The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1911-02-19
Railroads and Bankers Prove
Faith in Future by Making
Heavy Investments.
OUTLOOK IN THE WEST
PARTICULARLY BRIGHT
Minneapolis Banker Reviews
Situation and Finds Much to
Encourage i'm 1t.
BY PRESTON @. ADAMS.

NEW YORK, Feb 1S.-One OF the most
encouraging business signs of the times
is the apparent disposition on the part
of tho great railroad systems not only to
undertake the absolute necessary work
To put them In shape To handle current
business properly, but 10 undertake great
improvement projects which mean the ex-
penditurc of vast sums, and indicate a
most gratifying confidence in the future
The iiil and Hartman systems arc tho
leaders In the movement but they are not
by any means alone. Hardly Il day passes
that there are not announcements OF new
plans along this line by one road or an
other.
The railroads arc not alone in seeing
prosperity. For example: Edward w.
Decker, vice president OF the Northwest
crn National bank of Minneapolis and
president of the Minnesota Loan and
Trust company. who has becn In the city
sreaking OF the outlook i'll the northwest.
said;
'Intrinscally business conditions are
good except in a few spots in the spring
wheat territory. where the crops were
bad The only stop To a healthy develop
mcnt is sentimental. and even sentiment
cannot stop the growth OF the northwest
The action OF the Union and Southern
Pacific directors in, deciding TO go ahead
with extensive improvements cannot help
but tend toward good business. and it
fNill be necessary FOR the other railroads
10 follow this example II they want TO
keep up with the march Of progress
When the railroads begin TO show conf
dcnce and spend money. other business
VIII follow suit.
On Conditions i'll West.
our bank has over 100 correspond
ents In the strip from Minneapolis 10 the
coast. so We keep in close touch with
conditions and know that they are good.
To take an example; You in the east
are accustomed 10 look on Montana rs
region of maintains and mines and n
land OF sheep grazing. but firmly believe
that II Will not be long before Montana
is producing 100000 600 bushels OF wheat
yearly. East Montana has wonderfully
fertile soil. and with the advance Of ir-
ryation and dry farming there is prac
ticaliy no limit to its possibilities.
''1u southern Oregon and northern Cali
fornla there is a tract OF country larger
than TIE middle states that is without a
railroad. This also is rich agricultural
as we'll as timber country. and with rail-
roads is bound 20 develop marvclously.
Both the Hartman ana Giill interests
are alive To this fact and are building
In rapidly.
Judge Lovctl has not caught Mr. Hill
asleep. and II the other railroad man
ayers Will stop worrying about politi-
cal agltations ] am sure they VIII find
that the time will never como. when they
cannot ,ct = fair ucturn on their Invest
mcnts. All this country cannot be de-
veloped without railroads, hut immI
grants and business are sure 10 follow
Nllt lnhiT NIl'l lll'N are bilN'
Favors Reciprocity Treaty,
PERSONALLY ! am sure that reciprocity
with Canada would be a great boon for
my section OF the country, and indirectly
tor the east Few people yet realize that
vast possibility OF northwestern Canada.
II is an immense and very rich territory.
and with the taTtf barriers removed
great quantities OF grain would undouht-
edly come To the milling conters Of Min
neapolls and ST. Paul and In return az
ricuiural machinery and dry goods OF
all kind would he forwarded from there,
And. OF course, these supplies would
come 10 us from further cast. while tho
railroads would get tho benefit Of the
traffic both ways. But whcatSrowing is
only ono phase OF the development that
is coming in Canada IN which the United
States should participate.
No Harm to Farmers.
I'VE do not look for. or want boom
times The natural healthy growth Of
the country is quite sufficient for the de-
Velopment of an enormous business. in
which all classes OF the community
would benefit. There viii be opposition
to reciprocity on .hc part of farmers,
who fear that the price OF their wheat
may be affected. Personally | doubt that
the effect II any. would be more than
temporary. for after all the price of
wheat is made in Liverpool. on the 9th
cr hand these farmers overlook the lndi-
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