Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1899-12-14
INCREASED RAILWAY TRAFFIC
Some Remarks by the Commissioner on the
Subject.
Trade Relations With Our New Pos
sessions Promise Continued
Prosperity.

In his report to the Secretary of the In
| terror, OF which brief mention was made
| yesterday, the commissioner Of railroads
goes into the general subject of railroads
| quite extensively. Among other things he
| says:
| The phenomenal increase of railroad traf-
| fic last year over all former years has con-
| tinued in an increasing ratio during the ifs
| cal year ended June so. 1885, and has been
| limited only by lack of cars to carry the
| product. although the companies have bent
every energy to bring up the supply 90
equal the demand
The large increase of net earnings and
expenses for 1899 over 1898 is a complete
reason for the advance of wages and large
| iy increased labor rolls; all the industries
of our country seem to be worked to the
limit of even their increased capacities, yet
the demand largely exceeds their power TO
supply. This is prospect V. The 1hvri0al
conditions of our land-erant and bond-aded
roads improve in fully equai I,s,.o VIII
their improved financial betterment.
During the ten months of this calendar
year 200 miles of new track have been
laid in the United States: more would have
been built, but it was impossible to secure
the labor or the rails and track supplies.
Government Line to the Pacific Coast.
We have every reason to believe that we
are about to enter in the near future into
new trade relations with our posses
sions and through them, thus promising a
continued and growing prosperity for our
people for many years to come. According
ly l beg leave to renew the suggestions of
my last report. urging the airline railway
from Kansas City to San Diego, Cal Such
route should be the shortest line be
tween the cities of Boston, New York, Phil
adelphia and Baltimore to the Pacific coast,
where, on the parallel of the Sandwich Is
lands and the Philippines, it would find the
a. these nOSGpSSlOnS
their commercial and military relations.
Similar routes should be opened between
the cities of Chicago and San Francisco,
Chicago and Seattle and Galveston ana San
Diego to draw a great part of the world 5
commerce over our wilderness possessions
and transfer it to the heart OF the universe.
The nations manifest destiny to become
one of the greatest commercial powers of
the earth, strengthening and increasing
our merchant marine with the spread Of
commerce, calls for generous and prompt
recognition and encouragement All of
these lines would probably not cost more
than the three or four hundred millions
that will be needed for the construction
and equipment of the isthman canal. They
would give US healthful latitudes that are
not to be found the isthmus, keep our
money at home furnish rapid transit for
all kinds of trade and comm and a large
portion of the vast commsrCe of the world.
Increasing Traffic.
The increasing traffic over the transcon-
tinental routes warrants the assumption
that there will be an abundance of traffic
for all routes, while the moderate rates of
the government system will hold all to rea-
sonable charges, thus protecting the peo-
pie in he transit of their travel and traffic.
The system extended by steamers to our
new possessions will add life and spirit to
all lines of commerce and labor until en-
ployment will be at hand for all who prefer
II to idleness.
These pnSSacSicnS with those of the West
Indies. are grand gifts of Providence to be
improved and developed in pursuance of
His great designs. Woe must be the end of
a people who reject and condemn the mu-
nificence of a generous God.
The increase of surplus-assets over LA
blites-for 1899 over 1888, for the twenty
six land-grant and bond-aided roads, is
$45, $50 OS9.2S.