Kansas agitator. [volume] (Garnett, Kan.) 1890-1905, 1891-09-22
GOOD TIMES, SAYS GOULD
The Wizard of Wall Street,
Predicts Prosperity.
just Back From . Trip Through tho West
Ne Gives Glowing Account of the
Condition Of the Great Agricul-
tural Districts - Kansas
and Missouri.

New York" said Jay Gould to Sun
reporter yesterday, 'about seven weeks
ago, feeling little worn and tired, de-
sirous of trying the dryer and more
bracing air of the west and seeing
something OF the Union Pacific,
which had not been over for eight
years. Neither had | ever been
through Idaho and Montana. Hence !
anticipated the enjoyment not only OF
the relaxation. but more particular
and personal Standardization. so to
speak, with that portion OF the country
in which my more important interests,
and especially those of the Union "a
cific, center. AS to the effect OF the
keener air and the higher altitude oil
the west on my physical condition, you
can judge for yourself.
II spent nearly all the time in Idaho.
Utah and Colorado, of course taking IN
Nebraska Kansas and Missouri on the
way. I found the Union Pacific in
very satisfactory physical condition and
was told on all sides that since Mr..
Clark had taken charge the most mark
ed improvement had been evinced IN
the management of the property. The
crops in Nebraska, the first state L
reached, are simply superb. The har-
vesting of the wheat crop was already
finished before 1 left the west. The
early corn is beyond the reach OF frost,
and on my way home through southern
Kansas found large portion OF 1t cut
in that section. In Kansas and Ne
braska the wheat crop is the largest
ever grown. What the exact Weld will
prove to be of course l cannot predict,
but l talked with the station and
freight agents and others all along the
route and their expressions OF opinion
as TO an unprecedented crop were unanl-
nous.
'.Homeward bound, took the Mis-
souri, Pacific to St. Louis, stopping at
various points in Colorado, Kansas and
Missouri, where wheat was being loaded
and corn cut and the whole country
teeming with unwonted industrial and
agricultural activity. At Hutchinson,
Kansas where had short stay, one
of the most remarkable deposits OF salt
in the world has been discovered. They
are already down 300 feet in the vein and
have not yet cot to the bottom. The
salt business is growing rapidly and
promises to be great industry In
Kansas
Eastward from Pueblo 1 noticed a
great irrigation canal had been con-
structed along the line of the railroad
for seventy-fve miles, the water being
taken from the Arkansas river and thus
distributed over hundreds of thousands
of acres of land. At this point l met
one farmer who was getting ready to
plant 5000 acres in potatoes, for which,
owing to their quality and flavor
great demand exists in the east
.'As to whether we are having, or
shall have any great boom in prices
just now is of less Importance, In my
Judgment, than the certainty OF that
Steady Improvement and progress in all
those conditions without whose exis-
tence no rise can be permanent, no en-
hancement of values substantial. We
passed through severe ordeal last
year. The loss consequent on year OF
short crops is no small matter and 1T Is
going to take lot of business to fill up
the gap and strike an average. Wall
street. however, is not retrospective. |
do not see how Europe, with her un-
precedented necessities, can avoid
sending us back much Of our gold. 1t
is probable, indeed. that good deal
more gold went abroad than there was
any necessity for.-certainly more than
the exchange market warranted. In
stead of debtor we are going to be
creditor nation. Last year our i'm
ports were excessive; now all that Is
changed.
"The cotton crop is not looking so
well. We are not going to have an ex-
cessive yield this year, think rather
a shortage, in fact, than otherwise,
though the country will probably real
ize almost as much from a small as q