Semi-weekly herald., 1913-01-09


month the gross Of the railroad was
the largest for any November in the
history of the company.
The railroads are doing the great
est gross business in their histories
and expect still larger traffic in the
immediate future, as evidenced by
the statements Of the corporations
manufacturing railroad equipment.
The American Locomotive company
reports. that since July, 1912, their
business has been at its height and
promises to be so for the next six
months. Railroads are ordering more
and better locomotives than ever be-
fore. Steel car builders have suf-
ficient orders to run to capacity for
the next six months and they claim,
that owing to the railroads catching
up on their old equipment, there will
be a steady demand for steel cars
for the next three years. If present
predictions are realized 1913 will be
record year for rail makers, as
they have enough orders on hand to
keep them busy until next October
The coal business of the country
closes the year in healthy condi-
tion and it is recognized fact, that
the per capita consumption of coal
is growing much faster than our pop
ulation. Our largest bituminous
company, the Pittsburg Coal company
has now made arrangements to pay
off an accumulation of 35 per cent
back dividends upon its preferred
stock. This last-named fact is an
open statement of the prediction of
the officers and directors of that
company as to the future Of the coal
business and the gigantic industrial
projects upon which the consumption
of coal depends.
According to the large orders for
structural steel, the building trade of
the country is tremendous The ce-
ment industry shows production of
,i,bU0,000 barrels in 1910, against s.
100000 in 1900 and these figures are
increasing by giant strides. The Ma
tional Lead company, dependent upon
the building industry, started the yea,
1912. with the largest stock of maru.
fnctured goods on hand in its his
tory. These stocks have now been
actically wiped out.
For the general condition of tho
wage Garner the statistics of the F
W. Woolworth Co. stores may ba USED
as barometer, for these stores, han.
ding variety of and 1O-cent goods
cater, especially in the east, 20 tn,
trade of labor. During December
1912, their sales totaled nearly Sill.
00c.G00 against S9,000,0O0 FOR tn,
same month in 1911 The avecart
monthly gain of 1912 over 1911 wa.
ove.' 16 per cent. Due to the saving.
If the people the banking power q
the United States has increased ovel
10 per cent since 1900.
that cur raw and manufactured
rroGucts, that are not used at home
find ready market abroad is evinceC
by our record export of 1912 amount
ing to over $2,400,000,00 With tn.
opening of the Panama canal oul
exports will increase by leaps anC
bounds.
James j. Hill, whom we all know
as one in touch with every part O.
the business situation recently re
marked that never in his fifty-sevel
years of experience have conditions
been more favorable to general bust
ress.
With conditions as above cited, on,
might exclaim that the prosperity o
tho country is assured. A moment
reflection will change that view. Sew
eral vital questions are yet to o,
settled. Mr.. Hill, always conservative
and non-committal in his remark
has not said that business will pros
ger but has used the word favorable
thus implying that obstacles are We
tc be encountered before the bark in,
dor will realize that it must not BITE
These obstacles are the political sit
uation, our poor currency system
railroad rate decisions, the labor sit
Lation and educating the general pull
lie to think before it believes all o
nc trash published in our yellow
journals.
Our politicians must thrash out th,
matter of railroad rates and see tina
the credit of our great American
railroad is not impaired through de
creased earnings. They must also de
eide the tariff question, which it :!
believed will not be radically reform
ed so as to upset the general business
of the country.
The monetary question has beel
carefully studied and 10 my mind :
central bank of issue will, in grea
measure, remedy the prese',t inclas
t!city of our currency and proven
such slump as was seen in Wal
street in the last few week.. Thes,
slcmps do not augment ,be genera
confidence Of the country, upon wpiel
our great business growth tJs teel
founded.