The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1896-11-22
BLUE FOR RAILROADS
RAILWAY AGE DECLARES ELECTION
HAS NOT HELPED THEM NET.
In the Face of This All Companies
Expecting business tn Improve.

CHICAGO, Nov. 21.-The Railway Age. in
its issue of this week. will publish sum-
mary OF reports received from some two
hundred railway companies and manufac-
turers in all parts Of the country regarding
the effect on business. up to date, OF Nc
Kinley's election. The conclusions drawn
from these reports are as follows:
'.First-Has the railway business picked
up az all? We are compelled TO answer
no: IL has not.
I'm parts OF the West and Southwest 1t
has even been distinctly worse since cleo
ton than il was before. There has not
even been an increase in the little local
lated cases OF increased activity, but look
ing at the country as a whole there mas
been no Improvement yet. either in travel
or traffic. This fact is established beyond
question by the reports received.
Second-Aithough there has as get been
no increase in traffic. the railway comPa-
MES, as a whole. have very materially IN
creased their expenditures, especially IN
two ways. as will be seen clearly from the
abstracts of reports which are pubnsheo
below. There have been many increases
OF shop forces and a very general tendency
TO purchase more freely. The last fact Is
shown more conclusively by the reports
from manufacturers than the reports OF
the cost themselves.
-T'hird-Still more important than the
above Is the number or companies % s n
report that they had all plans made for a
reduction in force in case the election mad
gone the other way. These reports empha-
size very strongly the gravity of the dan
ger from which the country has been saved.
The railway companies generally nave,
during the hard times. been keeping up
their forces and expenses at "A point in ex-
cess of what existing business would justi-
fy. IN the hope OF a return of prosperity,
and they are now in a position TO meet
any increase or demands that may be made
on them without further expenditures.
"Fourth-The expectation OF revival In
the near future Is almost universal There
e curious unanimity In the expression
OF a belief that this revival Will really be-
gin 10 be felt after the first of January.
There Is also. most cheering OF all, an evil
dent belief in all directions that this re-
vival will be permanent; that is TO say, that
IL will last for several years at least In
conclusion, we would say that the evil
denccs OF an actual increase in business
to-day are more marked than we had ex-
pected 10 fin5s The Improvement so far,
however is largely one OF sentiment. Rail
ways are taking advantage of existing low
prices to place orders for goods and maxi
betterments. which they hope that an in
creased demand will soon justify. Manu-
facturers are similarly opening up and in
crcasing the output so as TO be forehanded
and ready to furnish stock when IL is need
ed. All this implies actual return of
confsdeace. With the extension of that
confidence. money will be available for new
enterprises and for expansions of existing
business: the circle of Improvement will
widen. and as II widens, as the number OF
r1en who are earning wages and have
wages to spend goes on increasing, those
who have dared to move in advance OF the
times will reap the reward of their cour-
age"