The Washington times., 1908-10-11
Evidence Piles Up.

In the railroad situation evidences are
accommodating of the better times. A
high official Of the St. Paul expressed
himself as believing that the traffic
situation is working back 70 normal"
The grain business IS enormous, the
great crops. tOtaling 65S.000,0o0 Of wheat,
7Sg, 90. 900 bushels OF oats, and 100000
bushels Of rye and barley, are being
rushed TO market The wheat excess
over last year Of 100000 bushels, oats
100000 bushels. and rye and barley
100000 bushels. and the prices are all
higher than they were year ago.
This fixes definitely the buying power
OF the agricultur'st- The corn crop Is
very promising.
With this enormous crop to move,
with the minor crops and cotton, the
railroads may expect a great freight
traffic April q. 1903, the records Of
the different railroad companies showed
4l3,60O idle cars in the yards. This was
the high mark The decrease has been
gradual. down 20 173.5s7. on September
10, but for the accounting Of September
80. the idle cars tOtaled but 1900. a
decrease OF nearly 5000 IN fortnight.
Coal IS not going forward freely, the
dealers throughout the West and North
west. and fears are expressed of coal
famine. Strange as il may seem. the
greatest Improvement In the car sltua-
ton Is not in the Western and North
western sections. but IN the Eastern.
Southern, and middle States.
Earnings Of thirty-seven railroads
showed less than per cent decrease
for the third week IN September, where
as IN July and August The loss was up
to u and Is per cent
Clews' Comment.
Commenting on the improved condi-
tons, DIT. Henry Clews says:
"September's bank clearings showed
an increase Of 3 per cent over the same
month East year. a fact which Is sur
prising in view Of the prevailing quiet
ness of business, and while stock ex-
change activity probably accounted for
much Of the increase in clearings at
New York, the gains reported from
many cities IN various parts OF the
country prove beyond question that
business is surely though slowly reviv-
ing in spite OF a political campaign
If other evidences OF recovery are
desired they can be easily found. I'm
proved conditions In the money mar
ket have carried natural and much
needed relief in various directions.
Bankers. although in a discriminating
mood, viii now lend with greater free
dom on all sound and legitimate enter
prises.
Real estate is feeling the advantage
Of this relief; property is changing
hands more freely, and better class
developments which were blocked by
the panic are being carried out with
more promise. Now that mortgages can
be more readily placed, building opera
lions are being resumed under more
favorable auspices, encouraged by the
lower prices for building materials and
more settled labor conditions. In con-
sequence there has been a better de
mand for constructive shapes in steel
and iron; lumber is more active, and
the various metals are stronger.
According to the best statistical
authorities, the new construction work
contracted for in September in the lead
ing cities was Z per cent greater than
a year ago, and in the city Of New
York alone the increase was IA per
cent, a much more gratifying exhibit
than expected.
Mills in different parts of the cOun-
try, which have been shut down either
owing TO dull business or the drought.
are starting up and many that have
been running on short time are pre-
pairing to run full time In many in
stances moderate concessions have been
made In wages; and there Is no doubt
that If the elections prove satisfactory
there will follow a widespread improve
ment in the volume Of business"