The Washington times., 1914-05-31
in LOCAL FINANCIAL CIRCLES

With the Inauguration of. further In
vestigation Of railroads by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, a contfn-
uance of the New Haven inquiry and
the decision by the Supreme Court in
the tap line" case. a determination ",
The rate increase appeal appears to hays
been pushed on further into the future.
Consequently. the hope for a business
boom Incidental to the augmentation of
railroad revenue apparently Is waning.
Business men and the general public,
however. are pinning their faith 10 a
more substantial and general medium
OF bringing prosperity. ono which rot
even political propagendizing can de-
feat
The prospect Tor bumper crops that
will tax the nations graneries TO ca
pscities never before approached. lot
only remains practically unaltered, uut
is quickly nearing realization, and pass
ing beyond the period OF danger from
damaging pests.
Agitation and legislation have held
business in check for MANY months:
they have caused investors to turn
timid, and have guided money into
bank vaults. rather than into the chan
nels OF commerce. But in a country
where the wheat is at condition
rated at 81: where the corn is planted
where the rural bankers are lending
millions on cattle security, and car
shops are returning TO full time not
even the political bogie can retard pros
perity. Natures is the only hand which
"In throttle the prospective wealth OF
this country. If the weather permits IL
Will come, despite politics.
Not content with the Government
reports on crop conditions. one of the
leading financial papers of New York
has canvassed the country for itself
~ has sought opinion in many cases
from the small bankers scattered
throughout the nation-the heads of the
institutions which finance the farms. In
nearly everv instance the replies have
sparkled with optimism and have con-
tanned at the same time a note OF
conservatism.
From Kansas come predictions of a
80 600 CO. bushel winter wheat yield in
that State alone or double the average
'rop. kansas City dealers have already
sold more than l0.000, ,0C0 bushels OF the
new crop wheat for export. This salts
factory condition is not confined alone
30 the Southwest. nor to the wheat-rals-
ing territory. 1t applies to practically
every section of the country and all
classes of crops. II prospects at present
recognized are only realized. every sec
ton OF the country from the lakes 10
have prosperity.
This prospect of almost overwhelming
bounty brings concern, as well as hap-
riness, however. to the producers. Al
ready the farmers in the great wheat
belts are beginning TO worry over the
problem OF Ia Dor for harvesting. An
other apparently insignificant factor in
The gathering of the predicted unprece-
dented yield gives prospect of produc-
ing waste. There is a shortage in the
Irvine supply with which the sheaVes
sre bound into bundles The American
factories are said to have turned out
merely enough product to meet an av-
Nra2e crop. Foreign manufacturers.
however are coming into the market.
md for the first time are finding sale
for their wares and foothold for COM
petition.
large crops not only will bring
Ucalth TO the farmer. and thrOIyn him
reflect influence on general business;
drained Golfers Of the great transDor-
tation systems Even should the Inter
state Commerce ComIss.on fail 10 grant
the railroads an increase in rates, or
rare down the advance 70 minimuIn.
the lines of the country Will have
much larger gross revenues than in the
Last year.
Stat'sticiaEs figure that in a large
crop year. for every ton OF wheat over
End above the general average which
the railroads haul. they secure. as n
result OF the unusual crop, seven and
ons-hslf tons of extra incidental freight.
Furthermore. with such a rich liar-
vest. this country will have more food
EtIlffs for export. So far this year OK
ports have fallen off markedly. while
b>oAsn have greatly increased. During