Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1892-11-03
BLOCKADED.
Elevators Fun and Thousands Of
Cars Stuck.
CHIClCO'S CAPACITY EXCEEDED.


KANSAS CITY, Mo, Oct es-Reports
from the various grain markets and
transfer stations from Kansas City to
the Atlantic scaboard indicate that the
present grain blockade Ia one OF the
most extensive In the history Of the
business and II would seem that there
Is but little prospect of immediate re-
lief Cars loaded with grain are re-
ported standing In hundreds and thou
sands on side tracks atevery point offer
ing opportunities for the accumulation
Of grain. The elevators are full and
their owners have given notice that no
more grain can be taken until the pres
ent gorge has been relieved.
IL Is peculiar fact, but no less fact,
that among all tho receiving and ship
ping ports OF the country Kansaa City
alone yet offers facilities for the stor-
age Of grain. Her elevators are not vet
filled and grain men say that II will
take several hundred thousand bushels
10 make them throw up their hands
And this in the face Of the oft reiterat-
ed statement that Kansas City's Gle
vator facilities were inadequate 70 meet
the demands
Chicago has boastingly proclaimed
throughout the entire season that the
grain couldn't come fast enough 10 test
her capacity for the handling Of IL, and
now the Chicago press sorrowfully adj
mits that the elevators are full and TO-
900 cars OF grain are standing on track
with but slim chance of immediate dis
posal. St Louis IL crowded To her ut
most capacity. Buffalo and Erie have
cried enough and New York has given
notice that no more grain can be re-
ccivcd until the blockade IA broken
From country points In Kansas,
Iowa, Nebraska, Minnesota and
the Dakotas comes the an
nouncemcnt that elevators and ware
houses are jammod full and empty oars
cannot be had. The situation In pre-
cisely the same Mt every other point,
with the possible exception OF New Or
leans, to which city the grain is Just
beginning 10 move. New Orleans has
doub ed Its elevator capacity In the
past year, but according to present In
dications the ele vator men OF that oity
win soon have their hands full.
This condition OF affairs OF eastern
points is harhpering Kansas City more
or loss In the effort 10 dispose OF the
grain received here, but the railroads
are still bringing In nearly all the stuff
that Is offered, though some OF them
nre limiting the shipments to u certain
number Of cars daily. The blockade In
Chicago Is preventing the free shipment
OF grain to that city ~ the railroads, OF
course, do not want their cars lying
there In idlencss. The elevators Of the
city, however, are taking In q good
deal OF grain those days and assist
ing materially In relieving the strain.
The Kansas farmer with his brethren
of the other western states insists on
showing his wheat right into market
regardless Of the fact that the price Ii
decidedly low, but as seaboard pointa
have declared that the present export
demand Is light, the sale Of grain by
the farmers must diminish until the
present big stock has boon disposed Of.
Many remedies have been suggested
for this car famine evil and the eonse-
quent annoying blockades and one in
particular advanced by Commissioner
Vanlandingham, OF the Kansas City
Transportation bureau, about year
ago has been given much confederation.
Briefly stated. Mr.. Vanlnndingh ham r-o.
poses a national car service association,
TO include every railroad In tho country,
and In whose hands would be placed
the handling Of all the freight cars In
use. The association would be divided
into rs many minor organizations as
there are traffic associations now. Tho
sub-associations would parcel the cars
out TO the different roads, without re-
gard 10 the ownership OF the cars, each
road receiving n number In proportion
TO the cars per mile owned by II. BY
this method each road would have ut
any time Us many cars rs II really
owned and the vexatious delays OF the
present system would be done away
with. During n time OF heavy ship
ments all Of the cars would be in con
slant use and one road wouldn't refuse
TO deliver n shipment simply because
the other road could not furnish an
equal number Of emptieA In view OF
the present complications the scheme IL
worthy trial.