Weekly journal-miner., 1910-03-30
CLARK IS
 DECIDEDLY OPTIMISTIC
(Butte, Mont, Miner.)

Former Senator W. A. Clark ar rived in Butte last night from the east, in his private car, and expects to remain here for some little time, although he will visit Salt Lake in the near future in order to person ally inspect the damage done his rail road by the recent flood The Sen ator is in the best of health and spir- its in spite of the fact that in going from New York to St. Paul he was in two slight railroad wreeks, one of which was on the Twentieth Century Limited, when an engine travelling at the rate of over so miles an hour broke one of its pins and brought the train to a sudden stop. Fortunately the train was late and had two en- zines on it, so that the accident did rot terminate seriously.
 "Upon arriving in Butte I was much gratifed to find the labor trouble is all adjusted" said MT. Clark, "and this settlement quite jus tiies the good opinion that the citi- zens of this community have always held in relation to the conservative character of the Butte Miners union. hope now that nothing will occur
 
 friendly relations existing"
 When asked in regard to general business conditions, NJ. Clark said: FFinaneial and industrial conditions are very encouraging. Manufaetu- ing establishments throughout the country are generally reported to be running full handed. It is too early to make any predictions as to future crops, with the exception of winter wheat, which is reported to be in ex- cellent condition. Exports are not as large as they ought to be and that is working a little against us. There is nothing at present which tends to disturb conditions outside of politics, and when Congress ad- iourns this will be brushed aside. I do not believe that at this session an effort will be made to force through Senator Aldricn-s centraI bank scheme. I am opposed to the creation of a central bank. For one thing, it would mean the greatest eOntraliZatiOn of political influence. The whole tendency of the times is toward centralizatiOn of government, but fortunately, even in this admin istratiOn there are a few men like Secretary Knox who are upholding the Constitution and .who are opposed to this tendency which gained such i'm petus under President Roosevelt. The Supreme Court, it may be said, seems to have not caught this infection, and it still shows great respect for the opinions of such men as Marshall and others expOunders of the COnstitu- tion..
 ''I am opposed to the plan of national incorporation, and it is the opinion of many of the strongest minds in the nation that the idea is impraetieable, and in fact, is another effort to break down states lines and ignore state rights.
 "The copper situation is quite en- eouraging, there being a marked fall ing off of supplies in foreign eoun- tries. The next statement of pro- duetiOn will undoubtedly show on- other large reduction in the tsoek of red metal, which indicates cOnsump- UiOn has overtaken production and the surplus of 3OO,0O0.OOO pounds is. after all, only about four months supply. The tendency is towards an advance in price and I think it will not be long before we have 15 cent copper"
 Asked in relation to his railroad, Senator Clark indicate dthat the re- ports of the condition of the line had been greatly exaggerated. He said, in this connections:
 "Only twenty-three and a quarter miles ont of eighty miles of track through the Meadow Wash or Rain bow Canyon have been destroyed and only three steel bridges out of sixteen injured. Three abutments of the three bridges mentioned were washed away. The riprapping, which was done after the former flood, withstood the torrent and is still in place. The last time the water reach ed te infect above any previous rec ord. It was a great consolation to me that no lives were lost as a result of this terrific washout.
 'Just as soon as the present snow on the ground goes off, the work of repairing will be commenced from both ends and it is hoped to have the road operating within sixty days from that time. Contemporaneous with this work a survey will be made looking to the construction of new line along the sides of the canyon. l many feet above the. present road ! bed. "Sinee the road was washed out the people of. both Los Angeles and Salt Lake appear to appreciate more than they ever did the before the benefit they derived from it."
 Mir. Clark said he had not been | paying any attention to politics ex- cept as legislation passed might af- feet prosperity and the business of i the country.