The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1903-08-04
READY FOR The CROP.
Transportation Facilities Will Be
Ample to Move Grain
This Year.
There'll Be More Of a Rush for
Wheat and Oats Mature
Together.

Big shippers of Minneapolis are already
beginning to figure on the car supply this
fall. A year ago the country suffered from
end to end from car famines and freight
conges tions, and nowhere were the bad
conditions more severely felt than in Min
neapolis. With the northwest now on the
verge Of the annual crop movement, there
is naturally some anxiety felt lest the
rush OF grain eastward and the heavy vol
ume Of west-bound merchandise should
again swamp the roads. The issuing of
a circular by Commercial Agent Otis Of
the Milwaukee road, asking the co-opera-
ton Of shippers to facilitate the handling
of cars has caused the impression that
the roads were inclined to, fear their in
ability to handle the fall tonnage, but
this is hardly the case.
The roads are in better condition this
year in point Of equipment than ever be-
fore, and in railroad and shipping circles
it is the opinion that there will be no
repetition this fall of the congested con-
ditions that were so great handicap to
general business year ago.
More Cars Needed.
The requirements this year for cars to
handle tonnage in and out Of Minneapolis
will be larger than ever. The wheat will
be a little later than usual in moving in,
but this year the oats and wheat are COM
ing to maturity close together in many
districts and this will bean a big gen
eral movement of grain when both the
wheat and coarse grain begin coming in.
With tllis the flour mills, now grinding
moderately, will probably increase the out
put later. General merchandise will move
In increased volume both in and out, and
later on the shipmen of lumber, ma
chinery and linseed oil are likely to run
heavier than at the corresponding period
last year. Thousands Of cars will be
needed above
the roads have increased equipment equal
to the increased demand. - 20
No Trouble Feared. u
Charles Sherman, freight man of the
Washburn Crosby com pany, does not an
ticipate trouble of any nature between
now and the close of navigation, aside
from such temporary COMPOSITIONS as may
occur at lake terminals After naviga-
ton closes, the railroads are likely to fine
themselves confronted by a proposition
even more serious than last year. In
creases in car equipment alone will MOI
prevent congestions What was greatly
needed last year, Mr.. Sherman says, was
greater motive power and also better man
agement at the large centers as Chicago
East St. Louis and Pittsburg. All the
northwestern roads have increased thei
car equipment, the largest increase being
on the Great Western and Northern Pa
cific roads. The Omaha has 5000 more
cars in the service. The Milwaukee, the
Wisconsin Central, Chicago Great West
ern, Minneapolis & St. Louis, Rock Islant
and 500 have each added from 500 t.
10000 cars to their lines this year.
In the matter Of motive power, increase!
have been made all along. The 500 re
ceiyed twelve big engines a short tim
ago and fourteen more are due in Angus
and September. When these last are i,
the 500 will have the greatest motiv
power proportionate to car equipment o
any road in the northwest. ~ IT,.
Eastern Roads Are Prepared.
/ Grain men do not fear anything serious
I G. F.. Eve of the Van Dusen- Harringto
company says the greatest promise lie
in the eastern roads, which have so for
titled themselves that, with good manage
ment, such tie-up as that at Chicag
last year should be impossible of recur
renee. set.{. 5si.... a. -a... -..- ....
Zone great factor last year." said MI
Eve, was the coal strike. When Goa
began to move after the long closing O
the mines, thousands of cars were p1
empted as the emergency required. Thi
year the coal is moving west on the lakes
as it should come.'' 49,. b..