The sun., 1903-04-13
GOULD PLEASED WITH WEST.
SAYS ALL CONDITIONS THERE IN
DICATE PROSPEROUS YEAR.
Crops Are Good, Money b Plentiful and
Railroad Conditions were Never Bet.
ter Than Now-st. Louis. He Thinks,
h Net Properly Prepared for Fair.

ter Than Now-st. Louis, He Thinks,
Is Net Properly Prepared for Fair.
LAKEWOOD. N. j.. April i7.--After a sur
vey Of conditions in the West George j.
Gould, who returned yesterday from
two weeks trip over the Missouri Paciho
and Wabash lines, is convinced that the
present era Of prosperity which the West
Ia enjoying will continue for a full year.
'In all my experience In the West. said
Mr.. Gould, In an interview to-day. i have
never seen wheat look 40 good as 1t does
to-day. 1t Is a bit too early to speak OF
corn or cotton, but as the soil Ia thoroughly
water-soaked. these crops ought to thrive
amazingly. The railroads won't have any
trouble IN moving the great wheat crop,
but think we will all be short OF cars In
the fall II there is a big corn crop.
The physical condition Of the Western
roads was never better than now.
went over the Missouri Pacific from st.
Louis to Pueblo and down as far as Little
Rock, Ark. We are doing a great deal OF
grading and ballasting on this part Of the
system and are making other improve
ments TO get the roads into shape TO handle
a maximum Of tonnage at a minimum OF
cost.
An our earnings are going ahead Of the
hest period we have ever had. We are
comparing now with previous periods oi
heavy earnings and we fnd that we are
running ahead. am speaking OF gross
earnings. but we hope by careful manage
ment not to have the expense account
keep pace with their increase
Il heard no talk Of money shortage while
was in the West. The banks are holding
their own balances in their vaults and they
won't have to draw on New York for money
to move crops. From what saw, ] believe
that this practice Of drawing on New York.
as it is called, will be an uncommon occur
renee in the future. The Western bankers
have their own money to lend to their own
people unless money should get 40 high
in Wall Street as to make 1t profitable 10
send it east. From all indications i ca.
zee years prosperity ahead for the West.
Nobody can look farther ahead than that
Mr.. Gould referred to the ST. Louis Expo
sition in enthusiastic terms. He visited
the grounds twice and was very much i'm
pressed with what he saw.
Il think IL will he the finest fair ever held,
he said Two things in connection with the
fair need TO he brought to the attention of
the people OF ST. Louis. One is that they
have not awakened to the great need Of
extra hotel facilities. 81. Louis needs ia
devote her whole energy to the problem
Of taking care Of the enormous number OF
people who will attend her fair.
Another important thing is the lack OF
adequate transportation facilities TO and
from the fair grounds. St. Louis seems 70
have done absolutely nothing in this matter
Only one railroad. the Wabash, runs "a
the Exposisios grounds. ssd ewiss 90 somA
complications between the railroad and the
city government the Wabash has been held
UP on certain improvements that IL wanted
to make to take care Of the enormous traffic
it will have
Mr.. Gould's sons. Kingdom and Jay
accompanied him on the trip over the
Gould lines. Every opportunity was af'
forded them of studying the details o'
the management of a great railroad
system