davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05
Parks Defeated by Crum.

Garnett, Kan, April 5.-At the city
election George Crum was elected city
finance commissioner over o. E.
Parks, the former commissioner.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05
Abilene ELECTS AIIeck.

Abilene, Kan, April 5.-P. H. AL
leck was elected city commissioner by
a majority of 200 over c. Johnez A
proposal for the city to purchase the
county fair grounds for a municipal
park at a cost of 700 was carried.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05
PUMPKIN NAMED
after GOVERNOR
Baby and Baseball Team, Too,
Do Capper Honor.
''Dress Up Week" Great Event
for State Executive.
GIVE HIM MANY PRESENTS
Ten Pound Sponge Cake Among
Weeks Offerings.
Box Canned Salmon, Violin,
Buggy Whip and Painting.
GIVE HIM MANY PRESENTS

Presents to the Governor.
Crate breakfast food.
Sponge cake
Combination buggy whip and fish
ing rod.
Box canned salmon.
Landscape painting.
Home made violin.
Named in Governors Honor.
A pumpkin.
A baby.
A baseball.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05
Yates City Votes Bonds


1ates Center, han.s April "a pro-
posal to vote $4,000 in bonds for the
construction of a municipal water
works system carried by a small ma
jority at the special election here. An
other proposal to vote 100000 for a
municipal electric light plant was de-
feated-
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05

W. Y. Morgan, editor of the Strong
City Republican, is at the National
accompanied by his wife.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05

Girard, Kan, April 5.-H. F. George,
citizens candidate. was defeated by H.
P. Houghton, Socialist candidate, for
the office of commissioner of finance
here, with a majority Of 191 votes.
Only 793 votes were cast
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05
Is Years Ago
Topeka
From the columns of
THE STATE JOURNAL

April 5. 1891.
Senator Plumb will leave Washing
ton for Kansas in a few days.
The Y NJ c. A of Topeka is having
little trouble. The board of directors
the relation of what is known as the
Prayer band, composed of young men
intending to be missionaries, and the
association.
abruptly with the resignation of the
following directors President r. B.
Gemmell, John Macdonald, W. W. Boil
lard, NJ Z. Hillyer and Chas. E. Ell
bridge.
Jerry Simpson is quite Disguised
with Henry George because he rides
a bicycle and wears knee pants.
Prof 3. b. Snow in his weather re-
port says: This has been the coolest
March in fifteen years."
Police Judge R. H. C. Searle is ar
ranging his docket so that he will have
a holiday tomorrow, when he will cele-
brate his sfxtieth birthday anniversary.
The judge is hale and hearty and as
active as most men half his age.
W. Y. Morgan, editor of the Strong
City Republican, is at the National
accompanied by his wife.
The Topeka Chess, Checkers and
Whist club now occupies its new
floor Stormont building.
The mirthful musical comedy by
Wills and Anderson 1.-TWO Old Cronies
will appear at Crawford's opera house
saturday
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05

The Topeka Chess, Checkers and
Whist club now occupies its new
quarters in rooms II and 10 (second
floor Stormont building.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-04-05

The mirthful musical comedy by
Wills and Anderson 1.-TWO Old Cronies'
will appear at Crawford's opera house
Saturday
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11
ARTICLE Ill
B[ockdded Finance.

II has been estimated that the ma
tional wealth of Germany and OF Eng
land does not differ very much. Ihey
arc variouslv estimated as between
10000. 600 900 to ssO,OOO,0O0,0OO. A
yearly war expenditure of over s6'ooo'-
OoO. 900 to $1,000 100000 would be near
" TO 10 per cent of the national
wealth.
Again. the national income of botn
nations is supposed to be about equal
$4,000 10000 to sl1,000,OOO,OOO. II
all war expenditures had to be de-
frayed from income it would swallow
up from 80 TO 20 per cent of 1t. ! am
inclined to think that peace calcuia-
tions of wealth and income are some
what upset by war. War is great de-
stroyer of material, both directly ana
Indirectly. but war need not be de-
stroyer of money income. No DOUBT
in Poland money income was destroyed
with everything else, when Grand DUKE
Nicholas Durhl uo"H ClVP9' i"' ~
livestock. And me money income oil
the German shipowners has suffered
while their ships are laid up. Gem
orally speaking, modern war means an
enormously increased consumption. As
long as il lasts, there is war Doom
i'm all districts not occupied by the
armies. As prices rise everywhere, the
purchasing power of any definite sum
Of money is considerably diminished
The former proportions of national
wealth and national income are greatly
changed. For nearly all material goods
in the hands of a nations citizens rise
in value.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11

