Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-10-31
TIE LOCAL BusIs rss OUTLOOK.
The BIg Manufacturing Concerns
Crowded wish work-scnrcity OF
Cars.


Crowded with worK-scnrcity of
Cars.
"Do you want to get rich ?" asked we'll
known railroad man. as a GAZETTE
reporter entered his office In quest of news.
II would not object" replied the news
paper man.
"Well, II you have got 100000 to invest
now ls the time to do 1t. will guarantee
you 10 per cent on the investment, II you
will let me keep all over that amount that
can make. Just invest that amount In
freight cars. They are as scarce as hens
teeth and you can not get enough OF them
for love nor money"
The reporter had very good reason for
declining to become wealthy so suddenly
but inquiry among the railroads confirmed
the statement OF the scarcity OF cars, and
Incidentally, the fact that business IF this
vicinity, at least, Ia booming.
Said Superintendent McOauslapd of the
W. Il N. railroad: Gears are almost impos-
sibie TO get Here / have orders for hum
dred cars to-day and cen only get hold OF
10. We are very busy along our line. Five
mills are In full blast at Coatesvllle and
each one IS running just as hard as 1t can
and they are turning out from Is TO 20 car
loads Of iron per day. II knew where to
get more cars l should certainly like to
have them"
The Same conditions, probably In more
aggravated degree, prevail on the Pspnsyl.
vania railroad main line, although not so
noticeable on the p, W. Il B. railroad. DIS
patches from Plttaburg Frid AZ state that
the glut OF freight on the Pennsylvania
railroad has fluslly produced a complsta
paralysis OF business, especially In the coke
region, where instead of minimum OF
/ 400 cars daily there arc less than 800 cars
now. 1t Is MOI lue to the scarcity OF cars
alone. but there Is a lack OF motive
power, despite the magnificent equip
ment Of locomotives possessed by tho
Pennsylvania railroad. Never In the
history OF ralrosding has there
been such tremendous emcunt OF freight
offered for shipment. but until recently tine
Pennsylvania railroad had always been en-.
abled to handle its quota OF business With
out much difficulty; bur within the past
few weeks freight ls being offered In grea'et
| quantities than even this finely equipped
| corporation can handle with dispatch.
Their SHOPS sra on Fourth street near
the whatf nave usan fairly busy all year in
making new freight cars but no unusual
rush has prevailed.
| Incidentally the fact was revealed that
| most Of the large losai manufacturers are
rs Dusy as they can bs, and all Of thAm
! nave orders that Will koep them busy for
months to come. This iron trade has taken
| sudden boom In tnHtEsl contrast TO tho
stagnatlon OF u few months ago, aud there
Is a tendency OF general rise III prices,
| All OF the local iron factories arc busy.
The Pullman shops are crowded with
\ work now that the Knights Templaf cele.
| bration Is over nnd the cars are being
Brought here foc topa;rH.
| The Harlan n hJlliggsworth Company
| has work enough IN i.s shipyard 10 keep
them busy T.. u car and they are none tn
less busy iu the cat sh ps = hero they are at
work on south American contract for tho
material for 100 cars. They have recently
| placad contracts for over $4,000 worth OF
new machinery for their works. This ma
cninery is OF the most improved pattern
and LATEST design. The foundry Is equally
as busy.
The Lobiell Car Wheel Company Is also
rushed With WORK and can hardly keep
abreast with It's orders, necessitating lots
OF overwnrk.
The Pnsey Il Jones Company is fairly
busy IN ell Of its departments, especially Ii
that OF paper mill machinery for which its
reputation II unsurpassed, and its produces
are shipped TOT parts of the world They
have excellent Prospects for additional
orders for sugar machinery. In the ship
yard two boats are buil1ing on the ways
one is about finished; the three fumigatinl
steamers are awaiting completion, while
boat for South American waters Is con
tracted for, and several others are III pros
poet.
Wilmington seems 70 be specially favored
in the matter Of furnishing boats and car
FIR South America, and this business 4
growing. Undoubtedly the present yea
will be one of the largest IN shipments from
this city to south American ports, In whiet
no loss than three OF tha Wilmington .
shops and boat yards are participating
England has tried 10 get fhess contract
: repeatedly, but tho South Americans seen
to prefer the boats and cars built here, an,
instead Of decreasing, their patronage 1
+ increasing.
: The Jackson Sharp Company is not 81
crowded with work az some OF the othe
concerns. They arc fairly busy in TIL
81 pyard, but orders for passenger coache
ait moving slowly.
: All of the mluor business concerns rppof
I the same briakness In business, and cor
taiply the prospects, for busy winter ar
exceedingly bright. and business msu ar
' even hopeful that this prosperity will con
tinue for some tims TO come.