The Anaconda standard. [volume] (Anaconda, Mont.) 1889-1970, 1899-10-24
AMONG RAILROAD MEN
Extension Planned by the North
ern Pacific.
TRAFFIC ABOVE AVERAGE
1t Was Difficult to Secure Enough
Cars at Some Points-Car Famine
Is Worst on The East.
ern Roads


ceived at the Butte office, shows the diff
ferent extensions to the system now con-
templated or under construction. 1t is I'M
derstood that many of them will be built
in the next IL months. Some of the num-
Der are short and of lesser Importance
Others are of considerable Importance
Among others is one from Dickey, N. D..
to Wheatland, the latter situated 20 miles
west of Fargo 1t will be shortening of
the present route by way of Jamestown.
On the Winnipeg line the map indicates
proposed extension straight up from
Grand Forks to Drayton, a distance of
perhaps so or 70 miles. This line will save
a circuitous haul via Grafton, as the line
at this point makes tremendous bend,
and almost double the distance of a bee
line There is also indicated on the map
proposed extension of the Portage la
Prairie division in Manitoba west to Nee
pawa.
In Idaho considerable work has been
outlined. notably the extension from Mis-
soula in a line running almost directly
west to a point a short distance north of
Greer. Here it will connect with the line
running southeast from Cheney through
Pullman, Belmont, Kendric1. Potlatch.
Another extension contemplated at soma
future time is a short one from Kooskia
to Denver
The Clearwater extension to the Buffalo
Hump country, work on which was sus-
pended during six months truce. may be
taken up again after Feb. If the North
ern Pacific and the Oregon Railway &
Navigation companies can come to some
agreement.
One of the lines which is under the list
of proposed extensions extends from
Edgeley to Fort Yates, N. D.. and is
through rich grain country, The pro-
posed line will pass through Ashley. 1t is
also proposed to build connecting link
on the Breckenridge division. connecting
Minor and Cakes, and giving line
through from Wadena to jamestown via
Cakes.
franc on Eastern as we'll as Western
and Southwestern lines is away above the
average of former years. The companies,
as we'll as shippers, have never been con-
fronted with such difficulty in securing
cars to move their goods as at present,
and the embarrassment grows. 1t Is diff
hcult for large manufacturers at some
points to secure enough cars to enable
them to deliver their goods or get the
raw material moved to them fast enough.
At flour centers the -four mills have been
obliged to store their flour until their
storage capacity is about filled, and the
mills are threatened with the probabilit>
of having to close for want of room to
l
ever, happened before, but is problem
that the millers are unable to solve. The
roads cannot get cars fast enough, and
when they do secure a few they are read
lily loaded. MI
In the Sou thl tlumbermen cannot get
stock shipped to Northern markets, and
their business is, seriously delayed, as is
also that Of Northern dealers There is
also general complaint among the coal
mines and shippers The car famine APP
pears to be more universal. There have
been car famfnes in the past. but they
were confined to Il few sections. lasting
short period. but not two months, with
every indication of lasting all winter.
One Western road has 5000 cars in the
hands of other roads. 1t has a number
of cars belonging to other lines. but it's
holdings do not offset it's loss. Other lines
are in the same fix to less degree
An official of one Western line said that
they We're turning out 10 cars day in
their shops. but were behind in their or
ders. 1t is suggested by shippers that the
lines, either collectively or singly, erect
elavtors constructed with a view of
preserving the identity of each car
OF grain. The roads can then unload
cars which are destined to Eastern lines
and get the use of their cars instead of
having them held in the yards of Eastern
lines 80 to 60 days before the grain can
loading the: car: Western lines secure
the use of them at a time when their
earning capacity is the best of the year.
Their earnings will more than pay for
the cost of storing the grain to the roads.
even though they may have to hold it
10 to GO days before cars can be furnished
by Eastern lines. This is the best sou-
ton of the car shortage that has been
presented. On Eastern lines the car fam
inc Is worst than on the Western roads
The Pennsylvania system is short more
than 5000 cars. the Lake Shore about the
same, and the condition of the Baltimore
& Ohio is little. if any, better The Erie
Is more than 1900 cars short on it's or
ders for September and has fallen behind
ever since the first of the month. The
Oldest official in the service never has
witnessed such a general demand for cars
when the road had as large supply, and
at the same time be so far behind in their
orders. As one official put it: "Orders
for more than 100000 bushels of grain
were refused at full tariff rates within a
week owing to the inability to secure
cars"
The annual report of the bridge DEPART
ment of the Northern Pacific shows tina.
during the year ended June 80 the depart
ment has filled in, replaced with steel and
rebuilt 26.S19 feet of bridge work. OF the
number of bridges improved 230 were filled
in and the total construction work accom-
plished amounts to $50 miles of bridges.
On June 30 there were 1918 miles of
bridges on the line of the road and of
this number 1915 were of steel, iron and
stone, 1855 of combination trusses, piing
and culverts.
The gross earnings of 40 roads for the
first week in October were S7,O4s. 339,
against So G5,217 for the first week in Oc-
tober 1898. an increase of $3.50, 122. Thirty
five roads show increases and five de-
creases. Since Jan. the roads referred
to above earned 1921, 597 O37, an increase
of s22,5I,752 over the s209, OPS, 2s5 reported
for the corresponding period of 1885, Fo,
the longer period Sc show increases and
four decreases.
The constantly increasing business of
the Baltimore & Ohio railroad has ne
cessitated very material additions to the
telegraph service. During the past year
nearly 1000 miles of copper wire 16s
pounds to the mile, have been strung,
New lines have been placed in service he
tween Baltimore and Pittsburg, Baltimore
ana Parkersburg, Newark, Ohio, to Chi
cagO, Phila0elDhia Tn Newarlr