The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1898-11-22
4 BETTER CONDITION
HAS A NOVEL SUGGESTION
lDDoumDsnds . Government Air Line
~ From Kansas City to San Diego.
n CAl-Dsmsnded by New Re-
Ooe6btit,ss In the East.

Washington. Nov. e1.-General James
IIongutreet, commissioner Of railroads,
- his annual report. calls attention TO
- gsneral prosperity In railroad AFFAIRS
and recommends government construc-
fion and operation Of a frst-class
double-track railway from Kansas City.
Nc. to San Diego. Cal. by an airline
route. He lays the physical condition
Of railroads generally Is better than
ever before. He points to the spectacle
~ roads which only two or three years
40 were In receivers hands now pay
yhg dividends on their preferred stocks
Ind pilIng mp SURPRISES. In April. 1884.
Receivers controlled In this country 40
roads. embracing 20 per cent. OF the
total mileage of the United States. On
June 30 OF this year there were only lis
railroads In the hands Of receivers.
Reporting on his inspection of the
properties of the Union Pncihc n
/eentral Pacific M several of the other
Ind grant lines in the West and on
&1he Pacific slope, the commissioner says
Substantial improvements have been
made In the roadbed on the main lines,
wooden bridges replaced by iron n
steel. and the ballasting is more ex-
tensive and much improved.
He recommends a government airline
transcontinental route In the following
language: THE annexation OF the Ha-
Saiian islands-the possible. probable,
<Control Of the Philippine and Ladrone
1sla open up new trade rela-
tons OF such growing proportions with
them as to so materially increase the
business Of all the bond-aided roads as
90 b well within the scope OF reason TO
anticipate their ability. at an early
dafe. to pay principal and interest OF
their debt to the United States.
4 Under the new order of things in
<Shese islands every effort viii be made
10 trade with US. and when
the population Is doubled In numbers
and IL increased 10 times In ability to
produce and consume. which Is not an
unreasonable anticipation. what then
will our trade to? II Is almost
impossible TO imagine.
Furthermore the vast volume OF
wheat and other cereals which now find
8heir way from the Middle Western
Grain prairles to Asia and other "a
fries OF the Western hemisphere via the
Atlantic seaports will. In a few years.
reach these same destinations via Pa
cihc seaports. n with this changed
condition will come vastly Increased
tonnage and revenues TO all the trans
continental lines.
The diversion OF this very trafic on
this idea In now receiving the careful
4AIl6ullOn anu COuSiatld tlb VI ~ tAt-
cutive and managing officials of some
Of the leading lines Chicago,
ct. Paul and other Middle Western
Grain centers and the Pacific slope and
therefore II seems 10 me the interest the
United States has In bond-aided rail-
roads. and especially in the Central Pa
CHIC. should not be scaled but that
we have every reason to look for re-
payment OF dollar for dollar. principal
and interest. loaned and advanced by
the government originally to these cor
porations.
1T may be timely just now TO sug
gest that the government construct and
operate a first-class double-track route
from Kansas City to a Diego by air.
line route. This will open the shortest
line, measured by the map. from Bos-
ton. New York and Philadelphia TO the
coast and along the coal fields OF the
East and West this side of the Rocky
mountains. and making the most d.
rect lire 20 the Sandwich islands and
the Philippines.
This with other lines. now working
overland. may prove ample for the
wants Of TO the Pacific coast
and the Orient. holding trade and travel
within our borders pending the expert
ment OF a canal through the isthmus.
A overland route from Vera Cruz.
Mexico. to Acapulco. now approaching
completion. may be an important al
5unct to our own overland routes as
commerce Increases. The home advan-
tages of an overland line by the gov
eminent will be TO draw the people
nearer together In interests and sympa-
thy and will serve them as a safeguard
against the monopoly of corporations.
: As trade Increases II may develop the
importance OF a direct similar line 70
Seattle. WASH"
The reports says that Of the United