The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1905-09-18
RAILROAD NEWS.
Never Before Was the Country
So Generally Prosperous.
Railway Executives Tell of Con-
diti0ns Along Their Lines.
WILL BE CONTINUED.
Business i'm the Immediate
Future Should Be Even Better.
Gossip and Matters OF Interest
in Railroad Circles.

kilograms from railroad executives
in various parts of the country, tell
ing of the general prosperity prevail
ing in many lines and giving the rea-
sons why that prosperity should con-
tinue, are published this week in the
Manufacturers Record, a trade paper
of Baltimore, Md.
President A. E. Stilwen of the Kan
sas City, Mexico & Orient wires that
he has never seen the west as prosper
Gus as it is now and this prosperity is
enjoyed also by Mexico. He says:
'1 believe that Kansas, Nebraska,
Missouri and Iowa will receive more
for their crops this year than they
have ever before received. Little
banks all over the west are very strong
in money. The territory of Oklahoma
is wonderfully prosperous. The terri
tory in Texas along the line of our
road has never had such abundant
crops and land has doubled in value
during the last twelve months"
President B. L. Winchell of the
Rock Island system is assured of some
twelve or fifteen months of good BUSH
ness, and says:
when the southwest has had a few
more years of such business prosperity
many miles of now new and compare
lively unproductive railroad will begin
10 N1GlO ld1T TSLuIIlS 10 tie OW11SIS,
justifying the foresight and enterprise
of the latter
Vice President w. w. Finley of the
Southern railway sees in the peculiar
ly equitable distribution of great nat
uraI resources throughout a vast ex-
tent of country the tendency to cur
tail the size of farms while extending
the improved area and the rise of a
multitude of thriving cities in trade
and industry the reasons for the south
16iT T1a in IcNI5S n
the country. He says:
There are now at work more agen-
cies for the material advancement of
that section than ever before. The peo-
pie are taking hold vigorously and or
ganizing along practical lines for indus
trial upbuilding. Capital is diligently
feeling the opportunity for investment in
our territory. The Investigation OF
manufactures is increasing rapidly AL
this indicates healthy business condi-
tions and augurs well for the future. The
farmer, too, is prosperous. He finds a
ready market at good prices for all he
can produce. These conditions are draw
ing the attention of many tilIerS of the
soil from other portions of the United
States to the south for investigation and
settlement"
President j. Ramsey, Jr., of the Wa
bash railroad, who has just returned
from abroad, reports a friendly feeling
there for American methods and ma
chinery, and says:
industrial conditions at home seem
to be excellent, and promise to continue
so for some time to come, as all branch
es seem to be full of orders. Engines
cars, rails and all sorts of railroad sup
plies will be required in large quantities
to take care of traffic and increased
safety in operation
Vice President J. T. Harahan of the
Illinois Central railroad views from Chi.
cago favorable conditions throughout
the entire Mississippi valley with its
vast diversity of agricultural production
the corn of Iowa and Illinois, the tobac-
co of Kentucky, the cotton in the lower
valley and the sugar cane and rice OF
Louisiana. He says:
Industrial activity prevails in the
manufacturing centers, which is likely
to be Intensified by the increased foreign
demands for American goods, due to the
ending of the Russo-Japanese war and
the removal by the Russian nation of
discriminatory tariffs. more particularly
on locomotives, boilers and agricultural
machinery. A very favorable condition
at this time is the peaceful situation
which exists with the laboring classes.
With the satisfactory conditions as to
supply and demand for agricultural
products, with the steady demand for
both skilled and unskilled labor at good
wages, with requirements for n1anufac-
tured products necessitating mills work.
ing overtime and with the pulse of
trade beating steadily and in healthy
manner. I consider the outlook as a
whole extremely bright for continu-