Baxter Springs news. [volume] (Baxter Springs, Kan.) 1882-1919, 1898-11-26
ARE MAKING MONEY.
Commissioner Of Railroads Presents
Some Interesting Figures.
Many Roads Paying dividends and Piiing
Up surpiusss oommeuds Construe-
tion by Government Of Road from
Kansas City 60 San Diego. Cal.

| washington, NOV. ~ -deu. James
Longstreet, the commissioner Of rail-
roads, In his annual report, made pub
lie yesterday, calls attention to the
general prosperity for railroad affairs
and recommends the government con.
struction and operation OF a first.class
double track railway from Kansas
City. Mo-, to San Diego. CAL, by air
line route. This will open the short
est line, measured by the map, from
Boston, New York and Philadelphia
TO the Pacific coast, along and near the
coal fields Of the east and the west
this side OF the Rockies and making
the most direct line from our great
commercial centers to the Sandwich
islands and the Philippines.
The report says Of the United States
subsidy bonds under the act OF 1863
and 1854, to aid the Pacific railroads
construction, there have matured $780,
eis, 500, Of which $50, $50. 952 have been
redeemed and paid out OF the treasury,
leaving still due and unpaid sl29, 900.
The remaining bonds OF this issue fall
due as follows: Union Pacific, January
I, 1899. 50. 157, 900; Central Pacific, same,
50, 1917, 900; Western Pacific, same,
81, $3.50, 800.
Commissioners Longstreet says the
physical condition Of our railroads
generally Is better than ever before.
He points to the spectacle of roads
which only two or three years ago
were in receivers hands now paying
dividends on their preferred stock and
piling up SURPRISES which in the course
of q very short time, his report says,
will be distributed among the common
stockholders. Many roads which in
1903 were forced to cut salaries 90 per
cent, he says, have voluntarily re-
stored tho old basis of wages. In
April, 1894. receivers controlled in
this country go roads, embracing
about 30 per cent Of the total mileage
OF the United States On June 80 OF
this year there were only 10 railroads
In the hands of the receivers, and Gen.
Longstreet predicts that under the
present condition of prosperity within
another year the list of insolvent rail-
roads will be us small as in the years
Immediately preceding 1893
Reporting on his inspection Of the
properties OF the Union Pacific and
several of the land grant lines in the
west and on the Pacific slope this
autumn, the commissioner says sub.
stantial improvements have been made
in the roadbed on the main lines,
wooden bridges replaced by iron and
steel, and the bsllasting Is more ex.
tensive and much improved. He
recommends a government air line
transcontinental route in the follow.
ing language:
The annexation Of the Hawaiian islands-the
possible. probable. control OF the Philippine
and Ladrone islands-must open up new trade
relations Of such growing proportions with
them Us to so materially increase the business
OF all the bond-aided roads rs 10 be well within
the scope Of reason TO anticipate their ability.
ut IN early date 70 pay principal and interest
OF their debt TO the United States These new
eastern possessions with Cuba and Porto Rico
producing tropical productS-our annual de-
mand for which Is TO the extent Of ss.5 ooo. 0JO.
about one-third OF our entire imports-will. In
0 few years. b, entirely furnished from these
new possessions and our own products taken In
exchange. while now our exports TO these Is
lands. believe do not exceed els. 100000 an-
nually
Heretofore under former sway every effort
has been made TO discourage business inter-
course with Americans. Under the new order
OF things In these islands every effort will be
made to encourage trade with US. and when the
population Is doubled In numbers and Is in
creased ten times In ability TO produce and
consume. which Is not IN unreasonable antici-
patton. what then will our trade amount to! II
Is almost impossible to imagine. Less than
b5.Op.OoI British colonists in Australasia ex-
change products to the amount OF S65lOol.On
annually II IL only reasonable to suppose that
In few years the trade with our new possess
sions will fully equal II It will not surpisS oil
this, OF which the United States must and will
control the bulk
Furthermore, the vast volumes OF wheat and
other cereals which now lind their way from
the middle western grain prairies TO Asia and
other countries OF the eastern hemisphere via
tho Atlantic seaports will. within very few
years. reach these same destinations vim Pacl-
fc senports and with this changed condition
will come vastly increased tonnage and reve.
nues 10 oil the transcontinental lines The d.
version OF this very trans on this idea is now
receiving the careful attention and cons!dera-
tion OF the executive and managing oflcials OF
some Of the leading lines between Chicago, ST
Paul and other middle western grain centers
and the Pacific slope and therefore IL seems to
me the interest the United States has In bond.
aided railroads and especially In the Central
Pacific, should not be scaled" but that we
have every reason TO look for repayment OF
dollar for dollar, principal and interest. loaned
or advanced by the government originally 70
those corporations
A HITCH HAS OCCURRED.