Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1930-05-16
FINAL LINK SOUGHT
IN i. S. RAIL LINE
Van Sweringens Need West.
ern Pacific System to
Complete Plan.
BY JOHN r. SINCLAIR.

Special Dispatch to The Star.
NEW YORK, May Is. The Var
Sweringen brothers of Cleveland-al-
ready in control of the Chesapeake &
Ohio, Pere Marquette, Erie and Nickel
Plate systems In the East and the Mis-
souri, Pacific In the West-are seeking
the control Of the Western Pacific as
the final link In their Atlantic to Pa
cific system. This is the first serious
attempt in American history to tie the
oceans together into one railroad sys-
TEN.
L. w. Baldwin, president Of the Mis-
souri, Pacific, whose railroad Is inter-
ested in securing both the western Pa
cific and the Denver & Rio Grande
Western, admits frankly that the new
transcontinental railroad line will head
through st. Louis rather than Chicago.
I'VE will have line from Colorado,
Utah and Nevada to st. Louis and
from the Atlantic Sea Coast to st.
Louis" said Mr.. Baldwin. I'VE will
serve all those States in a better way
than If they were linked up with rail-
road through Chicago"
Sweringen brothers holding company,
Is expected to be the agency through
which the Western Pacific Is to be Sc
cured. This holding company already
controls over so per cent Of the Mis-
souri, Pacific Railroad. Now the Mis-
souri, Pacific and the Western Pacific
each own so per cent Of the Denver &
Rio Grande Western common stock.
The plan is taking shape, the form
Is coming into view and the two rail-
road giants of Cleveland are emerging
as the most powerful railroad figures
since the days Of Jay Gould, James j.
Hill and Z. H. Hartman.
Some striking and encouraging data
was supplied last night by Undersecre.
tary of the Treasury Ogden Mills In o
thoughtful address on business condi-
tons
National incomes in the United States
increased from $4,000. 000, 900 in 1909
to 500, 00o, 100000 In 1928, per capita
incomes from 1927 to $749 and workers
incomes from 1854 to 1890.
The national wealth, too, rose from
$136, 900 000,0 900 in 1922 to 1920, O00,-
900, 600 10 years later, according to the
$400 900, 600 900 now.
Prosperity-can II continue at the
pace set? It can If effective demand
can absorb production.
Today there Is too much production
and not enough effective demand
that is, the wherewithal to pay for 1t.
ST take it that a nation may be said
to be prosperous when its people, gen.
orally speaking. are fully employed at
a relatively high rate Of remuneration
which brings within the purchasing
range of the average man or woman
constantly increasing list Of goods and
services" said Mr.. Mills.
But prosperity's raw material" Is
lying about.
"There has been q rapid increase in
the already large purchasing power Of
100, 000, 900 people, an improved and ex-
panded plant, greater efficiency Of pro-
duction and distribution. and, as re-
suit, an overwhelming market for all
manner of goods and services" said
Mr.. Mills.
So, while Americans are inclined to
feel that the bottom has fallen out OF
things, the factors that have made for
prosperity In the past are still here,
and as soon as the adjustments are
made viii again function in the same
way as they have In the past.
As Undersecretary Mills says: while
the road may temporarily run through
q valley, It still stretches out before us,
holding infinite promise"
(Copyright, 1880, By North American News
paper Alliance)