The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1897-11-17
CARS HARD TO TRACE.
Railroads Often Unable to Locate
Their Property for Months.

Chicago, Nov. IA citation of the
question OF needed changes in the pres
ent method of interchanging freight
cars in this country brings to light cur
ious stories of the wanderings Of these
vehicles for the TRANSFORMATION of
goods and chatte1s.
Detention and diversion of foreign
freight cars has been the subject Of
definite discussion and numberless
good resolutions on the part of car ac-
cOuntants and superintendents of
transportation, and yet it is doubtful
says one OF the organs of the rail-
road Observation-Disclosures there has
been any Improvement within the last
quarter of a century.
In the discussion of this question a
railroad official of one of the north
western lines has told a story of a lost
car that serves an example of expert
ence that are very frequent under the
present system.
On Dec. %, 1896, MINNEAPOLIS and ST.
Louis car No. Bis left MINNEAPOLIS
with load of flour destined to AEont-
gomery, Ala. 1t went through to it's
destination with reasonable prompt
ness, about eight days. Instead of re-
turning the car via the same route as
received, the Atlanta and West Point
railroad started it on a series of diver
SIons, and 1t has not yet reached home
although at one time it got as far
north as Peoria, Ill.
There it was turned back, evidently
with another load for the south, as it
railway
on Sept. %
Since that time the owners have not
been able to locate it at all. 1t has
made trip to New York, Boston and
Montreal, but was returned westward
and southwark via the same route IN
til it reached the southern lines. since
which time it has been wandering.
around among the southern states
Auditor w. E. Lee of the Kansas
City. Watkins and Gulf railway adds
another to the stock of curious stories
* c. W. and G. box car No. 2.O2S
left home loaded with long leaf yellow
was consigned to South Bend Ind It
would seem that it had been two
months in discharging original load at
destination as it was in possession of
delivering line from July u, 1886, to
September 20, 1895 when it was re-
turned to St Louis, and there loaded
with grain for Memphis.
Upon arrival at Memphis it would
appear that the load had been recon-
signed to Macon, Ga, then loaded for
Atlanta. After several switch move
ments it seems to have been successful
in procuring q load for Primers Point
Va, where it must have taken a month
to unload, as it was in possession Of
delivering line over one month. The
next load we have record of is to Lou
iSville, Ga Since then it seems to
have been used principally in switch
ing service, possibly with transfer
freight. After reviewing records,
ma from junction reports that the car
has been on 10 lines. 1t has been away
from home 474 days, one line having it
~ days.
Think of it, A foreign car in pos
session of one line y days. And this
line paid the owners for the use of the
car $4.08 a little over 512 cents a day!
I find that mileage reports show this
car to have travelled II, $50 miles, earn
ing S69.4S mileage Ito Aug. 81, 1890,
which pays owners about 1872 cents a
day. This will be greatly reduced af-
ter the owners pay all repairs for fair
and unfair usage.
In our efforts to get our car home
I have written 29 letters and sent sew
en- kilograms, and I can say they have
availed US nothing, as at present the
car is 700 miles from home, and in the
same territory where it has been jug
gled since October, 1895. I hardly dare
to expect it home to enjoy a Christmas
receDtiOn