The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-12-22
President Ripley of Santa Fe
Talks of COuntry's Prosperity.
Says 1t Depends Upon Decision
of Commerce Body.
FAULT OF THE LAW
Mr.. Ripley Says American Prln-
ciples Are "FOOl Laws.
Other Items of General Interest
in Traffic World.


Santa Barbara. Cal, Dec. 2.-Presi-
dent Edward P. Ripley, of the Atehlson
his winter stay. is more concerned
about the prosperity of the country
than about things political.
Asked as to whether he had ANYTHING
to say regarding politics, MI Ia1t Oh
the insurgents he replied:
mo, l have nothing to say ABOUT
politics, Mr.. Taft, nor insurgents, nor
"But about Colonel Roosevelt? Sure
" you can say something suhsniAiS
about the colonel?"
"Colonel Roosevelt" he replied, has
stopped talking about Colonel Roosevelt
SO why should talk about him? Wnen
he stops talking about hlmseII, WY y,
should any one else talk ABOUT nun
why indeed; If Mr.. Ripley does not
know do you? Does the colonel?
"Tourists? Why, the indications at
present are that you Will have more
than ever before this winter; we are
preparing to bring them; in TACT they
are coming already; we now nave 1ouI
regular trains each way across the
continent, not counting extra sections
of the regular trains. ,.,z
"And the orange crop; that shouic
bring some optimistic copy from YOU
81r. Ripley? ,... ,
we will possibly have the largest or
ange crop of the history of southern
California.
Prepared for Big Business.
1--WE have about 1000 fruit cars ready
for the traffic and we will l think, be
able to take care Of it promptly and
satisfactorily.
I've have our pre- cooling plant in
readiness; that, however. is not a proved
fact of value; it will require the ship
ments of an entire season to demon
Etrate its efficiency.
"Our business is very good; up to
week or so it has been exceedingly
you see that in the ten years past
we have spent about $S,000,000 in adj
Vertising. Of which California has had
fully so per cent; while our mileage has
increased tremendously during that
time. our business has in Is years in
creased two and a half times.
Ten years ago we operated the lin
tied train to and from California two
times a week, and on other days we
had one train; now, as told you, we
have a limited every day, and in all,
four overland trains, besides several
sections in busy times
Mr.. Wells tells me our limited has
lately been obliged to run in two sec
lions several times.
People Too ExtravagaDt.
Prosperity? Well. just now there
is a little hesitancy; there are decisions
IN the supreme court awaiting jung
ment and the matter of railway rates
before the interstate commerce COM
mission which tend to hold activity In
allegiance; if these decisions. when they
come, are favorable, it is probable there
will be renewed activity.
There is one thing, however, which
is that our people live too extravagant-
ly; the high cost Of living has some
thing to do with this. 1t is unfortu-
nate that the American people do not
NJ for vi eClx m fII6
financial conditions, instead of becom-
ing alarmed at any suggestion of re-
trenchment and economy.
'It is difficult to discuss economic
conditions without causing alarm and
the charge of pessimism; those points
of high living, of increased cost of
things, of the increased cost of labor
without maintenance of the efficiency
of labor. are all matters which deserve
calm study.
1.-THE commerce court? I think 1t may
be a good thing; would have liked to
see the appointees to this and to the
commission selected from men of wider
experience in railway matters, but as
political appointments go, they are
good selections.
mo seven men. however, can do the
work of the commerce commission;
these seven men have practically the
snanagement of all the railways in the
United States. and no seven men can
do that work"
do you eventually foresee govern
ment acquisition of the railways?"
well eventually is a long time; I
have sometimes thought the govern
ment might finally take the railways;
1t has done so practically now, except
as far as paying the bills are concern
ed
Faults of American Law.
what if the government does not
permit you to increase railway rates p
eff it does not we will get along the
best way we can, if the public can
stand seeing the railways operated
without proper improvements and de-
velopments-
80 far as the western roads are con-
cerned, what we have asked in increase
of rates does not amount to much; II
is more for the demonstration of =
principle; why, there are two recent
rulings of the commission, those of the
socalled Inter Mountain case and that
of the Missouri River rate case, which
have cost US four times what we would
get if the increase of rates we asked
for were granted.
"If it is unlawful, as the government