The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-25

| handled promptly because of its nee
essitv to the people depending upon
and awaiting its receipt, and also pc
cause of its largely perishable charac-
ter. But the consignments are IN the
aggregate so large that unless each
days loading is handled promptly the
warehouses become blocked, prevent
ing the receipt of freight and inter
fering with the handling of what IS on
hand. The situation became so acute
that it was necessary for US to store
some of this freight in bad order cars
belonging to other lines until equip
ment became available
ct became a question of what load
ing was actually of the most impor-
lance to the larger number and in the
Judgment Of the management the
necessity for cars for the prompt han
ding of merchandise outweighed their
necessity for grain shipments Con
seuuently- orders were issued Ihat
empties should be sent from the grain
district to provide for this merchan-
disc loading These orders We're in
effect for about ten days. Subsequently
the return of cars from foreign lines
taking care of the grain loading to
better advantage.
..Since January 1st, 1902, the Santa
Fa system has purchased $50 engines
and 2O,256 freight cars of various
classes In February, 1906, 1000 box
cars, included in the above total, were
ordered for delivery, the first l. 900 in
June and July, the second LOCO IN
Septem Der and October We nave
only received $50 of these cars, due to
the inability of the manufacturers to
secure the necessary material and Ia
Dor to construct the equipment In
addition to the above, we have recent
w placed orders for 100 engines and
500 freight cars. delivery being
promised during the spring and early
summer of the year 1907.
The business of the A. T. & S. F.
railway has shown an enormous in
crease, as for the fiscal year ending
June 3Oth, 1902. the company handled
519S,2S2,013 net ton miles, while for
the year ending June 30th, 1905, it
handled 1924, 559. 366, an increase Of
40 per cent The first four months Of
the fiscal year. July, August. Septem-
Der and October, 1901, the net ton
miles handled was 1,761 ,222, 5S2, and
for the same period for the year 1906,
$3.50, 6SO,267, an increase OF ~ per
..The delay in not promptly unloading
and releasing cars by consignees due to
insufficient storage facilities, IS TO Ger
tain extent responsible for the inability of
the company to furnish cars as promptly
as desired This statement is supported
bv the fact that during the month of Oc-
tOber 1906, the average daily mileage
made by box cars was eleven miles less
than during the same month of the pre-
Prom the above it viii be seen that
while the business OF int AtCulSOll COtl-
pauy has increased enormously, the com
pany has exerted every effort to increase
its carrying facilities 50 as to be able TO
handle the increase in business offered.
I'VE give cars IN order of priority Of
claims. First come, first served, and the
cars are equitably distributed we have
no favorites. Our purpose is to treat all
alike Sometimes cars destined for ono
station are seized by shippers at another,
but we can't prevent that; the. cars are
seized. loaded and gone before we hear
of ="
For several weeks past reports have ap-
peared in the press as to the suffering
eccount of lack of fuel. While q careful
Investigation develops that most of these
reports have been unfounded. yet It APP
1ears therefrom that such suffering S
has actually been experienced is directly
atfrfbuta BILE to the inability Of the rail
roads to transport coal to relieve the sit
AS indicating that the railroad IS not