The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-09-17
SHIPMENT DELAYED
. By LACK OF POWER.
GRAIN CARS MORE PLENTIFUL
THAN LOCOMOTIVES.
Receipts Today only About Half Those
of Year Ago, Because Roads Are IN
able to Haul Trains to Market
Prosperous Farmers Hold for Higher
Prices.

With all the heavy purchase Of roll
ing stock and motive power for moving
the fall crop the northwestern roads are
as whole in no better condition to
move the grain crop than they were last
year. This condition has arisen out of
the necessity. for equippipng the new
extensions. with cars and engines, and
for keeping several locomotives on the
conjunction, trains, which otherwise
for the rush of wheat to market.
The situation is no worse than it was
year ago, and is not bad, but the
wheat has not really begun to move
rapidly.
Engines Are Wanted.
Lack Of motive power is the real
key to the car scarcity. Where it is
now necessary to let cars stand on sid
lngs for several days before thew can
be picked up in trains-with sufficient
motive power to move the rolling stock
rapidly the cars could be used several
times over. The fact is that cars are
now being used to store wheat on sid
lngs when they ought to be employed in
the transportation Of the wheat. -
Some of the wheat lines have added
twenty-five to fifty large locomotives to
their equipment this year, but at the
same time they have opened miles of
new road which rapidly takes up the
extra supply Of new engines.
Oar Famine Grows.
Foreign lines have nearly used up
their surplus supply Of freight cars,
ported. Northwestern lines make reoui-
sltlon for cars on connecting lines
WHARF shipments of grain are to he
made out of the initial line g TERRITORY.
The connecting lines have been re.
spending promptly, but are now reach.
ing the limit because the initial lines
are not able to return the loaded cars
quickly. 'lN
:, Traffic managers Of all Of the wheat
Lines pro1ted by the experience Of
former years and slowed away long
the car supply is not so short as might
| appear, or as it would be in reality if
there were enough engines to haul the
| trains.
One Of the dangers that arises in
| this emergency Is that of theft Of
wheat as 1t lies on sidings. It is i'm
possible for the railroads to watch al
| the cars.
Figures Disappointing.
Chamber Of Commerce men were dis
appointed today when the posted fig
ures showed grain receipts Of 7O5 cars
for altho that number stands for much
money and for activity of trade, the
comparison was unfavorable. Last
year the Monday corresponding to to
day brought in 1,346 cars, and tn.
cash business at the chamber ran heavy
enough to make it million-dollar day
Trade authorit ties say the decrease re-
ally means nothing. Principally it is a
case Of inability of the roads to NOV,
the grain. One line elevator company
portant station that have stood eight
days. Another company reports loaded
cars on sidetracks and billed to Mime
apolis at thirty-one stations, that have
stood several days and have not beer
moved. There Is an enormous livestock
movement and stock trains are 50 heavy
that many have two locomotives. Later
on, they say, the Shipments will be
heavy as those waiting cars are picked
up:
Against the belief that the grain is IL
in the country and must move in finally
are two considerations now gaining
Yield VIII Fall Short.
One Is the probability that when tn,
durum or macaroni wheat, which is
large crop, has been deducted, sprin.
wheat proper will be found to tota
somewhat less than the popular esti
mates.
The other is the condition that sine
the farmers are prosperous and sine
. grain prices are not so attractive nov
as they were a year ago farmers will
hold back and not sell SO freely.
It is noticeable that there were dc
creases in all grains except corn, tn
especially marked In wheat.
, Receipts Compared.