The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1913-10-22
Santa Fe President Has No
Fear for Kansas.
Says Farmers Will Come Out
All Right.
SLOW IN IMPROVEMENTS
No New Work Is Contemplate d
on Santa Fe.
Executive Sees Danger of De-
creased Earnings.

E. P. Ripley, president of the Atcli-
son, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway COM
pany, is on his way to Topeka to at
tend the annual meeting of the COM
pany'S stockholders tomorrow. He is
accompanied by E. J. Engel, aSsista t
to the president; w. B. Storey, jr., vice
president, and F. B. Houghton, freight
traffic manager. The party is running
special to give President Ripley an op-
portunity to see the improved line
from Lexington Junction, Mo-, to To-
peka, via ST. Joseph.
President Ripley talked freely to a
representative of the State Journal
about Kansas, the Santa Fe and the
southwest generally.
Il have no fear for the Kansas far
mers,' Mr.. Ripley said, speaking of
the recent dry spell. Il knew them
when they didn't raise anything
when they didn't have anything to
live on-but they managed, somehow,
to get through the troublesome Seriod.
Now that they are successful and pros
porous, the loss of the single crop of
corn in one year is not going to cause
them to change their manner of liv-
I ing. Kansas is rich and strong, and
its growth and development will not
be retarded by a partial crop failure,
which really is the exception to prove
the rule of good crops in the sunflow-
er state. The progressive farmers of
Kansas will be quick to learn the les
son OF Cno dry SpolI, WHICH IS IIldl
scientific, intensive and diversified
, farming will in a large measur over
come adverse weather conditions.
sit is gratifying to note that the
situation of the few unfortunate clt!-
zenS who needed an extension of credit
to enable them to put in their fall
wheat was handled in a businesslike
manner by Kansas people"
The seed wheat purchased for the
citizens referred to was hauled free by
the railroads. but Mr.. Ripley did not
mention that feature of the case.
Asked what improvements the Santa
Fe would make in the near future,
President Ripley said that no new
work was contemplated. The COM
pany's policy, he said, would be to
keep the property in good physical
condition, but no more new lines,
double tracking, or other heavy work
would be done till the financial atmos-
phcre clears a bit, and the prospect
for increased return on railroad in
vestment is a little brighter.
Mr.. Ripley emphasized the striking
fact as he termed it, that the earn
ings on the entire Santa F'e investment
of more than $40 million dollars are
now not much in excess of 5 per cent.
per annum, and continue on that basis,
notwithstanding the increaS in eff
cheney, and the increase in the volume
of traffic.
Mr. Ripley regards this return as
very moderate, when considered in
connection with the increased rates
which must now be paid for new cap
ital. Mr.. Ripley said that while the
Santa Fe's credit was sufficient to bor-
row money for new work, he did not
regard it as good business to do so at
the present rate of interest especially
in view of the danger of decreased
earnings.
The work of assisting in the devel-
opment of the territory served by the
Santa Fe, Mr.. Ripley said, will be con-
tinued, and the company will in every
manner possible cooperate with its
patrons in movements for increased
productiveness and for the general up
building of the Santa Fe states.