The Washington times., 1923-09-13
FARMER IS
WELL off
CLAIM
y. S. Chamber of Commerce
Executives See Freight Rate
Cut As Unlikely.
By WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON.

By WILLIAM X. HUTCHINSON.
International News Service.
America has returned to good
times" with industry and COM
fnercc riding a wave Of prosperity
which gives promise Of even bet
ter economic conditions in the
future.
This was the consensus Of
opinion among a score Of the
nations leading business execu-
tives gathered today at the
United States Chamber of Com
nerce to devise a program for
readjustment of freight rates.
:. Cuts Improbable.
Representing agriculture. manu-
featuring. labor, mercantile, bank
ing and transportation interests. the
executives voiced an optimistic
note for the future Of all.American
trades, including agriculture. While
their program Of freight rate ad-
sustment has not been finished. It
was indicated they would not recon.
mend general reduction of rates.
Changes in transportation rates. 1t
was apparent, will be asked only
on specific commodities and in GER
tain localities without effect on
general rates.
Edward Chambers, vice president
OF the Sante Fe system, told Inter.
national News Service that prosper
tty had come to stay in the West
1.-THE future looks very bright
along the Sante Fe," Chambers
said. I've travel through fourteen
western States and there are good
times all along the right of way.
Agriculture IS the weakest. of
course, but, it's future is promising
Better prices are coming for the
farmers. Cattlemen are in better
shape than in years and sheepmen
are doing fine with wool prizes
eeod. > The manufacturer has a
bright future"
Nv. c. Maxwell. vice president of
the Wabash Railway Company,
echoed the good times" decla-
ration. 1872 --.1-
Farmer Is Well Off.
1.-THE central west is doing great
business right now and the good
times are going to continue for
quite a WHILE" Maxwell said The
farmer has no real complaint ex-
cept in some exclU sively wheat
localities. He is going to obtain
more for his crops this year than
last year and better prices are
booming for next wear.
I'm some States, where farmers
have lost a million or so on their
EA1
$50 ,000, 900 or more on other crops
They are not in a bad shape at
ell. They are getting 20 cents more
q bushel for corn than last year
and oats, rye, barley and hay are
higher. The gains in these crops
are five times the losses incurred
on wheat.
Statements that there is an agri-
cultural depression outside the
wheat crop are PURE myths. The
Wabash is doing more business
than ever before.
Business in the South is booming
because OF increases in cotton prices,
A. r. Smith, vice president of the
Louisville & Nashville railroad, said
Cotton Prices Good.
Conditions are very good along
our territory he added. 1.-The cot
ton market is booming with an in
crease Of IL cents pound in cotton
prices as compared to last year. The
future Is bright
p. c. Sprague, traffic manager for
the NJ. A. Hanna Company, of Cleve-
land. sounded An optimist note for
the Middle West.
Railroad car loadings for the week
ended August IS were 1 ,065, 900, the
largest in history" said Spraguc
This is an accurate barometer of
business conditions. While the
peak is reached as compared to many
years past, the future looks even
brighter. This came from good
times in our own America, because
II was reached without the aid of
European trade. Business has re-
turned to normally in the Middle
West
Similar conditions exist Down
East" according to E. ]. Frost, vice
president Of the William F'ilenes
Sons Company, of Boston, a great
department store concern.
Business conditions thFouRhOIIt