increase the food production sew
eral fold. Necessity is the prime
incentive. England has imported
her food because it was cheaper to
buy it than to produce it. Then sud
denly. on account of the war, it be-
Genes a question not of whether
people can afford to buy their food,
but a question Of obtaining it at all.
Experiments in reclamation are be-
ing earnestly conducted in England.
A royal commission has already
made one report on the possibilities
of increasing the food supply of the
country out of its own resources, and
some experts have gone so far as to
imagine England as almost self
sustaining country. By breaking
up the land into small farms and
practising intensive agriculture
much more of the stomach that has
been stretched across seas could be
fed at home.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11

Ocean freight rates on the 1916
cotton crop, shipments of which will
begin at the end of this month, are
now being quoted in England. From
Galveston to Havre the quotation Is
S2.75 per 100 pounds, which com
pares with a normal ante-bellum
rate of about 80 cents. That is the
measure of the rise that has already
taken place. No wonder there is an
cutlery in Great Britain against the
profits that are made in shipping.
Vessels built before the war may
paw for themselves in one voyage.
The profit is fantastic. But the cost
of building new ships has risen pro-
portionately. "The London Times "
quotes some figures on that side:
Undoubtedly one of the main
reasons of the disturbed conditions
of the shipping industry to-day is
the extraordinarily high level OF
building costs. Prices represent
ing from $40 to $50 ton arc being
paid for secondhand cargo steam
ship tonnage, which before the war
could have been built for So ton.
As for new tonnage, builders gem
erally-will name no prices, but will
merely undertake to be satisfied
with a certain percentage of profits
based on the actual cost Of the la
Dor and materials employed, what
ever these may prove to be. Many
owners are considering the risks
too formidable Of investing what
remains to them of the large
profits earned, after the state has
taken its share, in new shipping
under present conditions, and con-
sequently, like the City Gate Line,
they are holding their hand. The
uncertainties Of what will happen
20 shipping after the war arc
clearly responsible for much Of
the talk of disposal of fleets which
is now in the air.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11
London Looks for Easier Money.

ln some quarters the view is held
that money rates may become some
what easier in the near future, and
this idea is partly based upon the
new scheme for modelling securities.
The argument is that the terms Of
that scheme may prove sufficiently at
tractive 70 occasion quite a rush Of
deposits, in which case it is main
tanned that double expansion of
credit may take place that is TO say,
the government on the one hand would
be possessed Of the necessary col
lateral for obtaining accommodation
i1 neutral countries, while the deposit
certificates granted to those surrender
.ng their securities would, in them
selves, constitute instruments Of credit,
on which bankers here would be pre-
pared 20 make advances. Both Of these
statements are, Of course, true, but,
inasmuch as the governments borrow
ing would be abroad, it may be
doubted whether any credit expansion
would be Of character likely 20 have
any effect upon market rates here.
Moreover. iu attempting 20 gauge the
prospect Of the money market here II
,q stiil Of the utmost Importance that
the conditions in the United States
should be watched attentlycly. 1t 10
true that az the moment money condi-
lions are easier there, and the stock
Of gold is enormous. But not only is
there phenomenal activity in trade and
finance on the other side Of the At
lantic, but we are now approaching
that period Of the year when the strain
on this side for making payments ior
,nports Ia most pronounced and when
Inc activities in the States in
connection with the exports from That
country have tendency to occasion n
temporary rise IN money rates IN New
Yofk.-The Londbn Statist.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11

