The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-07-20

going to be no crop failure. aad declined
10 De panlcky.
HIS Judgment IS being viad.cated
every day, as reports come from all the
cropping regions OF the country. The
crops are not going 20 be wnat they
were year ago, but they are going 70
be 50 much better than was supposed
two months ago that there is stro3g dis
position 20 start new boom on TIE
strength Of them
No better sign has appeared than tho
reports which railroad men bring OF fhs
retirement OF their facilities in antici-
Eatlon OF tne fail and winter business.
mere viii be no repetition this year OF
the disastrous traffic congestion CT the
winter Of 1851.
Railroads Are Helping.
John T. Marchand. assistant 10 ths
president Of the Rock Island system.
who has been in the city this week. has
explained what the Western and South
western roads are doing 10 bring tacir
facilities up 10 the demands Of the
times. Mr.. Marchand was cor many
years with the Interstate Commerce
Commission. until a big railroad tempt
cd him away with an increase OF IG0 per
cent in salary
II the railroads could Only Fet the
laDOr, the investment OF money IN bet
termenJs this year would exceed any
thing iever reported" ne said THO
trouble is that the labor can't be had a.
anv price. We are doing everything nos
sible, for instance. on the Rock Island
lines 10 establish a strictly first class
condition II has been only by the great
est exertiOn that we have been able 10
get Ties. for instance, Of which We had
hundreds Of thousands bought delivered
70 US NO labor. The new lines In the
southwest have needed an immense
amount Of work, and they. have received
Il But al the other roads are making
The same determined effort 20 bring
physical conditions and facilities up 10
the new standard which increased bust-
ness demands and IL means that the
labor market has been drained.
But II can be set down as certain that
next fall and winter VIII not see a repe-
tuOn OF the troubles Of last winter The
railroads have their tracks IN condition,
have more cars, more power. more Of
everything, and have Put - all into the
best possible state OF efficiency Ton
mage IS so big that the prospect OF a.
small reduction. which seemed 10 De
promised during the spring, was really
rather gratifying 70 the operating de-
partments. for II gave them a chance to
catch UP with business But the reduC-
ton evidently isn't going 70 tale place.
for crop conditions are vastly batter than
anybody dreamed was possible AZ that
time"
Prices Rise Faster Than Wages.
Meanwhile the cost Of living mounts
inward along with everything. The next
report OF the Bureau OF Labor on the
nparative advances IN wages and
prices is awaited with deep interest The
bureau managed in its last annual re-
port 10 make the increase in wages look
Just q trifie better than that IN prices.
but there was an unholy Skepucism
about the accuracy Of its conclusions.
and any housewife who would agree
would have been a godsend 10 the bU-
reau.
The increase in wages has affected q
wide range Of employments. but IL IS
recognized that there is still a biz pro-
portion OF people who have not bene-
fitted Prices. however. affect every
body. and the belief is that even the
bureau. with all its cleverness. will this
time be forced 20 admit that prices have
risen faster than wages.