Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1905-03-16
WILL SPEND MILLIONS.
Railway Companies Planning to Make
Vast improvements Next Summer.

Railway Companies Planning to Make
Vast improvements Next Summer.
Chicago March Is. More than
$200,000,000 for new equipment for
railways during the current year-$lll,-
100000 by ten systems and about $780,
900. 900 by other lnes-is the almost UNI
preccdentctl record made by American
transportation companies, and ii is
taken as forecast of an era OF still
greater prosperity in the nation.
This vast sum represents conser-
vative estimate OF the orders placed.
but some authorities insist the total
expenditure will reach a much higher
figure. These orders. also, are In adj
dition to liberal expenditures made
during the close of last year.
Soon after the national election the
demand for equipment of all kinds be-
gan to increase with such rapidity
that they would need to move quickly IL
they did not wish to see a general con-
gestion OF all kinds Of .ss''ic during
1905, and consequence. amendous
loss In revenues.
Pulse of Nat tal Trade.
The demand made on the railroads,
for equipment is regarded as an UNI
failing barometer of commercial con-
ditions, and railway arrangements are
the first to feel the strengthening
pulse of national as we'll as internal
commerce.
In forming a correct estimate of the
import of the enormous expenditures
which the railroads are making to take
care of increased traffic 1t must be
remembered that two years ago the
orders for equipment exceeded all re-
cords. Despite the fact, however. that
more than $300,000,000 was expended
in two years for equipment, the de-
mand far. exceeded the supply and
traffic congestion occurred at all Of the
important tonnage centers.
Again the railroads see a repetition
of the condition of two years ago, and
their faith in the future is represented
by an expenditure of more than $685.
100000 by nineteen roads which oper-
ate largely in the South and Southwest.
where the revival of business and the
outlook are exceptionally bright.
In the East the conditions are none
the less strenuous The magnitude OF
the expenditures is illustrated by that
of the Pennsylvania system, which will
dSSiGi5dle Iuliy PSo,oVu,uVu. III i'dIli-
more and Ohio will provide new equip
ment at cost of fully s14000000 and
the New York Central lines will APP
proximate the expenditure of the
Pennsylvania.
Furnaces Work Overtime.
Every railroad is bombarding car
and locomotive works with large or
ders, and from the iron fields of the
Northwest the ore is moving in great
consignments and the furnaces thru
out the East are operating day and
night.
In the West the railroads are exper-
fencing a similar revival of business,
which is proved by orders for new
equipment made by the Santa Re, the
Southern Pacific and the Rock Island,
each with its orders for fully $S,000,000
worth of new equipment and power.
The reason for the large expendi-
lures is easily to be found in the recent
monthly statements of railroad earn
ings, which have been mirroring the
increased traffic of the country The
yearly statements of earnings show
that from 1929 to 1903 there was
steady growth IN both the gross and
net earning of railroads as whole.
Although the statements for 1904 are
not completed, careful estimates dis
close the fact that the year surpassed
that Of 1908 in railroad prosperity.