The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1912-03-19

cent business symptoms. 1t seems al
most as if that prosperity to some ex-
tent is occasioning the revival of bust
ness activity which is observed in the
midwest and which begins to be OBJ
served in the east.
The Promise of 1912.
Unless some now unforeseen emer-
gency should arise, and unless the po-
litical activities of this presidential
year should prove demoraliZing to
business, it is now felt that the prom
Use of American business in the year
1912 is very good, although it is not
expected that the burst of prosperity
which everybody feels awaits US will
come until after the inauguration of a
president, a year from this month.
It can be confidently said that the
recent upward movement in the Sc
curities market does not represent ex-
has been too general and some fea-
lures of it seem to be in accord with
the precedentS established in times
when a general upward movement of
securities prices began. A part of the
impulse which is leading to renewed
business activity is undoubtedly due
to the certainty that the Panama
canal will be completed and open for
operation while the next presidential
administration is still young.
In many parts of the west and south
business men seem to be not at all
or at least very sill htly-interested in
cupied with public works, particularly
those which have the development of
state or national resources in view.
Not the least important of these works
is the comprehensive purpose of bust
ness men of the west completely to
reclaim the wet lands of the Missis-
sippi valley. This work is in sympa-
thy with and supplementary to the
of which much of the arid land of the
west will be made available to profit
able agriculture. The wet lands are to
be drained. The arid lands are al
course of construction which will COM
plete that reclamation.
The people of the north and east do
not realize the magnitude of the areas
Of the reclaimable wet lands in the
Mississippi valley. There are millions
and millions of acres of lands now
submerged which require only skillful
engineering endeavOr to convert the
Mississippi valley into an agricultural
field as fertile and extensive almost as
that of the irrigated valley of the Nile.
Railway men of the west are taking
very great interest in this subject. One
of the vice presidents of the Illinois
Central railroad, Mr.. w. L. Park, in a
statement recently made by him for
publication in the Manufacturers Rec
ord of Baltimore, shows himself to be
an enthusiastic and yet thoroughly
businesslike advocate of the recapture
be made available to agriculture. 1t
is thought here to be highly appro-
pirate that the Illinois Central railroad
company should, through its executive |
take the lead in the agitation
for the reclamation of the wet lands of
the Mississippi valley, and to a great |
extent by the aid of the federal gov |
eminent. For it was due to the gem
erosity of the federal government in |
great measure that it was possible to |
build this first of the great north and !
south trunk lines in the United States. |
The history of the Illinois Central is
IN considerable measure the history of |
the opening of virgin lands to agricul- |
-ure. And it's managers years ago !
foresaw that while its northern ter |
minal was at Chicago its true strategic |
southern terminal would be at New |
Orleans.
Vice President Park believes that if |
those Mississippi valley wet lands are |
to be reclaimed that work must be |
done by the federal government He |
does not base that opinion exclusively |