Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1907-03-30
NEW
YORK
LETTER

New York, March 30.-The most
significant event of last week was the
announcement by the Erie railroad
that the important improvements II
had entered upon, involving a new
entrance and terminal in Jersey City.
aud estimated to cost all told over
s2O,000,O0O are to be abandoned, at
least for the time being. This is
calculated 10 make the most reckless
and thoughtless man to stop and
think for a while whether the wild
work with railroads is to continue or
not. The chief trouble with the Erie
fact Is that Il is not alone, but be-
longs to a class. There is seldom
n day passes without some railroad
announcing that II is hauling in, In
stead OF expanding; that operations
that were TO cost millions, and the
money for which was at hand, are
now put on the shelf, because the
money cannot be got 10 push them
through. The railroads have been
hard hit, In their credit, their busl-
ness, and in their standing. and the
public will soon find that it's time TO
suffer is fast approaching. When
railroad stops a big Improvement, II
means that millions of money that
would have been spent will now lie
dormant. consequently there will be
so much less TO float among the peo-
pie, frucltfying the labor market,
and following that, freshening up all
lines OF trade. and putting the
market I'm IT'S finest condition. We
have been declared TO have been en-
Joying an unprecedented degree OF
prosperity. but a check has come 90
IL. The harum-soarum crowd have
had their paniandrum. and now the
public can prepare 10 pay FOR Il. II
has taken 20 years 10 build up the
railroad system; Il has taken only a
few months 10 bring Il TO the edge
OF ruin, and common people have
been thinking that all that would
happen would be cheaper rates, and
less cost TO themselves; but soon they |
will flnd that business has dullod |
down, and that there Is less money |
astir, and that they are getting less
than they were getting. OF what Is
anoat. II ls time that there was a
let-up on the railroads. II II Is not al.
ready too late. A brave effort has
certainly 10 be made 10 stay the de-
struction, and alas, the men who can
best make II are discredited, and do
priyed OF the power they once pos.
seased TO strengthen the business and
system.
What an army of foreigners ~
landing on tho shores OF America ai
present time n ~ not To be won
dered AZ az the United statos ~ the
second love. n a. IN not the FIRST. IN
the heart of every mortal ON the
globe. who has knowledge enough 20
know that there Is amy country out
side OF his own land Aud so thoy
come In many ships. sometimes near.
~ dozen of these come ataggorlnr
into port with such loads OF human
beings that never we're heard OF be-
fore. ON one day last week $4,000
immigrants came into the port of
New York Ha steerago passengers
There were 80 many that the United
States accommodations for immi-
grants We're exhausted, extensive az
these accommodation have always
been, aud greatly enlarged as they
have lately been made Some OF
tho ships had 10 hold passengers an
til room could be- made for them
The inspectors are able 10 handle
only about b000 immigrants a day
and here come enough 10 create a new
city, for many citiea with an the ma
chinory OF city government are not
as large AZ this army that poured up-
ON our soil ON that one day. That
IL not an islOatod day, hy any means,
II n the largest day. to be sure, but
many approach Il, 80 that a clty ~
added 90 American territory about
twice wr,k Wen, the country
needs labor. Canada needs labor.
and here Il is. How long Il viii take
60 mold an this raw material into
cliiEens none can tell Some OF the
men and women viii yield quickly
10 tho influence of American liic;
others win stick to their old ideas.
aud preserve their foreign ideas and
mode OF living. and be- sore 20 tho
oouuuy and trouble TO themselves.
and viii ma trouble, aud trial. and
noed whore they expect Ca ind plen.
~ aud happiness, and which others
who eame under tho Same circum.
STANCES as they have found, The