Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1911-02-19
RAILROAD PUSH ENCOURAGING
Financicrs and Investors Pleased BY
Recent News.
NEW PLANS CONTINUALLY FORK
Minneapolis nunker Asserts BELIEF
the Business Conditions Are Ex-
ceIlent IN spOts--Favors
Reciprocity.
RY PREsroN c. ApAMs.


BY PRESTON C. ADAMS.
NEW YORK Feb S-(special 20 The
Bee)-One OF the most encouraging busl-
ness signs Of the times is the apparent
p pOs systems 0 n NOT ony to undertaRe the
absolutely necessary work to put them In
shape to handle current business properly,
but to undertake great Improvement pro-
iects which mean the expenditure OF vast
sums and indicates a most gratifying con-
fldencc In the future.
The Hiil and Hartman systems are the
leaders In the movement, but they are not
by any means alone.
announcements OF new plans along this
line by one road or another.
PROSPERITY. For example am Edward w
Decker vice president OF the Northwest.
ern National bank Of Minneapolis and
president Of the Minnesota Loan and Trust
company, who has been In the city, speak
ing Of the outlook In the northwest, said;
business Conditions Good.
"Intrinsically business conditions are
good, except in few spots in the spring
wheat territory, where the crops were bad
The only stop to healthy development
stop the growth OF the northwest The
action OF the Union and Southern Pacific
directors IN deciding to go ahead with ex-
tensive Improvements cannot help but tend
toward good business. and it will be neces-
sary for the other railroads to follow this
example II they want to keep up with the
march OF progress. When the railroads
begin to show confidence and spend money,
Otner business VIII follow suit.
Our bank has over 100 correspondents
in the strip from Minneapolis TO the coast.
lso we keep in close touch with conditions,
an example: You in the east are accus-
toned to look on Montana as a region OF
mountains and mines and land of sheep
grazing, but l firmly believe that Il viii
not be long before Montana is producing
l00OOOOO0 bushels Of wheat yearly. East
and with the advance OF irrigation and
dry farming, there is practically no limit
TO its possibilities.
fornia there Is tract OF country larger
than the middle states that is without a
railroad. This also is a rich aricultural.
roads Is bound to develop marvel . sly.
Both the Hartman and Hin Interest," are
rapidly Judge Lovett has not caught Mr.
Hin asleep, and II the other railroad man
ayers will stop worrying about political
agitations l am sure they will find that
the time will never come when they can
not get fair return on their investments.
out railroads, but immigrants and business
are sure to follow the roads when they
Reciprocity Good Thing.
Personally, l am sure that reciprocity
with Canada would be a great boon for
my section of the country, and indirectly
for the east. Few people yet realize that
vast possibility of northwestern Canada
1t is an immense and very rich territory =
and with the tariff barriers removed, great
quantities Of grain would undoubtedIy
come to the milling centers of Minneapolis
and st Paul, and in return agricultural
machinery and dry goods Of all kids would
be forwarded from there. And. of course.
these supplies would come to us from
get the benefit of the traffic both ways
But wheat growing is only one phase OF
the development that is coming in Canada
pate.
we do not look for or want boom times.
The natural healthy growth Of the coun-
try is quite sufficient FOR the deVelopment Of
an enormous business in which ali Glasses
OF the community would benefit. There
part of farmers, who fear that the price
or their wheat may be affected. Personally
Ioo doubt IT. that the effect II any would be
price o19wheat is made in Liverpool. On
IN, the other hand. these farmers overlook
their communities and thus In the long
run to themselves from the general pros
pertty.'Igs
English Criticism.
Both criticism and praise Of American
railways were embodied in a statement
made made by w. M. Acworth, the English rail-
M Ma l9i Mr.. Acworth has been making
study OF American railroads during the
last two months. incidentally testifying be-
fore the presidents railroad securities
commission He has made several previous
examinations Of American railroads az in
tervals of two or three years
The principal defect that Mr.. Acworth
mentions as OF American railway manage
trative power in headquarters offices if
chicago and New York which, while tend
ing, doubtless, to efficiency and economy, is
responsible In some degree for the present
strained relations between the railways
and the public" Matters that arise in
kansas, in Texas. in the far south, In the
far west and need prompt adjustment have
to be referred Mr.. Acworth pointed out. to
officers 900 or 1000 miles away and the
citizen thinks he Is dealing with a machine.
II think" said Mr.. Acworth. that in
these various important sections Of your
country the large railway systems should
have real executive officers with the largest
possible discretion to deal with local ques-
tons on the spot / also think that the
every now and then visit the different COM
munities along their lines and cultivate the
personal acquaintance Of their citizens"
Skeletons All Buried.
Mr.. Acworth is OF the opinion that the
skeletons In the railroad cupboards have all
been buried, and that now the roads
would do well to open their cupboards and
let the public see how sweet and clean they
are"
In actual economy of operation. Mr. Ac-
worth thinks, the American railroads are
first in the world. and he expressed sur
criticism of railroad efficiency. In the
number Of tons per car and cars per
train" he said, lin the fullest utilization
OF locomotives, In the obtaining of the
greatest measure Of result for each unit OF
expenditure. they are not equaled by the
railroads H. this country and have reached
higher standard In international comparison
than farmers or government and that under
greater difficulties.
business Doubling.
''The investors OF Europe and even your
own Wall street seem hardly to grasp the
amount OF money that must be
spent upon your railroads 10 keep pace
with your growing traffic. II your traffic
doubles every ten years, as II substantial!y~~.
does, you win need not perhaps 70 double
your facilities every ten years, but TO IN
crease them at least by 10 per cent The
81 100000 600 per year specified by Mr.. Hill
AZ necessary for this purpose Is none too
much The inhabitants Of your western
and southern states. your people In general,
must understand that this capital cannot
be obtained IN their own communities
Sugar Market.
NEW YORK, Feb 1S-SUGAR-Raw,