The Washington times., 1908-07-05
Wages Increased by Millions
Testify TO Return of
Good Times.
RAILROADS READY
FOR BANNER CROPS
Fourth of July Celebrators Jubilant
for Industrial Outlook, as Well
as independence Day.

Village. town and city through the
land have an added incentive today in
celebrating the I31st anniversary OF the
nations independence. The country re-
ioices not only in its civic freedom. but
n the return OF an aggressive and unde-
niable prosperity.
On every hand once more furnaces
are blazing, wheels are turning, and the
dinner pail is full. Prosperity week is
a reality OF which payrolls increased BY
millions are the best proof
Conservative estimates Indicate that
100000 men have been placed at work by
y e railroads and large manufacturing
concerns this week Factories formerly
on reduced time have resumed their ruu
schedule, and in scores of cases are run
ming overtime. Work on improvements
and plans involving millions. interrupted
by the uncertain conditions until recent
~ confronting the commercial world,
has been renewed.
The savings institutions, with their re-
organized conservatism, have without
exception declared their semi-annuaI
dividend. most OF them at per cent.
their top-nOtch rate OF interest. They
report very few Withdrawals. and say
deposits are increasing. apprOximating
more this week than at any time during
the year. Deposits in business banks
have also shown material Increases, ana
those rehabiitated after the furry OF
nine months ago state that they are do
ing a larger business and are strongly
intrenched financially
Increase In Capital
An instance Of business confidence is
evidenced in the report Of the secretary
OF state OF New Jersey for the month Of
June. which shows that the aggregate Of
capitalization Of concerns chartered in
that state was S1SS.164. 900. This amount
is greatly in excess Of the total for any
month since February, 1897. when Il was
10000 Oo0. The report includes the Corn
Products Refining Company and the
American Steel FOundries Company. az
gregating S25.000.00o capital
Commercial travellers tell welcome
stories Of business improving throughout
the country, despite even the bugabOo
Of a coming national election. That the
fear that this has hitherto struck into
tn business heart IS chimerical is. they
say. becoming generally recognized Or
de,s s are coming in rapidly and the great
farming centers rejoicing IN big crops
are already spending some OF their
money in lUxuries hitherto denied The
optimism OF the West is more pronOunc-
ed than that Of the East.
The crop reports for the first week
of July are most encouraging. and ex-
tensive preparations are being made by
the railroads Of the country to move
the products OF the earth Weather con-
ditions for an early harvest are very
favorable, and all signs indicate unusual
abundance
Among the first Of the railroads to
get its equipment and roadbeds ready
for this crop movement and TO take care
OF the volume Of general freight that
was beginning to be felt was the Erie.
No less than 1900 men have been put
10 work on its lines improving the road
beds Its repair shops, with 100 new
hands. have been put on the full ten
hour a day schedule instead Of the half
time that has prevailed
Renewed Railroad Activity
Five thousand cars and engines are
being put into shape for a hard and
busy commercial campaign and exten-
sive improvements are under way This
renewal and increase Of activities on
this and other railroads Is felt in
hundred different business lines The
other Hartman roads are following
out a similar policy. Large shifts Of
men have been dispatched to the Athol
cutoff in Colorado and 10 the line Up
the North Platte river, from North
Platte to North Porr.
The Illinois Central on the first day
OF prosperity week put :, 900 men. mostly
skilled rIecharics, back at work in its
shops Four hundred employees Of the
Northwestern road. laid off during the
season Of business depression, returned
to their tasks last week, and 100 brake
Ilen on the Pennsylvania have been
ordered to report for duty. In addition
several hundred idle locomotives. face
tsously termed Teddy Bears" in tbs
Pennsylvania round houses and yards,
are having their tarpaultn wrappings
removed preparatory for action. This
means employment for as many engine
drivers and fremen and an extra force
in the repair shops.
The same is true Of the other big rail-
road corporations.
Scores Of cotton mills in New Eng
land. after weeks of either complete
shut down or reduced time. are once
more running on full schedules.
In the steel business conditions are
vastly improved and hundreds of en-
ployes have been put back at work.
The international Harvester Company.
Of Chicago, is running its extensive
plant on a full time schedule, and the
same is true of the Allis-Chalmers
Company, one Of the largest machine
manufacturing concerns in the cOun-
try, with headquarters at Milwaukee.
Vastly improved conditions in the
paint, oil, and chemical manufactures
reflect activity in a dozen other trades,
including wooden mills, carpet mills,
tanneries. hat factories, and the gen.
eral textile trade throughout the coun-
try. Business in the first mentioned
lines is reported by concerns engaged
therein as being in advance of that for
z similar period a year ago and the
outlook is even brighter. Real estate
operators are also feeling the effect Of
the advent Of prosperity and report a
market almost normal in its activity.
UndiminiShed Travel.
Vacation travel. an excellent test OF
good times-for when people have no
money they cannot afford vacations-