Arizona republican., 1922-06-03
Titcomb Of Southern Pa
cific Comes To Phoenix
And Discusses Several
Points Now Vital In Busi-
ness World

Business and conditions in Mexico
generally, are improving; American
farmers who have gone in there are
very much perturbed over the pros
pect of a cent a pound duty on to-
nlatoes, and rightfully so. and busi-
ness in Arizona is on the upgrade.
So said H. B. Titcomb. president
Of the Arizona Eastern and head of
the Southern Pacific interests in
Mexico, here in Phoenix Friday. Mr.
Titcomb came to look over the new
Southern Pacific offices here and to
consult with members of his organi-
cation concerning some matters of
business.
Mr.. Titcomb took occasion to say
that the lines under him would do
their best to meet the general. hori-
Zontal rate cut recently made by the
interstate commerce commission. He
said that the certainty. now pro-
vided under the ruling, would prob
ably go a long way toward offsetting
the drastic nature of the cut, which
he feels bears heavily on the roads.
"Of course" said Mr.. Titcomb, 1T
does seem that the general cut bears
unduly hard on the roads, at a time
when they are striving to rehabilitate
themselves; but, be this as it may,
we are thoroughly anxious to CO.
operate with government and people
to rehabilitate business, and If the
cut in rates is going to do it we are
going to take our bitter medicine as
gracefully as we can and do our best
to meet the situation. However. in
this connection. we feel the public
should bear in mind that we are
meeting a wage situation far in ex-
cess of the lowered traffic rates that
have just been called into being.
On Up-Grade
"Yes, conditions in Mexico are dis
tinctly on the upgrade. / am not
referring to political conditions. i
dare say that the political relations
are being worked out satisfactorily,
but, that phase of the matter aside, ]
do know that business in Mexico
shows distinct signs of revival. There
is an opening up of the mines, Ameri-
can capital is coming in once more.
and there is a general feeling that
business may once more be under
taken in the belief that it is to con-
tinue, in a substantial way. This
belief is reflected in the fact that
more mining machinery, more farm
machinery and machinery OF a gen.
eral nature was shipped in this last
year than before in long time.
THE American farmers who have
gone into Mexico are very much
stirred up just now over the pro-
posal, before the senate finance COM
mittee, now having the tariff under
consideration, that duty of cent a
pound be placed sQn tomatoes. |
a Il
have gone into Mexico IN the be-
lief that this is a. mistaken view. In
the first place the Mexican tomatoes
do not come in direct competition
with the American produced tomatoes
they are from seven to four weeks
earlier. But, this consideration aside.
the fact remains that if the Mexican
tomatoes cannot be sold in the States,
then those people viii have to stop
buying the things they so much need,
the market for which it naturally in
the states. This, in my view, will
have an arresting effect. on Arizona
BUSINESS. Here is the piace where the
Americans who have gone over into
Mexico naturally look to meet their
needs. If they are out of money be-
cause their market is sllnt off, then
Arizona will be out of luck with
them"
Arizona Goes Ahead
Here, in Arizona. Mr.. Titcomb says
there are symptoms OF business re-
vival. He admits, though, that the
Improvement, is not too marked. He
says that the road back to normalcy
yet lies stretching ahead; but he
thinks the settlement of railroad
rates and kindred matters will have
the tendency to give assurance to
merchants, who have been holding off
because of uncertainty. Though the
revival is at present slow, neverthe-
less, Mr. Titcomb feels that it is un-
mistakably certain.
IE an aside from the discussion of
business prospects. Mr.. Titcomb gave
a, slant on his executive methods.
No great importance attaches to my
visit to Phoenix. 1t merely signifies
that I like TO come around and talk
matters over, and whittle bit as we
talk, instead of writing letters.
like to live with the folks with whom
I work"
He was just trading "reminiscences
with an old time acquaintance in
railroad building, as the reporter for
The Republican came up. They were
telling of days when they Travelled
over western railroads on "tie pass
on handcars and by individually
pumping" themselves over long
stretches. on a railroad yelocipede
one takes it as one listens, that
private car is an appurtence OF
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