The Topeka state journal., 1903-04-20

sETTER FACILITIES.

Chicago, April 20.-In view of the
governments forecast of the biggest
winter wheat crop in the history of the
country and the prospect of an immense
acreage of spring wheat and corn, it is
asked: VIII the railroads be able to
handle their freight throughout the
season readily. or viii there be another
congestion like that of last fall and
winter The question is being asked
seriously, even at this early stage and
not railroad man of the west, so far
as heard from, is bold enough to say
there will be no such hindrance of
traffic. Without exception, however,
traffic managers and other officials talk
optimistieally. and cite various reasons
why they believe the experiences of the
past season will not be repeated
Briefly stated. here are the reasons
for a hopeful view:
First-Car capacity and traction
power are being greatly enlarged.
Second-Terminalfa facilities are under
going great extension and improve
ments
Third-Better methods for returning
and utilizing empty cars are being for
muIated.
Fourth-There probably win be no big
coal strike and attendant consequences
TO upset CALCULATIONS ana dlSLuID nat
ural movements of freight.
Fifth Elevator and storage facilities
will be better than heretofore
Sixth-Much freight hitherto passing
through Chicago to the east will be dl-
verted to Canadian and Southern lines
going to the Atlantic by rail through
the provinces and by water from New
Orleans.
Observation-Disclosures are being harden
ed, grades reduced and curves elm
mated, thereby Increasing the drawing
power of locomotives
Mr. Slason Thompsonn. special news
representative of the roads centering In
Chicago, has received a number of re-
plies to inquiries sent out by him 70
general managers of railroads, asking
information and statistics bearing on
the freight equipment prospects. These
answers give a fair idea of the efforts
made by all lines to meet any emer-
gency.
The figures returned show that in the
last three years the roads in question
have spent a total of s170055,o00 for lo-
comotives and freight cars. counting
the average cost of locomotives $1,000
and of freight cars 10Oo-
The following interviews give fair
expression of the situation and pros
poets from the viewpoint of the railroad
men themselves:
Mr.. J. c. Clarke. general western
freight agent of the Lake Shore &
Michigan Southern. 1T is too early 70
quote figures in support of my belief,
but the reports I have heard from var
ious lines and places convince me that
the railroads the coming season Will be
abundantly able to take care OF the
biggest crops the country can produce.
Adequate facilities for handling
grain. however, do not stop with rolling
stock equipment Storage facilities are
being greatly extended in South chi
cago, in Kansas City and in other gram
centers In Kansas City a new ele-
vator with capacity of 100000 bushels
is going up. This will help out ma
terial1y at that point. Terminals are
also being enlarged and bettered- The
Lake Shore is making extensive I'M
provements in this direction Better
terminals will do much toward facill-
tating the movement of freight
Mr.. Paul Morton. second vice oresl-
dent Of the Santa Fe: I would want
to know more definitely what the wheat
and corn crop is to be and how reg
ularly the grain is to move before en-
tering much into this question, but you
may say that the Santa Fe spent nearly
$13,000.000 on new equipment last year.
We are rot spending so much this year.
but we are trying to keep pace with in
creased business. and the outlook for a
successful handling of our traffic IS
fine,s'