The Cairo bulletin., 1908-07-20

ditlCns continue to show steady in
provement, chiefly owing to favorabl
crop prospects, easy money, and
more hopeful feeling in business eli
cles Our financial leaders and cal
tains OF industry are all becomini
more and more optimistic in thei
opinions. Depression is slowly bu
Gradually disappearing and evidence
OF Improvement are visible in tn
diminishing number OF idle cars. II
the somewhat better orders for steel
in partial revival OF building, an,
i'll a steadier demand for merchandise
in many of the leading markets. O
course business is still very quiet. an,
lin volume much below that of a yea
ago But the fact is true, neverthe
less, that depression is waning, an,
that We are fairly started on the roat
TO recovery, with no prospect of an
ether panic IN sight because of the
thoroughness of recent liquidation. II
may be some time before the activity
of 1897 is regained, but the recovery
should be more rapid than usual be
ceuse the country generally is not
suffering from over-pr0duction as
| duriig the previous panic, and ere
| long our industries must restart to
prevent an actual scarcity of mer.
chandise if present contraction is per.
sisted in.
The most stimulating element in
the situation at present is the crop
outlook Our weather during the
past two weeks continued favorable.
and condition of the crops has cor
crop this year according to present
promise will yield 2,700OO0,O0O bush
els, which at the September option
price of GO cents would be valued at
$l,70e, 100000. The wheat crop with
an indicated yield of $4,000. 600
bushels at 80 cents per bushel would
amount to $627000 900 The cotton
crop which promises 100000 bales
at 9b cents would yield about 5000.
100000. The oat and hay crops, now
out OF danger are record breakers in
quantity and quality Last year these
two crops were valued at over 81 900
100000, and this year that sum will
be further exceeded. All the crops
of 1907 were estimated BY the depart
ment of agriculture at a valuation Of
$i4t2, 100000 on the farm; and in
view OF the larger yield this year and
the good prices generally obtained, 1t
farmers this year will produce new
wealth worth at least $4,000, 000,000
the largest sum ever realized in one
year by this country or any other
from agricultural products. This con.
tinueG prosperity of our farmers will
be the strongest factor in recovery
Our farmers are already in better con
ditior financially than they ever have
been as a class, ana since they are
less III debt than usual they will be
more able to buy necessities AMI |
Injuries than at any time in their his |
tory. If there is any tardiness in re
coyery it will be chiefly in the cree |
ton of new buildings and new plants !
In all probability the plants of the |
country have been sufficiently en-
larged during the last few years to !
meet requirements for some time to |
come: and as we have been much oc.
cupied building cotton mills. iron
works new office buildings, new
apartments, etc. old-time activity in
these lines will not be quickly re-
5umed until there are signs of new
facilities becoming inadequate.
Whether the proposed advance CT
10 per cent. in freight rates is being
,sed as part of a big stock market
speculation or not remains to be Sem.
[ is very certain that an advance of
his amount in freight rates alone
yould add enormously to the revenue !
# the railroads. According to 'Poors
Manual the freight earnings of
railroads last year were 81,
s25. 600 GOA. Ten per cent of this
mount would mean over s1S0,000,000
Increase in revenue. Net earnings
asst year on freight and passengers
to $4,000, 400. 1t is but
easCnabie to expect that the volume
# traffic will shortly begin to IN
rease: in fact. 1t has done so already
s shown by the smaller number of
lie cars. The railroads have already
mt into effect many important econo-
nies. and while expenses had been
increased by high wages,
M high materials. still the roads
hculd now be Receiving the benefit
f Improvement made for economical
esults Of course the railroads would
Don be in a critical position If pres.
n conditions were maintained
What with OUTLAWS forced upon the
ailroads. partly to satisfy public .
pinion. and partly TO meet the obi
ationg of growing traffic. and what
With the growing difficulties of suit
bly, financing the roads: it must be
onceded that railroad managers have
rave problems with which to deal
he railroad question. however, is ,
many sidsi one. and cannot be set I,
led purely from the railroad stand
,oint. Public interests will have to
ie considered. and It viii also have :
0 be recognized that an advance in