New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-05-06

foods Is not confined 10 any o'S
but covers the whole like blanket
Employees who live in towns ana cues
find the cost of living greatly ihcleaseu'
and railroads and Industries are thredt-
ened with strikes unless hlsher "ase'
ara granted. The railroads face serl-
ous problem-on the one hand, denaho
for increased pay TO employees. win ac-
comnanying increases in other items Oh
fixed expenses, while on the o'ilei S'ue'
from what source will come the revenue
70 meet ALL these increased expenses!
Railroads are prohibited by the Inter
state Commerce Commission. backed up
by the shippers. from charging 'he'f III
come by increasing rates. AS an ao-
stract proposition this is Illogical anu
it's adjustment must be a rearrangerhehI
of several factors before we can reali%e
return of broad business success.
The tremendous growth OF the ohi'eu
States and its consequent money IMAM
ing possibilities have resulted III en-
travagances which have affected every
part of our national business and domes
tic life. Either reform in the style Oh
living must be brought about through
the practice Of rigid economies or 'he
scale of economic values must oo
changed and in the future our whoie
system OF industrial, commercial ana
financial standards must be rearrahseu'
With two such forces coming toSethe'
az at the present time one must give
way. Labor wage demands are against
almost n stone wall of limitations III
tho case of railroad corporations, ana
sooner or later a break which Will be
serious to one or both must follow unless
reason prevail. Money naturally nows
into tho channels of trade and industry
offering the greatest attractions OF
safety and rates. Railroads require an
nually millions of dollars To MAINTAIN
improvements and provide ample facil-
ties to keep pace with the demands OF
RAPIDLY growing country and equally IN
creasing business. If the railroads can
not hold out prospects for good dividend
returns money will not be forthcoming
in sufficient volume for the necessary
financing. The sharpest thorn IN the
side Of business now Is the wage ques-
ton. and as soon as that Is settled the
business outlook of this country will be
bright.
Reports from Western crop centres are
rather disCouraging. but II is not time
vet TO consider them as more than Incl
dental For the winter wheat lost ana
the CONSEQUENT abandoned acreage, corn
and oats will be planted and sown; SO
until It can be shown that the corn ana
oats crops are a failure there is stu
hope. The commercial loss resulting
from the floods in the South and along
the overflowed banks Of the Mississippi
cannot be given even approximately, as
IL will require time to estimate the full
extent OF tie damage. One feature ~
the situation is the probable loss In the
cotton crop. Cotton reports have been
alarming from some quarters. hut many
oxpcricnced cotton men. who always
view the cotton prospects conservatively,
assert that ut present the future crop
cannot be estimated. az. should tho floods
subslde. the sunshine come forth bright
and warm and the ground get dry. plant
ing could he done up to the middle OF
June and a good crop be grown. so tn"
cotton question may be left to future
date for consideration.
From abroad the reports are encouraG-
ing London is recovering from the coal
strike money is easier and the prospects
for business activity are favorable. Tn
Berlin situation has improved and
France is cheerful. The panorama Of
money and business is rather pleasing.