strong left yesterday afternoon
for Beloit, Wisconsin, where his family
will meet him, and where he will visit
with relatives short time and then go
on to Boston. He will visit Topeka
again next month, at the time of the
regular annual meeting of the directors
of the road.