The daily morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1883-1899, 1895-10-30
RAILROAD BLOCKADE
Not Cars Enough to Move the
Grain Crop.
SERIOUS EQUIPMENT FAMINE
Farmers Pressed by Creditors Rail
roads Alarmed at the Delay
in Fall Flowing.

In speaking OF the railroad situation
the otlher day u pi ointment official in The
east said:
Never before has the railroad equip
ment question been So serious in the West
and Jhe roads are thousands of cars shor
and have no chance of replenisf1ing theil
supply. Latter ON dhe shortage will bt
greater, for grain has only begun to movt
in earnest. For the grain tonnage aconS
new there are mot enough cars.
Farmers feel the deficiency Of equip
ment more uhts season than ever before
because they were never before so press
ed by creditors. For a couple of years
past they have been running in debt,
but their credltors were generous and
shrawd enough to give them plenty OF
time, realizing that a good crop would
come. 1t came AL right. Creditors think
farmers are in a position to meet Lheir
obligaboins, and 50 they would be If they
could dispose of their products immedi-
ately, even at the low prices which pre-
vail. But they cannot dispose Of them
fast enough to secure sufficient money to
satisfy their creditors. Why? Largely
because the railroads cannot find cars to
convey the products from the fields to
the markets. Land departments receive
letters every day from farmers which
eve Then installmsnts on their land, say
ing: "Unless your road sends us cars we
cannot pay our dues, and you must ex-
tend The time" FaTtmers have little to
fear from land departments, which under
stand the situation thoroughly, and are
the least exacting of their creditors.
80 serious is tine equipment question
that it is becoming "a general prediction
tihat THE biggest blockade on record in the
West is approaching. Actual conditions
seem to justify the prediction.
Railroads sought to help the farmers
during harvest ITO secure labor, but men
were scarce from THE beginning-as scarce
as men are now. The result is regarded
with much anxiety by the railroads, for
the faIuners were delayed with their har-
vest, which was late anyway, to such
an extent that fan p.owing was neglected.
1t Is alarming TO observe the small
amount of this important work yet ac-
comprlsihed, considering the approach of
am early winter. 1t is evident next year.
crops will be behind the standard, even
though nature should prove benefcent as
1t did this season. The work of fail plow-
ing would be facilitated and accelerated
If the railroads had plenty Of equipment
to relieve the the farmers of their i'm
mense products on hand
"In justification Of the railroads 1t must
be said THAT usually their equipment is
sufficient to meet all demands after mar
vest, and they have many idle cars all
the rest of the season. 1t Is happening
over which they have no controi that this
ye9r's crop proved SO enormous. They
are doing the best they can with it, and
deserve great credit for their enterprise
and skill now displayed.
80 great is the rush of traffic that
railroads in many cases find themselves
short of employees, and in several cases
1t is said, men who lost positions for aid
Ing or abetlting the big strike of the A.
r. u, some of them A. r. U. men,, are
sought and employed"