The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1904-06-21
LEADS
TRAFFIC RECOVERY
BUSINESS DECIDEDLY IMPROVED
THUS FAR IN JUNE.
Situation in the Southwest Not SO
Satisfactory - Traffic to St. Louis
Expo Lighter Than Expected - Ca
madam Lines Doing Well Rates
Turnout the Country Remain Firm.
Special to The Journal.

Special to The Journal.
New York. June 21.-The traffic
situation on the railroads of the
United States improved decidedly last
week. The northwest, Michigan,
Ohio and Indiana appear to have led
the Improvement both in sentiment
and in actual movement of business.
Traffic men of nearly all lines say that
the first week in June began the re-
covery and that it has been gaining
strength as the spring wheat reports
come in from all northwestern poitns.
President Winchell Of Rock Island
said to your correspondent that the
turning point was reached on his
system in May and that future results
will be much better than past results.
Since that time representatives of
Great Western, North Western, Mil
waukee and Missouri Pacific have con-
firmed the Judgment of Mr.. Winchell.
The president of a representative
road in the southern section of the
northwest made the following state
ment to T he Journ a !:
Il am of the opinion that the first
week in June brought to all the rail
roads Of the northwest a very real
change in the traffic situation. The
first week in June there was an IN
crease in the receipts from each class
Of traffic and there has been an in
crease in each week since.
conclusion because the month Of June
is compared with the month Of ex-
tremely heavy losses last year. The
heavy increase this month therefore,
may be, by comparison, and may not
indicate a radical change in the
| traffic situation at large. The fact,
however, that every class of traffic on
my road, shows an increase, including
several classes which were in no way
affected by the floods of 1908, has
| gone far toward persuadlng me that
there has been a real change in the
business sentiment of the northwest
and consequently a real betterment of
the, railroad situation in that terri
tory
Almost exactly the same sentiments
are expressed by representatives of the
Milwaukee. Almost every class OF
tonnage on the railroad has shown a
marked improvement during the first
half of June.
The southwestern situation is by nc
means so good. Flood losses have
continued, and some of the roads have
suffered very heavily up to the middle
of the month. On the whole the
losses will not be nearly so serious as
in 1908, but yet they will be more seri.
Gus than in a normal year. Outside
Of these losses, traffic continues good
Frisco, Kansas City Southern, Mis-
souri, Pacific and other railroads ii
that country are piling up splendid
earnings week by week. The heavies
flood losses fall on Frisco and Mis-
souri, Pacific.
Wabash, Missouri Pacific, Alton ant
Burlington report a heavy movement
of passenger traffic toward st. Louis
in connection with the Worlds Fair
Alton and Wabash appear to be. get
ting the cream of the business from
their respective territories az Neverthe
less, it is admitted on all hands tina
the passenger movement Is mot a
heavy as it was expected to be.
The situation on the trunk lines
about the same as last week, the reall
important item of news being the con
clusion Of the lake strike.
Rates continue firm and W1thou
much feature. There Is a little de
moralization in passenger rates on &C
count Of excursions in various parts Q
the country, but this is quite the usua
state Of affairs at this time Of tn
wear.
Business on the Canadian lines con
tinues excellent, both Grand Trun
with good weather and good business
The very favorable crop situation G
the northwest has resulted in fire
+ movement Of goods to all centers ives
# Of Winnipeg. General merchandise
movement thruout the country cor