The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1909-03-09
steelmakers and the Railways.

steelmaker. and the Railways.
New York Times.
At the start of the steel war IL was
stated that the Carnegie Company, as
the fighting unit of the trust. had
taken more orders in a day than for
months before. Now 1t is stated that
the independents. who had been doing
business in the same manner, are get
business.
The two statements are confirm.
was expected when the war began.
Price wars do not Immediately max e
business. because either they do not
induce a general war OF prices all
along the line from the raw material
to the finished product. Somewhere on
the road down the neutral point is
do Business. and the weakest are slain.
Heretofore there has been at that point
an abyss Of bankruptcy from which
comparisons OF growth are made. and
the upholders Of unregulated control of
the relation Of supply and demand are
able to claim their costly victory. The
chief disturbers are sometimes the chief
sufferers.
1t is gratifying to read Of occasional
new orders, but the aggregate of small
buyers Is poor substitute for the abb
sence Of the largest buyer Of all. On
behalf of the Burlington Railway 1t
was stated Yesterday that its better
ment budget for this year Ia 81, 900, 900,
against 100000 last eyar and &c.
100000 in 1907. 1t Is now too late to
do much In 1903 on any terms. There
are daily such instances, but It must
suffce to specify ono moro, also pub
iished yesterday. The Athison Rail-
way reported for the fiscal year a de-
crease in expenses and taxes of $685.
900. AS taxes are probably larger the
saving in other costs is doubtless great
err. 1t ~ these savings which are
lRA laex tlxx-ox IL,
are made at the expense of the wage
Garner and the general providers
There can be no great prosperity In the
steel trade while these conditions con-
tinue. The price Of their purchases Is
not what deters railways from buying
Tho railways are not pressing for
cheaper goods, but they are telling
to eFy III market rhe su Hfns eGeP RAN
way declared oficially that 1t must
have a rest from despoiling legislation.
In eleven States along the Burlington
last two years 500 railway laws have
been passed in those eleven States. and
the erect upon revenues has been Sc
rious Even now the Burlington is
ready to accommodate itself to the situa-
ton If it can. but the task must not
be made harder. President Truesdale
represents a leading Eastern railway,
ed himself similarly. The Industries
which are chiefly suffering. he re-
marke ed. are those relying upon railway
custom, and that had been reduced by
confiscatory legislation. President
Ripley. of the Atchlsnn, has expressed
similar sentiments within a few days.
but less hopefully than President
5eHss !. uD,i Ths quantity of such evil
This Is so only in the United States
On Thursday the Alberta Government
guaranteed bonds at the rate of 500
900 per mile for railway construction
by Kansas City capitalists. 1t also
guaranteed $50 miles of Canadian
Northern branch lines. and 500 miles
OF Canadian Pacific branches. The ag-
gregate of the days business was s27,-
100000. On the previous Thursday the
Manitoba Legislature began the favor
able consideration of a railway pro-
jected by Mr.. James J. Hill. The Ca
madam Pacific itself is expanding So
600, 900 on extensions and important
electrical improvements. We announc-
ed a few days ago the Southern Pa
clfic's financing OF the remainder OF L.
500 miles in Mexico, OF which about
one-third have been built Mr.. Harri-
man himself has no preference for
Mexico, but declared his readiness to
spend some $4,000. 900 in Georgia If he
could have fair play. asking no favors.
The distinction Is not along lines Of
principle II will b eseen. The very
men whom we denounce as malefac-
tors are regarded as benefactors north
and south of us.