The golden harvest continues. At
a rate unparalleled in economic eX-
pcrience we are converting the sur
plus products Of our mines, our
fields and our factories into foreign
gold, into foreign credit valued in
gold and into pieces Of paper re-
deemable in gold at the holders op-
ton. Since the $25O,OO0,OOO Brit
ISL loan was placed in Wall Street
ten days ago enough English, French
and Russian gold has been received
To increase the lending power of the
Eanks to that amount. Each dollar
OF gold added to the reserve money
Of a bank enables it to lend five or
six dollars of credit. Thus, the
American banks, by adding to their
reserves the gold received from
abroad, are able to expand their
loans, and with the credit created
in this manner the American pro-
ducers are paid for the goods they
sell to Europe-the farmer for his
grain, the railroads for hauling it,
the steel maker for his shells, the
copper companies for their copper,
and so on.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11

According to "The Financial
Chronicles" own figures, railroad
net earnings in thirteen years have
risen in nine and declined in four.
Net earnings were greater in the
five years next preceding 1915 than
in any other fve-year period since
the industry began. Taking the fig
ures of "The Financial Chronicle"
for earnings and those of the In
terstate Commerce Commission for
capitalization, it appears that earn
ings since 1904-net earningS-have
increased two and one-half times, or
$50 per cent, while the fetal of all
railroad securities existing, includ-
ing Implications, increased from
1904 to 1914 only about - per cent,
as follows:
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11
Spain Conserving '"

A royal order inienosI ArS
the consumption Of e0'' ~
Spain and thus to eOn''r ~
por,ant industrial uses %, ~ :, =
sur ,I,,' Of this comOu'' id',. :
available avpg,i has been pu'l,''' vs.
~ "C",.ay,' d, n" Madrid" By Ii. y. y
of this decree every NV. .,,it "A
Spain having gas or 'l e. ~
systems must. in case he he, q
is produced by steam p0 ids !
o =, Of the public Va as.
nigh, at II o'clock. TINS ,,,.,,.,
taken with a we" % 81
cert" extent the serious !, a
coal throughout Spain ). .~.,isd
ment. it is believed wiz ~
the threatened ten'pO''' -
an, anec Of variOu, dO"e''s -
and to prevent the fur ms. =
price Of coal in the 80
Mean the Spanish So
with government ens0a ~
producing in inereas'"s 81
Offset in part the reduced 3
coal Of foreign origin "
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11

But, in the meantime, prices are
rising rapidly. If you take dollar
Of this gold credit out of bank to
spend it for something you want it
will buy only about two-thirds as
much as it would have bought two
years ago. So it appears that there
is some offset to the money evidence
Of our progress in wealth. Goods
all over the world are diminishing
in availability, because the rate at
which they are consumed exceeds
the rate at which they are produced.
At the same time the credit in which
goods are priced is increasing in
volume. Hence the rise in prices.
The indications are that prices will
be much higher in the third year of
war than they were in the second.
This will be owing partly to the fact
that the demands of war upon the
Industrial facilities of the world
have enormously increased, and
partly to the fact that the supply
Of food has been greatly reduced
bv causes over which man has no
control. The American grain har-
vest is short. We shall have hardly
rore wheat from this years crop
than would normally suffice for a
years domestic consumption, and
yet Europe is bidding wheat and
corn away from US at very rapid
late, fearing a scarcity and taking
precautions to keep herself in food.
The means Of subsistence are first
to be considered by the nations at
war. To keep themselves in food
they would give. if necessary, all
the gold they have.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11

with a horror Of regulation, fixed
opinion that rates are sacred, and a
profound Willingness to concede the
theoretical rights of organized labor.
The conservative habit is that OF
"The Financial Chronicle" Its own
figures make the railroads out to be
very prosperous, but, as 1t Is I'M
possible for railroads to prosper IN
a democracy gone mad on the sub
iect of regulation, this prosperity is
only what appears. The truth Is
what you believe.
The very circumstances here
mentioned, however. namely that
this years apparently phenomenal
improvement reflects in no small
measure the absence of previous
growth qualities for that reason
the significance to be attached to
the present gains. As bearing
upon the relative prosperity OF the
roads. there is still another factor
that must not be lost sight of in
considering the Importance and
significance of the present un-
usual gains We refer to the fact
that while railroad revenues were
standing still, or actually retro
grading. the capital invested in the
properties has kept steadily and
largely increasing, inasmuch as
hundreds Of millions of dollars have
to be invested each year to provide
additional accoriodatons and
greater facilities and equipment
Present returns, therefore, cover
a greatly increased capital invest
ment
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11
Phantom Obesity.

