New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1891-04-28
A ROSE-COLoRED OUTLOOK.
CHAUNCEY NJ. DEPEw's IMPRESSIONS OF
HIS WESTERN TRIP.


SITUATION AND THE FARMERS AL
uANoE-PRAIsE ACCORDED TO
PRESIDENT HARRISON.
Chauncey NJ Depew has "come out O. the West"
Cornelius Vanderbilt and he and the other members
OF the party which has been American exploring
expedition since the day of the Newlork Central cleo
ton April IT, reached the metropolis yesterday morn
ing To a Tribune reporter who him at his home,
No. 43 West Fnty-fourth-st, Mr. Depew gave the fol-
lowing account of the trip, with commentary on men
and things that wider region than did the big
railway journey.
@Cornelus Vanderbilt" said Mr.. Depew, made up
party for tour of inspection and discovery We went
the Canada Southern and Michigan Central to
Chicago Then we so arranged that we could go over
the lines OF the Chicago and Northwestern by day
light taking the Chicago Northwestern road from Chi
cago to Omaha. At Omaha we had crossed the Mis-
souri, River and reached the territory of the Union
Pacific and other lines which feeders TO the Wander
bt system, especially the Union Pacific. We went
over the Union Pacific to Salt Lake. spending last Sun
day there from salt Lake the Rio Grande Western
and the Denver and Rio Grande to Denver. From
Denver made special trips into the country about
viewing the canons, Colorado Springs and Manitou,
and getting some idea Of the mining and ranch de-
velopment of Colorado. Prom Denver we took the
Kansas Pacific branch OF the UIhon Pacific TO Kansas
City, From Kansas City took the Missouri Pacific
10 st. Louis then from St. Louis 10 Cincinnati and
from Cincinnati to Cleveland We went on an inspecting
tour by daylight the Big Four one Of the Wander
bt lines, and from Cleveland came home by the
Lake Shore and Ncw-YOrk Central Our route covered
twelve States and Territory, and took also
through Canada.
"The stories which have been freely circulated to
the effect that the object Of the trip to extend
the Vanderbilt lines west of the Missouri River or to
parallel the Union Pacific to do anything antagO-
nist!c to the Union Pacific were absolute inventions,
the creations Of speculative gentlemen in Chicago.
Neither Mr.. Vanderbilt any OF his associates had
such a thought in the expedition or outside of the
expedition The agreement between the Union Pacific
and the Northwestern has been realnrmed by the
management, is working satisfactorily and is recOg-
nized by both the Northwestern and the Union Pacific
beneficial to both lines. For the Northwestern to
build parallel lines to the Union Pacific under the
conditions of its present agreement with that line
would be mOnstrOus piece Of folly which nobody
has contemplated. Neither is there any truth
in the stories which have been widely circulated
that the failure to get quorum meeting at Chicago of
the Western Association due TO the desire on the
part Of certain members to stay away and break up
the association. The letters received from every
absent member gave satisfactory excuse for non
attendance. II is difficult in association 50 large
TO a day when the convenience Of every member
or a majority of the members will permit their getting
together in Chicago. Whenever a meeting is called
in New York, however, all other engagements are
subOrdnatod to the visit 10 New-YOrk.
IL Is interesting now this tcelng prevails all over
the West and the further West you get the stronger
it grows Away out in Colorado prominent people
said TO me: The only place where we are sure Of
securing full attendance for railway or political or
business associations is in the city of NcwYOrk.
The attractions of that town such that when the
meeting is called there everybody goes
AN IMMENSE CROP PROBABLE.
Il notice that while have been absent Wall
Street has again illustrated of the pecarltes Of
that exchange What is 10 be and is thoroughly known
will happen for the next three months does not interest
Wall Street. 1t operates upon what is 10 occur six
months off, providing that occurrence means continued
prosperity or disaster The advance in Granger Sc
eurties within the last two weeks seems TO be the
exercise Of tile prophetic instinct the part of the
Stock Exchange in regard to the things which were
evident to our eyes travellers through the grain belt
At each station where VIC stopped through Kansas Ne
braska and Southern Ohio We inquired what were the
prospects for wheat and fruit and were told that nothing
so promising had been known for five years. The ap-
pearance Of the fields justified the hopeful expressions
of the localities.
at is evident that agricultural prosperity is to have
a very marked effect upon the Farmers Alliance. owing
to the scarcity Of grain the Western farmers are re-
ceiving higher prices for their cereals and their live
stock than they have for many If the deficiency
cabled likely TO occur in Europe really happens
then for the next year they to receive good prices
for the largest crops they have harvested in many
years such study l could give 10 the Farmers
Alliance movement, from conversations with intelligent
citizens along the route and where stopped. ind
Gated that the development Of the Grange, which was
an organization for selfmprovement and protection
into political party was due TO economic causes.
1t was the evolution OF despair. For three years the
crops had practically failed large portion OF the
granger states. This had put solvent farmers in debt
and brOu glt those whose farms morGaged % the
dangerline Of foreclosure and ruin. Under SUch
conditions, with people in other business a.
well as farming, change Is always de-
sired, because anything is better tah the
present so the farmers easily led to turn Their
organizations into political party, ana to adopt ideas
upon currency, banking, railroad, tar.H and Treasury
management which promised in theory relief from
Their difficulties. What was really desired was money
from to meet interest prevent foreclosure,
supply seed pay labor operate the farm which under
prosperous conditions would have come from the
profits of the farm itself Willie farmers the hard
est 10 move in such matters, their intelligence and
STAYING power make them the most dangerous factor
in a organization. But the very violence Of the
demsgogues, shams frauds and spOutcrs who have
jumped into the movement is producing d heathfu!
reaction and prosperity will resolve the movement
back TO its original clements,
THE POLITICAL SITUATION.
"There is no principle better established under
representative institutions In free country than tlat
beneficial results only be accompl shed through
one Of two great parties, because those parties though
acting upon different principles, nave III edcA men
every occupatO and condition in the country The
farmers are also understanding that While no third
party movement succeed, it Will defeat the pa.
from which the largest number of lis members are
drawn, and thus defeat, through the action Of the
party 70 which majority of the farmers do belong,
the accomplishment OF the very purposes Ior WHICH
they organized.
The two most notable symptoms in the West are
TIE rapid change OF opinion going on in regard TO the
Protection legislation Of The last Congress, and the
oblity OF President Harrison The Tariff bill having
been passed Only thirty days before eiecuoh' ana
vii