The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-06

fully equal on all railroads to the big volume of travel experienced during the worlds fair in 1S93 In addition to this the railroads find more general freight business coming to them than they can handle, even at this time when the new crops of small grain are not moving free ly.
 Examination of the tonnage reports of several leading railroads show that in past years the actual traffic in corn has amounted to from to s per cent of their total business. Coneeding that abun- dant corn crop brings prosperity to the community, traffic officials contend that a partial failure, such as the present corn crop will prove to be, cannot great ly injure the business situation. That these are facts is evinced by the gener- al shortage of car equipment and motive power experienced on practically all rail- roads in the country Rolling stock ap- pears to be ample, but business has out grown trackage and terminal facilities.
 Satisfactory conditions prevail on roads eastbound from Chicago and St. Louis, with the very strongest indications that the heavy tonnage movement will contin- ue indefinitely. No significant car short ages prevail anywhere, although there is not a line to be found that has sur plus of idle cars. Some of the big east ern trunk lines have experienced car de- ficiencies, but most of their trouble has come in the form of inadequate motive power The volume of freight moving In all directions Is greater than last year. The following comparative table gives the shipments of flour, grain and provis- ions, Lake and rail separately, for last week.
 ALL RAIL.
 Lst. wk. Prev wk. Lst. VT. Flour, bbls. 59.942 57946 49,421 Grain, bu. ....... 759, 0G0 7l40OO 1639'O 900 Provisions, ton... 2S.54o 2sOo7 27,22s
 Lst wk Prev wk. Lst. VT. Flour, bbls. .... 39,470 29231 2S,3Oi Grain, bu. ......2,S75'756 3,S54177 2,7s0, 40l Provisions, ton... 30,000 96OOO 6l6,S0O The following circular has been sent out from the office of the general man. ager of the Queen and Crescent route. Z "Cincinnati, O., Aug. 31, 19O3.-Circuar No. D. Effective September 1, 19OS.-Mr. w. A. D. Short appointed superintend- ent signals, with office at Lexington. Ky. in charge of electric and mechanical sig nals, interloelsing and electric light plant. Superintendent Telegraph relieved of the above mentioned duties
 w. A. GARRETT, Gen, Mgr"
 A special from Russe1lville says:
 Two parties of Illinois Central survey ors are still at work running lines in the eastern portion of Franklin and the west ern portion of Lawrence counties, pur- suing the general course of the surveyed lines from Tuscumbia to Double Springs Their latest lines run over into Lawrence county near Mt. Hope, going up the mountains at Martins Gap, south of that point Three tunnels are necessary to get up at this point. Report has it that the line will enter the Tennessee Valley near old Lagrange college. Just what il all means in view of the much talked of deal by which the Illinois Central gets into the Birmingham district over the Frisco is puzzlng the natives. but 1t is absolutely certain that the work of sur veying and locating their lines has been and is still being energetically pushed by the Illinois Central's engineers, two par ties of whom have been steadily at work for almost a year here.
 A New York special to the St. Louis Globe Democrat says:
 There is very good ground for beiev- ing the statement unofficially made that the Atlantic Coast Line has been quietly absorbing stock of the Louisville x Nash vile at the low prices recently obtaining, and that it's holdings have been greatly increased. Ii is true that, by comparison, the Atlantic Coast Line secured the con- trolling block of Louisville & Nashville stock at high figure. but it must be said also that the stock has been picked up of late at an abnormally low figure. The actual price paid at the time of the trans- fer is called high of course, only in the light of the subsequent decline. but con- trol of magnificent property was se cured. Viewed in the light of develop ments and the future prospect of the Louisville x Nashville stock, as indicated by present earnings the price at which the road was secured will in time look like bargain"
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