Ottumwa tri-weekly courier., 1904-09-10
TO K { NOV E CROP
RAILROADS AND BANKERS ARE
NOW PREPARING TO MOVE
GRAIN TO THE EAST.

NOW PREPARING TO MOVE
GRAIN TO THE EAST.
Rush. of the Fall Season Will Soon De
on--The Ban,ss Will Finance tho
Annual shlement-Bumper Crop In
Sight.
Iowa railroads and Iowa banks are
now preparing to move the big grain |
crop from the bountiful harvest fields
Of this state to the east, where the |
bread and flour of the west finds large
consumption.
The railroads all report that the con-
dition this year is better than last and
that the shortage Of cars Will not be
felt as much now as then when many
crops were tied up and placed In an
Improbable shape by delayed ship
nents.
The banks are preparing to finance
the annual shipment by calling in
loans and securing funds for advanc.
ing to farmers and dealers in the
transfer of the heavy crops
3 With better car service the banks,
as a local banker explained yesterday,
are expecting to handle the financial
end of the market with more expedi-
ency than last year and that no trou-
BILE is expected by the tying up of the
harvest.
For the past two months the rail-
roads have been planning their car
distribution so that they can turn
many empty cars into the Dakotas and
Iowa for the use Of grain dealers.
Heavy Crops In Iowa.
The heavy crops of Iowa and the
Dakotos have led to an inquiry into
the situation by the comptroller Of
the currency Recently this govern.
ment official sent out to all of the bank
examiners throughout the northwest
series of questions in order to deter
mine the currency condition in the diff
ferent localities. He learned from his
reports that in most cases the states
are better prepared to handle their
crops and to manage shipments finan-
cially than last year and that the
heavy deposits in many Of the rural
districts aided much In supplying the
drain Which would be made by the
purchase of the grain harvest.
The report Of the Iowa examiners
was to the effect that Iowa was not
as we'll prepared That was determin-
ed, however, before the general con-
ditions of the harvest were known and
the big corn crop fully realized. Now,
the banker said, the general conditions
of prosperity are such that no strin-
gency in the financial market would
be felt when the crop commenced to
move. He declared the state financial
ly and agriculturally would be in bet
ter shape next spring than for many
years past.
Cedar Rapids Shops Busy.
The Rock Island car shops at Ce-
dar Rapids are engulfed In tidal
wave of prosperity so far as work
ahead is, concerned. It is said to be
probable that before long the Rock Is
land will increase its force in all de-
partments in the shops at that city.
1t is very probable also that the num-
Der of working hours each day will be
increased to keep pace with the in,
fiux Of work. In fact, the demand for
equipment arising from Increased
traffic incidental to the approach of the
busy winter season will necessitate
this course if the present policy Of
the company in rushing rolling stock
from all divisions Of the system to
the Cedar Rapids shops for repair be
a criterion.
Tracks Crowded With Work.
In the shop yards and buildings
three hundred eighty-nine cars and
twelve locomotives comprise the list
of equipment now being repaired or
awaiting turn for that operation. That
was the list yesterday morning. It
has doubtless been added to by this
time, for not day goes by but that
rolling stock of some kind is hunted
on the yard tracks for repair. The
car department, as will be seen, is
especially busy. Coaches are not
| turned out in a day. This class of
work requires time.
The following cars constitute the
total of 3S9, now on the tracks in
this department: 100 box cars, 1870
stock cars, 40 coal cars, 20 fiat cars,
passenger coaches, 2 combination
mail, baggage and express cars, 1
mail car. l baggage car.
| No. $50 Leaves Shops.
No. $40, a first class smoking car,
left the shops this week and entered
service. Her interior decorations were
olive green and gold, and imitation in
laid ornamentation. Combination mail,
baggage and express car No. 50 will be
finished this week. She has been given
an exterior coat Of paint and varnish
that rivals enamel. The interior has
been painted white. The "blind," the
end of the car next to the engine, pre-.
sents sanded surface, which prevents
cinder from soaring it with their
burning contact.
Third Vice President.
1t is stated on apparently good au-
thority that the Rock Island will soor
have third vice president who will
be placed in charge of the traffic fol
the entire system. The new vice
president also will hove charge Of the
passenger traffic, and John Sebastian
passenger traffic manager, will report
to him instead of direct to President
| Winchell as at present. 1t was the
/ purpose to abolish the position, but il
is understood that Presidents Lore and
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