The railroads are under the pres
cnt moral disadvantage of being ex-
tremely prosperous. 1t is embar-
RAISING. For those who have not the
statistical mind, and who, therefore,
cannot distinguish between theoreti-
cal and practical solvency, it must
he very difficult to reconcile the idea
that the railroads are going head
long into bankruptcy with the fact
that they are earning more money,
actually and relatively, than ever
before. Insolvency, perhaps, is
nothing very imminent-Only some
thing to be feared
"The Financial Chronicle" has
just finished its compilation of gross
end net railroad earnings for the
half-year ended June 80 last. 1t is
surprised into an expression danger
ously near enthusiasm. "The year
1876 it says, twill always remain
memorable for the magnificent way
in which the great transportation
systems of the United States were
able to enlarge both their gross and
net income. Speaking analytically
OF the figures, it says:
Stated in brief, as compared with
the six months ended June 80, 1915,
the gross earnings of United States
railroads for the six months Of
1916 increased no less than $685.
O12,578, the total rising from ST.
403A4S,33 to s1,731 ,460,9l2. As
against this large improvement in
gross revenues there was an aug
mentation in expenses in the sub
stantial sum Of Sl6l, S6l ,l9l, but
this still left a gain in net in the
satisfactory amount Of Sl66,l5l.-
3s7, or apps per cent, the total Of
the net for the first six months of
1916 being s559.376.s94, against
s393,225, 507 in the first six months
Of 1915.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11

1t makes a difference when you
speak analytically. Already the en-
thusiasm is gone, and gain of 166
million dollars, or 42h per cent, in
net earnings for six months becomes
satisfactory amount.
There are two habits OF mind
about railroads. One is the habit
Of thinking that they are really much
richer than they appear to be,
and the other is that of thinking
they are much poorer than they
seem. One is the radical habit, as
sociated with suggestions Of lower
rates and higher wages; the other
is the conservative habit. associated
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11
Not earnincs Gross total
Data not compiled.

The increase in gross earnings
during the first half of 1916 was
S328,000,000. The increase in net
earnings, which is the remainder
after operating expenses and taxes,
was S166,000,000. This is a very
fine ratio. OF each additional dol
lar taken in half was retained. In
this fact may be some clew to the
extent to which higher rates are re-
fected in the present enormously
improved railroad earnings. The
paramount fact is that the amount
of business doing in the country
the sheer weight of tonnage to be
novels greater than was ever the
case before. But, secondly, the rail-
roads were very lucky to run into a
flood tide of business with a five per
cent increase of rates in all Eastern
classification territory. Permission to
raise their rates was granted part
Il in order to save them from the
calamity of an ebb tide, which they
were looking for. In so far as the
increase in their earnings may be
owing to the higher rates, it is rela-
lively permanent-that is, on given
amount of business earnings perma-
mently will be higher, because rates
will not be reduced. In so far as
these great earnings are the result
of war prosperity they are subject,
CT course, to dehation.
Until at the great leisure of the
Interstate Commerce Commission we
get the physical statistics of opera
ton, in order to compare the in
crease of tons handled with the in
crease in revenue, we shall be in the
I dark as to the effect of the rate in
crease upon earnings. In the mean
I time, one Httu llot WI y Sp mum
about the solvency of American rail
roads. It is protected for the pres
ent sufficiently by earnings, and
when, if ever, the earnings are in
adequate the government will be
/ obliged to raise rates again to re-
store them.
The railroad problem is not one
of solvency. 1t is much more com
plex than that. Earnings such as
the carriers are now reporting, If
they continued, would become a
great temptation to shippers who
want always lower rates, to labor
wanting always more pay, and to
the shareholders who want always
more dividends. All of them I'M
/ derestimate the amount of surplus
earnings a railroad should have and
be free to spend in anticipation Of
demands for greater service and
upon works of development which
are often in themselves unproduc-
/ tive Of revenue, such, for instance,
as larger and more beautiful ter
minals, and block signals and other
devices for making transportation
less hazardous.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11

