The herald., 1896-11-22
Relative to the Effedts of Nc
Kinley's Election
NO IMPROVEMENT IS SEEN
But Expectation OF Revival Is Almost
Universal
Railway Train Arrives at Seattle
Heavy Storms Promise to Block
Traffic Worse Than Ever.
Associated Press Special Wire


CHICAGO, Nov. 21.-The Railway
Age, in its issue of this week, will pub
lish a summary Of reports received from
some 200 railway companies and manu-
featuring companies in all parts of the
country regarding the effect on busi-
ness up to date of McKinleys election.
The conclusions drawn from these re-
ports are as follows:
First-Has the railway business
picked up at all? We are compelled to
answer: mo, it has not" In parts Of
the west and southwest it has even been
distinctly worse since election than it
was before There has not even been
an increase in the local passenger travel.
Here and there are isolated cases of in
creased activity, but looking at the coun-
try as whole, there has been no i'm
provement yet in either travel or traffic.
This fact is established beyond question
by the reports received.
Second-Although there has as yet
been no improvement in traffic, the rail-
road companies have, as a whole, very
materially increased their expenditures,
especially in two ways as will be seen
clearly from the abstracts of reports,
which are published below. There have
been many increases of shop forces and
very general tendency to purchase
more freely. This last fact is shown
more conclusively by the reports of the
manufacturers than the reports Of the
companies themselves.
Third-Still more important than the
above is the number Of companies which
report that they had all the plans made
for reduction in force in case the cleo
ton had gone the other way These re-
ports emphasize very strongly the grav-
ity of the danger from which the country
has been saved. The railway companies
generally have, during the hard times,
been keeping up their forces and ex-
penses at point in excess of what ex-
listing business would justify, in the hope
of return of prosperity, and they are
now in a position to meet any increase
Of demands that may be made upon them
without further expenditures.
Fourth--The expectation of revival
in the near future is almost universal.
There is a curious unanimity in the ex-
preston of belief that this revival will
really begin to b felt after the first of
If all. an evident belief in all directions
that this revival will be permanent, that
is to say that it will last several years at
least.
In conclusion, we would say the evil
dences of an actual increase in business
today are more marked than we expect
ed to find. The improvement so far is
largely one of sentiment. Railways are
taking advantage of existing low prices
to place orders for goods and many bet
terments which they hope that an in
creased demand will soon justify Man
ufacturers are similarly increasing out
puts so as to be ready to furnish stock
when needed. All this implies an actual
return of confidence. With the evidence
of that confidence, so that money will
be available for new enterprises and for
expansions of existing business, the cir
Gle of improvement will widen, and as it
widens, as the number of men who are
earning wages and have wages to spend
go on increasing, those who have dared
to move in advance of the times will
reap the reward of their courage.
TRAFFIC BLOCKADED
SEATTLE. Wash Nov. 21-The local
effect of the storm of snow which is rag
ing has been disastrous to street rail-
way traffic, although all lines have been
moving. most of them irregularly. Busi-
ness men living in the suburbs have
forestalled a night in the city byleaving
for their homes as soon as there was in
dication of tie-up.
The streets of the city are literally
blockaded with telephone wires, broken
down by the heavy weight of the snow,
and the telegraph wires which We're not
permanently repaired since the recent
floods are in bad condition.
The storm now appears to be subsid-
ing. If thaw occurs, as the weather
indications promise, serious injury to
the establishment of railroad serv-
ice may be expected. To railroad peo-
pie the outlook is not promising.
Reports from Everett, Snohomish and
other points show very heavy fall of
snow.
TRAIN ARRIVES.