Omaha daily bee., 1908-10-11
LIGHT ON The NEW WEST
Why it is Self. Conscious, Self-Reliant
and Self-Suffoient.
STANDS ON ITS OWN RESOURCES
Clear Statement of known Truths
which EXcites Admiration and
Surprised IN
the East.

In the east few Of us really understand
why the west is so self-conscious, self
reliant and self=sufficient. In an article
in the October North American Review
Mr.. J. b. Case. president of the transmits
sissippi Commercial congress, turns on the
light. His theme Ia the future of western
trade, and he tells the east some things
1t ought to know, for the east is very we'll
satisfied with itself, too, and not as well
informed about the expansion and asplra-
lions of the west as 1t should be for its
own interests.
To speak Of the west as independent of
the east would be going too far. but Mr..
Case shows that It has developed so many
resources In the good times OF the last
decade that If a dividing wall were to be
built along the Ohio river the west could
exist and thrive without the aid and coun-
tenance Of the east. For the west now
Fas capitalists and financial %centcrs, as
we'll as factories and department stores,
and II it still borrows money from the
east II also lends money to western peo-
pie, UNDERWRITERS western enterprises and
recently in one instance wcathered a panic
with less damage to business and less suf-
fering to consumers. In a sense, indeed,
1t is the east that is dependent upon the
west, since the east ma be said TO sub
sist on the products Of the great agricul-
tural west There is one passage in MI.
Cases article that in times when the au-
tomobile is the hallmark Of prosperity will
give the eastern man a comprehensive
idea Of the growth of the west:
1T Is stated by the dealers in automo-
biles that more cars we're sold last spring
to \the farming sections Of the prairie
states than In any other part of the United
States. In one town. 80 miles west OF
the Missouri river and half as far from
the mountains-a town of little more than
$500 inhabitants-are seventy-two automo-
biles. Counties that one year ago had
less than half a dozen machines now have
seventy-five TO &c.,"
Potential Reasons.
In what way has the west waxed so
rich that 1t can afford to treat itself to
such luxuries? Well, nowadays the west
does not live by farming alone. The
smokestack is a common and conspicuous
object and industrially the west is making
great gains. 1t has learned to produce
many Of the things 1t uses and wears ana
with which 1t furnishes and embellishes It's
houses. Local capital has started thou
sands of Industries in the prairie states,
as we'll as In the middle west, and western
men buy their products not only because
the manufactured article is often cheaper,
cost of transportation being a cheapening
factor, but because they feel a pride in
western enterprises. To quote Mr.. Case
again:
"Californla's manufactures turn out a
product worth more than that Of Ohio,
Maine or Michigan; Oregon has as great
a production from its factories and shops
as Michigan; Missouri has more than Yer
mont. Kansas more than Virginia, Colo
RADIO more than Indiana"
In the Pacific and Rocky mountain states
alone the annual production of manufact-'
ured goods is estimated at q billion dollars.
Even the prairie states are now dotted with
factories. Mr.. Case says that ''today the
aim OF every town between the Mississippi
river and the Pacific is to secure some sort
OF enterprise that will give employment
to its loborlng classes" In almost every
county seat you may find a department
store carrying a miscellaneous stock Of
goods. The west has even gone into the
the manufacturing OF automobiles and sells
them at home In competition with eastern
makes. 1t should not be forgotten that
seventy percent Of the area of the Uuited
States lies In the transmississippi country
and that 1t contains 100000 people very
proud of their homeland. industrious and
resourceful and no longer envious Of the
east.
Pulling Together.
Cooperation in a large sense in char
acteristic of the new west. All it's people are
pulling together for the common good.
Three bodies interested in mining, irrigation
and meet every year to COM
pare notes. ''The direct object OF these
organizations we are told, us to build
up the struggling enterprises Of the west.
The purpose is to unite in one effort the
politicians, the capitalists and the busi-
ness workers who live between the Miss
issippi and the Pacific" Hence the vast
reclamation projects and other enterprises
dry nursed by congress, ultimately to pay
for themselves II the west continues to
prosper. The farmers also resort to CO.