The Birmingham age-herald., 1903-09-11
RAILROAD WORLD.

This New York special is from the St. Louis Globe-Demoerat:
 Atchison is the puzzle just now and it is not wise to accept literally any of the variegated rumors going the rounds concerning that property. Still, it is diff ficult to account for the strength of the stock on the mere theory of a squeeze against shorts. The stock has been con sistently strong for weeks, and recently has advanced sharply. London is inter ested in the stock, and the buying repre- sents more than mere traders deals. Ot course, the stock is selling at an abnor- mally low figure and there is very evident reaction from the senseless at- Jacks on the property, but it is curious if certain banking interests are identified with the buying in one way or another, as has been positively asserted.
 The Union Pacific. Rock Island and Pennsylvania interests have been named as prospective buyers of control but 1t must be confessed that there is little to recommend these rumors. That is what makes the situation such a puzzling one. Eliminating the theories of other roads being interested in the property the strength of the stock can be explained only on the ground that the short inter- est is unwieldy or that the stock is being restored to a price commensurate with its actual value.
 Victor Morawetz. chairman of the Atch- ison board, denied today that the report that he had been selling his Atchison in- terests and said that, so far as he knew. F. J. Berwind whose name was coupled with his as a seller, had not been dispos- ing of his holdings MT. Morawetz said that he had heard rumors which named Kuhn, Loeb & Co., as purchasers for Union Pacific control, but he said that he had absolutely no idea as to the lead CTS, if there were any, in the Atchison buying.
 The season of car famine is just com mencing, and from now on until spring every railroad in the country will suffer from a shortage of rolling stock Many of the larger systems are making efforts to recruit their supplies of cars by renting leasing them. The Frisco, according to advices which reach New Orleans, is In this category The Frisco wants cars badly and wants them at once. The man. agement has anonunced it's willingness to either charter or rent. The crops of the southwest have to be handled. and Vice President and General Manager B. l.. Winchell says that his road will be unable to handle the crop with it's present facil- ties.
 The Illinois Central is receiving 1000 new freight cars, the last of the deliver ies having just begun. and 1t has let number of contracts for delivery during the current year. Despite this fact it will fall short of having as many cars as it needs The Southern Pacific will enter into the fall rush with 600 new cars for use Louisiana lines alone but 1t, too. has fewer cars than 1t needs. The Texas and Pacific, New Orleans and Northeast ern and Louisville and Nashville have all been receiving new cars. and getting more as rapidly as possible. They are all shy, however, on rolling stock
 X Jackson. Miss. special says:
 A mortgage for 5000, 900 has been filed for record by the Mobile. Jackson and Kansas City in the Mississippi counties through which the road is to run from Hattiesburg to Pontotoc, Miss. The money has been furnished by a New York trust company and the work of construction is being carried on as rapidly as possible. and IL IS expected mat Wltnln another year will be running trains regularly all the way from Mobile, Ala. to Memphis, Tenn, and through the center of the state of Mississippi, midway between the Illinois Central and the Mobile and Ohio. Paul R. Macxnnon, city passenger agent of the Frisco left yesterday for Kansas City. where he has been called by the serious Illness of his brother. 
 John Blount, city passenger agent In Birmingham of the Central of Georgia, says that the passenger business of the line is picking up rapidly. He routed sev- eral good sized parties over the Central of Georgia and the Ocean Steamship company yesterday.
 W. J. Rosser, travelling freight and passenger agent of the Chicago. Burling- ton and Quincy railroad, with headquar- ters in Atlanta, was in the city yester- day.
 W. M. Rhett, general freight agent of the Illinois Central railroad, with head quarters in New Orleans, is expected In Birmingham tomorrow.
 J. O. Campbell general road master of the Frisco system, with headquarters In Springfield. Mo- Is in the city.