The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1895-07-16
CROP PROSPECTS BRIG HIT.
Reports From Railway Agents In the
Wheat, Corn and Oats Sections Do.
clare the Yield VIII Be Larger Than Ex.
pected-Traffic VIII Follow.


clare the Yield win Be Larger Than Ex'
pected-Traffic VIII Follow.
Chicago, July 15.-Railroad prospects
are more promising today than they
have been at any time since 1892. That
means that the prospects for the whole
country are brighter than at any time
since then. The railroads might be
taken as the industrial and financial
barometer for the whole country, for
they cannot suffer without the whole
country suffering with them. They,
on the other hand, cannot prosper with
out the whole country partaking OF
their prosperity and reaping the larger
part Of the benefit. This Is a fact which
Is generally lost sight Of by the anti
railroad legislator. Nevertheless It Is
fact, and one which has time and
again been incontrovertably demon
strated.
A period Of depression is generally
ushered in by a collapse of one or more
railroads. It's coming Is always fol-
lowed Immediately by the discharge OF
hundreds Of thousands Of men employed
directly by the railways in the construc-
ton, maintenance and operation Of the
railroads. The discharge of these Is
followed by the dismissal Of as many
more who owe their employment in
directly to the railroads. There are a
few manufacturing industries In the
country that do not count the railroads
as among their largest and most pro-
fitable customers. Hard times with the
railways mean the shutting down Of
rolling mills. the stoppage Of work at
ore and coal mines and the curtailment
Of the output of almost every manufac-
turing establishment in the United
States.
Big Crops in Sight.
Itcanthus be seen how much universal
interest is involved in the statement
that the railroads are about entering up
on a period Of general prosperity. The
promise Of this is based on the pros
poets for ais bounteous a harvest as has
perhaps, ever been reaped In the whole
territory west of the Mississippi river.
Should present hopes be fully realized,
six months from now the only embar-
rassment the roads will know will be
how to keep their tracks and yards from
being blockaded with the traffic that
will be passing over and through them,
and where to get rolling stock in which
to move the freight that is thrust upon
them by the impatient farmers Of the
west and northwest, anxious to realize
at the earliest possible moment on the
grain and fruits with which nature has
70 lavishly crowned their toll for the
year. r.
From all parts Of the territory named
comes nothing but reports OF unprece-
dentedly large crops. Take the follow
ing reports from traffic officials Of the
different western roads centering In
Chicago as illustration Of the existing
condition Of affairs. It is to be noted,
while doing so. that these reports have
been received from agents directly en-
ployed by the roads to ascertain the
facts as they exist and for no purpose
but to inform the managers on what
basis to lay their plans. II there be
any error In them, 1t IL more likely to
be on the part of conservatism than of
exaggeration. From no other source
perhaps Is 1t possible to receive more
correct forecasts.
Bright Outlook In the Northwest.
Reports we have received from all
sections tributary to our system show
q pretty good state Of things" said M.
c. Markham, assistant trafYic manager
OF the Illinois Central. I'm the south.
ern part Of Illinois. where the wheat
crop ID already harvested, things have
turned out much better than was at
one time expected. That is the terri
tory that suffered most from Drought
but the wheat crop IL &hrashing out
considerably more than was expected,
The returns vary very much from DIFF
ferent sections. but taking them az q
whole we are satisfied that the yield
will average so per cent. Of a full crop.
This II only in southern Illinois. In
Kentucky and Tennessee, which raise
great quantities of winter wheat the
returne from the thraahing have been
much lasger. Good crops have been
harvested there. Oats Will be large
crop everywhere. That crOp did not