Owing to the ease and financial
skill with which Great Britain has
Len able to exchange gold and credit
for commodities prices have risen
less in England than in the other
countries at war; but they are now
rising very fast, even there, and a
controversy has arisen over the
question of controlling prices by
edict. There are those who think It
feasible; there are others who argue
that il is both uneconomic and i'm
possible. Generally the disputants
are talking about different things
and succeed only in confusing them
selves with terms. The average
mans notion of price regulation
is that the government shall keep
prices from rising in order that he
NAV buy as much with his money as
before. But where the rise in prices
/ Is the result OF DIMINISHING supply VI
actual scarcity, as is generally the
case, it is futile to talk of controlling
prices without at the same time con-
trolling consumption. Then it comes
to the same thing in the sum total.
| Ii the price of the loaf be doubled the
individual will have either to eat less
bread or do without something else.
If, on the other hand, the govern
ment DEGREES that the price of the
leaf shall remain unchanged and
then limits the amount each indi-
vidual shall have the difference is
merely that every one alike is on
short rations and one may not choose
between spending more for bread
and less for something else. In any
case less bread will be eaten.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11

If the war continues and the food
supply is further reduced it will be-
come necessary for all the bellige-
rents to regulate both prices and dis
tribution, as Germany has already
done. Afterward Europe will have
a new food consciousness. We are
accustomed TO think that we are
the chief offenders in the matter Of
land waste. The Department Of
Agriculture is continually appeal
ing to farmers TO reclaim their I'M
productive areas. But in England
there is the same problem, where the
land Is old and where it would be
thought that nothing new was to be
learned in agriculture. II is not, in
fact, question Of knowledge. There
is knowledge enough in the world to
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11
Chicago and North Western Railway {

NOTICE or ANNUAL MEETING.
The Annual Meeting Of the Stakeholder.
q tie Chicago and North Western Rail-
IN. company. 226 west jackson Boulevard.
I'M the City Of Chicago. Illinois, on Thurs
cay. October 70. 1916. at eleven o'clock
g. ~. Tor the election OF Directors and
tho transaction OF such other business as
NAV come before said meeting.
transfer books will be closed on Monday.
September U.s.. 1916. at the close OF business
ou that day. and VIII be reOpened on Fri
dav. Ocf0oer 20. 1916.
Dated. September I. 1916
RICHARD H. ASHTON. President
JOHN -. CALDWELL Secretary.
New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1916-09-11
The Economic Isolation.

All that would not have been possi-
BILE but for Great Britain's blockade.
In an ordinary year Germany imports
to the amount of ,5O0,0OO,O00. II
her frontiers had been open she would
have relied on foreign imports, as Eng
land did. And Germany's problem Of
foreign finance would have been al.
most unsolvable.
As 1t is, it is not so much a problem
of finance; it is a problem of material
resources. Oversee goods, no doubt.
have been kept away from Germany to
a considerable degree. The goods of
her neighbors are within her reach.
Her situation would have been danger
Gus, had she been small overcrowded
island, like England herself, or a coun-
try without industrial resources. az
was the Southern Confederacy. But the
blockaied territory Of the Central Pow
ers covers an area of 100000 square
miles; the occupied hostile territory
has added another 100000 square miles.
This. occupied territory alone is a good
deal larger than the New England
States and the Middle Atlantic States
combined, including New York and
Pennsylvania. The neutral states ac-
cessible TO the Central Powers for I'M
hindered intercourse cover another
100000 Square miles. The combined
area, from which the Central Powers
can draw supplies, is 100000 square
miles, or about two-thirds of the terri
tory Of the continental United States.
The territory is inhabited by about
200 ,000, 900 people. One hundred forty
three million belong to the Central
Powers; nearly 100000 lived in the
occupied districts before the war. The
self-supporting area, which is the out
come of Great Britsin's blockade, is