The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1895-10-12
RAILROAD CIRCLES.
There is Going to Be Scarcity Of
Freight Cars.
SOME ROADS MAY HAVE A FAMINE.


Miscellaneous Notes of Interest TO
Railroad Ezen in Kansas.
1t is very probable that there will be a
scarcity of freight cars on all western
lines this fall, and while it may not reach
an absolute famine, the different ROADS
anticipate all the business they can han
die, and are making extensive prepare.
ations in the repair and equipment OF
cars for the heavy freight traffic.
The Santa Fe is at present experiencing
q coal ear famine on account Of the low
rate of 81 per ton on hard coal from
Chicago to Kansas City, and are unable
to supply the demand for cars at Chicago.
As the rate TO Kansas City was formerly
So so a ton, the western coal dealers are
taking the opportunity to put IN as mucn
of their winter stock as possible, as the
low rate may be declared cit AZ any
time, and are ordering in large quantities.
The Santa Fe car service department
received an order for $50 cars at Chicago
Yesterday. and were only able to apply
about sixty cars on the order.
The greatstest difficulty experienced
by the western roads at Kansas City, IS
in compelling the coal companies 10 IN
load the cars, as there is no car service
association at that point, and the oan'2
Fe has at present 1900 cars OF coal
standing in the Kansas City yards. A.
all points where car service associations
exist. rate of 81 per day is charged for
storage on all loaded cars after the fist
forty-sight hours, thereby forcing con-
signees to unload freight; but as the Al
ton and G. B. & q. roads declined TO en-
ter into an agreement with the other
lines running into Kansas City, such an
organization was impossible
The stock shipments over the Santa
Fe have been very heavy for the past
moath, both from local and southern
points, and the demand for cars Is i'll
creasing each day
All the stock cars used on the Santa
Fe line are rented from the large patent
stock Car companies, and as these com
panie5 have always a surplus OF cars on
hand, there is nc probability of a famine
il that line.
On all divisions of the Santa Fe west
of the Missouri. with the exception OF
the eastern, there has been surplus of
box cars for the past two years, and as
soon as the western crops commence
to be marketed these cars will be utI
izsd, together with the supply now in
California.
A Santa Fe official stated that it was
never a question OF the road owning
enough cars, but altogether of having
them at points where needed.
he Rock Island road has experienced
no shortage of coal cars rs yet. and has
teen able to supply all orders al Chicago.
The heaviest shipments over the road are
il stock, and empty cars are being sens
back as soon as unloaded.
0. A Pier, chief clerk in the assistant
general superintendent's Office, stated
that the company owned all their stock
cars, and that they were built es pecially
for speed, making on an average forty
miles az hour.
DIr. Pier also said that. while all the
roads would undoubtedly 90 as much
freight business as they could handle, the
Rock Island equipment was up 10 the
highest standard, aud that an absolute car
famine was not anticipated by the com
DaRV,