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About The courier. (Lincoln, Neb.) 1894-1903 | View Entire Issue (May 19, 1894)
THE COURIER Boil of tho greatest agricultural country in tho world. It may thus bo seen what a good crop means to Nebraska this year.Moro than tho usual prosperity; moro than it has meant in years. It means tho greatest triumph of tho west. It is a question of proving our right to the confidence of tho world and the unequaled opportunity for in vestment, profitable, reliable and unchangeable, which is offered. here. wis " j-'$&te&-CTL If-- I " " . .--- f-tE."lM tfr & 'X ffiU5INC5 S ' .a-A?.7 V AJ UP (lhCLC5 Trade for the week shows only a slight and rather unsatisfactory im provement. Tho labor troubles and the failure of congress to take some decided action on tho tariff have had a most dis astrous effect on business in tho cast. In view of these circumstances, the encourag ing aspect of affairs in tho west is certainly gratifying in the extreme. The country is in good condition and with a fair share of rain an abundant crop will be assured, Whilo thero is little building this Bpring, it is noticeable that property owners are improving their holdings, thus giving tho best possible indication of growing con fidence on the part of the public. Hardware dealors report a good trade in shelf goods. Grocers aro doing a fair business in tho staples with little demand for fancy goods. In dry goods and lxxrts and shoes business continues fair. Collections are small in amounts and few in number. Tho canal project in Omaha seems to bo in a fair way to succeed and there is little doubt that tho balance of the 8250,000 will bo raised soon. Tho success or failure of the enterprise will then de pend upon the bond election. Many politicians aro now giving vcico to tho sentiment that thero is a well defined movement on foot to delay action on tho Wilson bill until congress adjourns, thus shifting tho responsibility of its final passage or rejection, on tho next congress. However this may be, it will take some time even after this matter is disposed of bo fore the east will recover from the present business depression, which can no longer be attributed entirely to the panic but is caused largely by the unstable condition of the market in all dutiable goods. The depression in the east oporates in a greater or less degree on the affairs in tho west but in how much this will bo the case re mains to be seen. The conditions in this instance are somewhat peculiar. Whilo business in the east is practically at a standstill, it is not thus on account of any scarcity of funds but owing to a lack of confidence. In fact there is a surplus of cash seeking investment and money, like everything else, is cheap. While these conditions prevail in the east, and there is every probability that they will con tinue for several months to come, affairs in tho west aro improving. There is every indication of an abundant crop and confidence in tho future prosperity is growing apace, not only at. homo but in the east. It should bo the special business of every western man to foster this feeling of confidence and use overy means in his power to encourago and promulgate it. Capital will seek investment on conservative lines for a certain length of time, it may fight shy of real estate and even lay idlo, but this cannot last long. Thero is nothing so restless as capital and when it does move it seeks the most reliable and promising investment at hand. When an entire country is plunged into a condition of instability and there is every probability that it will continue.it is then that that locality whore confidence is first restored and affairs begin to improve, in tho face of adverse circumstances towards which the eye of tho man of money is first directed. As ho directs his gaze over tho desolate plains of enforced idleness, over the despairing multitudes of unemployed workmen, to the rich, green fields of our great west, teeming with activity, the rich black soil giving forth a harvest the abundance of which must bring prosperity and plenty to our cities and towns, thon will ho turn his face to tho west and bring his capital to a market that will insure him a profitable, safe and neverfailing source of income, the god given product of the fertile A western trunk lino committeo convened with Mr. Bird, a man well known for his ability and general knowledge of traffic matters, as chairman. This committeo did good work, with very encourag ing results, until tho bad break in grain rates soon after tho first of the year. To quiet this trouble somo sort oftonnngo, or money pool was determined upon, with a percentage division agreement, tho do tails of which it was impossible to learn. It is claimed, however, by persons who should bo well informed, that tho fight was started by systematic undcrmovements of rate breaking by ono of tho roads centering in Omaha, and another well-known road following in tho wake, until somo companies were as much as ?.0,000 ahead of tho pool. Certain shippers have become experienced in tho matter of testing tho market, playing one road against tho other to tho de moralization of all rates in all directions. The time has come when experienced shippers, who have learned to appreciate tho fallacy of these methods and tho danger of breaking down froight rates to tho disturbance of general commerce, are anxious to bring about a firmly established basis of transportation charges. . The board of trade of Denver went so far as to demand a prompt restoration of ratea.evon suggesting some method of equaliz ing earnings and threatening, if this wcro not promptly done, to organize themselves and divide their tonnage moro equally among the railroads centering in their city. Withholding theirbusiness from and discountenancing any attempt on tho part of any railroad company to disturb existing tariff schedules. This is a move in tho right direction, as thero is no other element that will moro quickly demoralize prices than tho cutting and slashing of freight rates, as is now goicg qh. In trying to secure better rates care should bo exercised in avoiding tho common tendency to destroy a settled condition of values. Whilo making a legitimate effort to Becuro reasonable freight rates from tho railroad, who are too often in clined to take advantage of the control which they exercise in this line, care should be taken to secure reduced rates without bringing about a feeling of antagonism, which only results in a general cut and a final restoration of the original rates. Tho interests'of rail roads and merchants are common on this point. In a country so vast as this one, where the carrier charges materially effect the prices on all goods, a settled basis of charges means a firm condition of prices. It is fair to the roads that they Bhould operato under a reasonable profit and just to tho merchant that he should not be taxed any higher than is consistent with a reasonable margin. The sooner shippers and railroad men get together and get in harmony in these matter, the better it will bo for all concerned. . Tho speedy restoration of freight rates at a time when a prolonged and bitter fight between tho different roads seemed certain, is a source of congratulation to tho business community. There is no factor that will moro effectually demoralize prices than a freight rate fight between the different railroads. And coming at a timo like the present, when trade is laboriously recovering from a long period of failure and depression, the disastrous effect of a long con tinued rate war could hardly bo estimated. Tho serious naturo of tho breach between the different roads was fully realized by only a few of those intimately conversant with the bitter and uncom promising attitude of some of tho parties at interest. But now that tho matter is settled there can bo no harm in stating that ono of the fiercest and most disastrous rate wars in the history of the country seemed imminent early in the week. Many jobbers are taking ad vantage of tho ten days notice which must elapse before a restora tion of rates to make largo orders on eastern supply centers, and those concerns fortunate enough to get in in timo to have their orders filled will make a handsome profit on goods shipped at tho present low rates. ALHEirr Andkiano. Hood's Pills aro the best after dinner pill, assists digestion, cures headache. Try a box.