The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-08-17
THE FALL OUTLOOK
Large Crops in Oregon, Wash
ingtOn and the Southwest.
RAILROAD LINES CROWDED
Orders Being Rushed for Additional
Equipment by All PrOmi-
nent Lines.
RAILROAD LINES
CROWDED

The reports Of r. G. Dun & Co. on the
crop outlook of Oregon, published In yes
terdays edition, with reports from pri-
vate sources in both Oregon and Wash
ington, have made the railroads some
what uneasy as to their ability to handle
the immense tonnage In sight.
The wheat crop of Washington and Ore
gon is of such immense proportions that
railway managers are looking for traf-
fic to begin in the next few weeks that
will tax their carrying capacity beyond
precedent. In the Southeast the pros
pect never was more promising, and the
Missouri Valley is burdened with crops to
a degree perhaps never seen In previous
years.
The great crush that Is bound to come
on all the railway lines will be increased
materially by the fact that during the
period of lack Of confidence and inactiv-
ity the railroads have allowed their roll
ing stock to deteriorate, and the helvy
yield from the vast grain fields Of the
United States will pile up along lines
which, at their best, would be unable to
meet the demands. The Pacific North
west, which every month sends millions
of shingles and millions Of feet of lum-
ber eastward, will also add to this out
going freight the immense crop now in
the fields, and the main volume Of traffic
will be from the empire west Of the
Mississippi on toward the Atlantic slope.
The lumber trade will be eastward from
the Pacific slope and northward from
Arkansas, and somewhat northward
from Texas and Louisiana
AS a general thing cotton and grain
traffic will take the same direction as
that of lumber from the Southwest.
Even lumber traffic which shall be des-
timed into Kansas and Nebraska,
from the yellow pine mills, will take
the same lines, as will much Of the cotton
from Texas and Arkansas destined for
the Memphis and St. Louis elarkets. The
Cotton Belt and Iron Mountain roads
are the great cotton carriers, and they
are likewise the main lumber transport
ers, but these products take the same
direction in reaching the market CEN
ters and fields of distribution. In the
fall and winter cotton and lumber will
struggle for a chance to move to mar
ket. Usually cotton is given the pref
erence and lumber must wait In the
Missouri valley there will be so much
traffic In grain that all available cars will
be required, and the connecting lines in
the Southwest of such systems as that
of the Goulds will have but poor show
ing in borrowing cars of the Kansas
lines with which to care for the cotton
and lumber trade. Altogether the pros
pect for blockade of the latter is caus-
ing much apprehension among shippers.
In view of the above facts the North
western Lumberman recommends con-
certed action to secure some guarantee
from traffic managers of the roads that
lumber should at least have an euGaI
chance with the other commodities. Per-
haps 1t will be found necessary for lum-
bermen, or associations of lumbermen,
to build Or purchase cars which can be
exclusively employed in carrying lum-
her.
All these lines are making strenuous
efforts to meet the demands that will be
made upon them. Arrangements are be-
ing made to- press into service every
available car, and on all hands cars are
being manufactured at lively rate. In
the Middle Wsst the heaviest crush
promises to- occur at the Eastern ter
mlnals of the Northern Pacific, and that
road is already doing what 1t can. In
other quarters there is great activity. 1t
Is reported that the receivers of the
Philadelphia and Reading are negotia-
aing with the Pullman Palace Car Com
pany to build 1000 more freight cars.
The Lake Shore and Michigan Southern
has Just ordered 500 standard box cars
of which 250 will come from the Wells
& French Car Company and $50 from tha
Michigan Peninsular Car Company. The
Calumet & Blue. Island Is to let con-
tract for 200 box cars of thirty tons ca
pacity, thirty-four fest long, equipped
with Westinghouse air brakes and M.
c. B. automatic couplers The Queen &
Crescent has placed a large order for
box cars with the Ohio Falls Car Com
pany, and the same shops have received
an order from the Alabama Great
Southern for 120 box cars, to have plas-
tic roofs and Moore doors. The Pennsyl-
vania has placed another order for box
cars, to be delivered during August and
September. The Ohio Falls Car Maui
ufacturlng Company, of JefrersonvllIe,
Ind, will make 200, and the St. Charles
Car Company, of st. Charles, NO., 200
Thess cars will have National hollow
brake beams, Wlnslow roofs and Wagner
doors.