Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-09-07
Commissioner Hermann Speaks Of His
Recent Trip.
INCREASE IN RAILWAY TRAFFIC
Money Plentiful and, Rates of In
terest Low
ADMINISTRATION 1NDoRsED

Commissioner Binger Hermann of the
general land office has just returned from
an extended trip to his old home in Oregon.
Mr.. Hermann is one of the recognized re-
publican leaders in the; northwest and an
active politician. To a,rcporter of The Star
today he discussed his trip from a political
standpoint.
"As to my observations regarding the in
dustrial conditions in the west" Commits
sioner Hermann said, 'I can truly assert
that the most glowing representations
through the press heretofore of the exist
ing prosperity there are fully confirmed by
what I saw. The traffic of the eastern as
we'll as the western railway lines is the
largest ever known. Last years was
thought to have been unusual, but this
years is phenomenal. More farming as
well mining machinery of all kinds is
passing over the roads. The demand for
labor IS everywhere noticeable, with a cor
responding increase in wagea Freight traf-
fic is limited only by the capacity of the
reads An agent of one of these roads said
If we could borrow or hire from five to ten
thousand box cars we could find immediate
use for all of them
Money Plentiful.
money is especially plentiful, and per
haps the best evidence of it's free circula-
tloi is SetH III lHe passenger tTaIllC ana the
vast throngs travelling upon excursions
One road reports an increase over last year
Of q per cent in round-trip and excursion
business. Along the great lakes 1 also no.
ticed a most active interest in shipbuilding
and was informed that every firm has or
ders ahead of its capacity to fill. What sur
prised me more than all was the low rate
of interest on money loans in the west. A
few years ago in my state the rate of in
nnyt fIA
now per cent is a high rate and per cent
common on ordinary farm loans. with spe-
cial terms of ). and even.-4 per cent On
school and municipal bonds on long time
Three years ago the warrants on indebted
ness OF my home county, bearing per cent
interest. sold at 10 per cent discount. while
now like warrants, bearing but per cent,
sell at I and per cent premium. Some
farmers of my acquaintance, who then
were heavy borrowers. are this year lend
ers of money. Money is loaning as far west
as Chicago in some instances cheaper than
in London and Berlin, and at the present
rate the west will soon become the money
center.
Live Stock Increases In Price.
"All live stock has vastly increased In
price. A ca'f this year comm nds the price
of COW of last year. In fact, almost 100
per cent has been the market raise on cat
tie. horses and sheep. Wool. lumber. fruit,
dairy products and live stock constitute
i'll all the Pacific states industries which
never before were so fiourishing or profita
BILE. Real estate in towns and cities of the
west. with Few exceptions, has not per-
ceptibly appreciated in value but this or
der ct property is always reached last by
the prosperity tides. It is also true that the
extreme west feels the wave long after
It has come upon the east. Great. there
fore, as business revival has already come
among the Pacific states much. more may
soon be expected in that quarter.
Endorsement of the Administration.
''You ask to the general expression
among the people as to the administration
and its policies. I should say that the in
dustrial condition observed by me should
be fitting answer. In the last presiden-
tial campaign people were urged to be-
lieve that the election of William McKin-
ley would sound the death knel even to
the feeble activities which then stiIl surviv-
ed. That was the anti-repubican theory:
but the condition now speaks louder and
safer than such theory then, and the most