Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-09-09
BUSINESS OUTLOOK
Director Of the Mint Roberts
Talk.
l TRIP TO THE WEST
RESULT OF HIS OBSERVATIONS
ON GENERAL CONDITIONS.
Labor Does Not Keep Pace With the
Demand Crops Are All
Good.

George e. Roberts, director of the mint.
has returned from a trip to the west. where
| he went to look after the installation OF
| machinery in the new mint building at
| Denver. The new building has been COM
pleted and the work Of putting nthc ma
chinery for minting gold and silver will
go on until about January 1, when 1t Is
| thought the mint will be ready to begin
| work.
| In 1863 the United States bought out the
| plant of private coming concern and
| turned it into an assay Office, the gold and
| silver being sent to the United States mint
at Philadelphia. Some of the same ma
chinery bought then will be used in the
new mint. although most OF 1T will be new
machinery.
Mr.. Roberts talked interestingly today
about his trip to the west and what he had
seen on his way there and back. This Is
| what he said to a Star reporter:
Business Affairs Promising.
Business affairs in the west are In ex-
tremely satisfactory and promising condi-
ton The volume of business is greater
than in the boom period Of 1899 to 1AO2,
and conditions now are normal. The ac-
tivity then was partly In the nature Of
reaction. or release from a long period OF
suppression; now 1t is a general expansion
of industry and trade founded upon an
enormous increase OF wealth and an I'M
precedented annual production OF commodi-
ties.
I'm every state and territory, from the
Atlantic to the Pacific, the demand for labor
exceeds the supply. Notwithstanding our
million immigrants last year capital Is In
creasing in this country faster than the
labor supply, and in seeking investment
creates new demands and opportunities for
labor and every kind of talent. The rail-
ways, the iron mills, the farmers, the build
ing trades. the mine operators are all want
ing men.
The country is developing everywhere
and increasing Its wealth-producing pow
ers with dazzling rapidity. In the far west
the area of irrigated lands il being en-
larged, not only by the action OF the gov
eminent but by private enterprises, and
the farmers are learning how to till irri-
gated lands by using less water, thus ex-
tending the supply over larger areas, at the
same time producing larger crops. The
fields Of wheat and sugar beets on Colo
RADIO farms this year will average ample
returns for labor and interest on $3.50 per
acre. But, more important than the rec
lamation Of desert lands by irrigation is the
reclamation that Is going on by scientific
agriculture. by the Introduction and devel-
opment Of plants that will grow under arid
conditions. such the macaroni wheat
brought by the Agricultural Department
from northern Africa and by the methods
Of dry farming" which are being discov-
cred. In the older farming states similar
development is going on The lands are
increasing in productiveness under more
scientific tillage.
Crops Are All Good.
THE crops this year are all good, not In
81 OTIS, but uniformly, and will put the farm
ers in very prosperous condition. The i'll
effects Of too much Misrepresentation of a
few years ago will be practically obliterated
by this crop. The lands in the Dakotas
and Canada, in which the speculation oc-
CURED. are paying for themselves; prices
are advancing again and the farmers and
bankers Of the older states who were tied
up in them are able to unload at profit.
The prices OF farm products are declining
some under the great supplies, but the
| farmer can stand it, and food will be cheap
er for the million. Flour is from dollar to
a dollar and a half a barrel cheaper now
than at the highest prices Of the past year.
reduction of one dollar a barrel on flour
as the result of bountiful crop means a
gift by providence of 500, 600 to the con-
sumers of the United States. AS good
deal has been said Of late about higher
costs of living. 1t is in order for the news
papers to take note of such an important
reduction. A big corn crop makes cheaper
meats, although its effect is not so prompt.
Cattle fattened on this crop will not come
on the market still next spring.
ut will do any man good to get out occa-
try's progress Nowhere is 1t standing still.
Every Industry is not merely expanding,
but being reorganized on more efficient
basis Why, every power plant built this
year Is more efficient than any built hereto
fore, and SO with new equipment and proc
esses ofNeyery kind Speaking of engines,
the gasoline motor, which has been devel-
oped to such efficiency in the automobile.
is becoming a great economizer 1t Is driv-
ing the windmill off the farms, for 1t sup
plies cheap and reliable power for all kinds
of work as we'll as for pumping water. 1t
will tremendously stimulate the building of
for that purpose that the trolley. If gaso-
line goes up a substitute may be had II
Congress will take the tax off Of alcohol
used industrially.
Changes in Mining Operations.
In mining operations and metallurgy the
changes are very noticeable In the years
when the silver question was vital in Colo
rado smelter charges upon ore were around
and above $40 per ton; now they are under
S. At Salt Lake City it is said by compe-
tent people that a great ledge of grade
cor per ores are to be handled with steam
shovel at a total cost for mining and smelt-
Ing together of not over 81 per ton. These
are amazing figures. / have been interested
to learn whether the effect of the present
great production of gold was showing in
higher mining costs, thus foreshadowing a
reduction of the output. Inquiries develop
clearly that the tendency is still down.
ment and metallurgical processes offsetting
our items of increased COSTS
.