Omaha daily bee., 1907-11-01
100 FEW CARS FOR GRAIN
New York Lines Refuse Contracts Be-
cause Of Heavy Business.
ELEVATORS ARE FILLED
Ocean FreiEhts Likely TO GO Higher
Before DrOp-Lumber Rates
Are EnJOined ON the
Coast.


NEW YORK, Oct. H.-Following the re-
cent protests OF western grain shippers
that It is impossible for them to get the
trunk line railroads to move consignments
Of grain from Buffalo to New York and
that in refusing to enter into contract for
these export shipments the railroads were
greatly hindering the grain export trade,
It is learned that the New York Central,
the Lackawanna and the Erie, have tenn
porary discontinued the making Of con-
tracts on grain shipments.
The oflcers Of the roads say that the
cutting OF of contracts on future ship
ments was due to the purely physical con-
dition Of car shortage.
Action Forced on Roads.
Francis Labau. first trafio manager OF
the New York Central, said;
We stopped making contracts on future
shipments about ten days ago and Will not
start up again until we are able to see our
wav clear out Of the Job Of delivering the
grain that We have at Buffalo already un-
der contract. imagine, however that
within a couple OF weeks, all the roads
will have the situation cleared up bit,
and be able to make new contracts.
We have ct Buffalo at the present time
some A.O00.0oV bushels OF grain awaiting
shipment. This mass of grain represents
the capncity6 of some 5000 cars. IL would
be absolutely impossible for us to handle
on our hands without sacrificing our in
termediary trade. We cannot take all of
these cars and ship them to Buffalo for
this grain and let our way traftic suffer.
We have to divide the thing up as equit-
ably ae possible.
The Laekawanns temporarily discon-
tinued future contracts about the same
time that the New York Central did, and
the Erie had taken the same action few
days previous. II is believed that they
will all be able to relieve the congestion
and resume the acceptance Of contracts.
Ocean Freight Higher.
Ocean freight rates to Europe are up 10
to 20 per cent and they are likely to be
higher before they reach their former low
level, but there is no fear of a scarcity Of
room in spite OF the increased exports to
which the shippers are looking forward
this fall.
1t is reckoned by the shippers that there
are Ia. 900 100 bushels of wheat available for
export TO Europe this year There will also
be a very heavy expectation of flour.
This, in the opinion OF steamship men. will
be the largest factor in the freight situa-
tion.- but there has also been an increased
export or copper
Colorado LINE Involved.
Notices were sent out by the Denver &
Northwestern Railway company today to
the effect that because OF the present finan-
clal conditions In New York. the company
has been unable to obtain the funds
necessary for the payment Of the $sOoo.Ou0
first gold mortgage that the bonds called
for retirement November /.
Etock Island Lays OF Men.
CHICAGO. Oct. si.-The Rock Island rail-
road system yesterday laid off $500 men
from its track force.
1.-The men laid off were engaged in i'm
provement work in the various states"
said President Winchel, "and the number
is no larger than in other years. We are
not touching the maintenance crews. Traf-
fic conditions are still flourishing and there
is no sign of let-up In that quarter"
Increase in Rates EnJOined.
SEATTLE. Oct. 31.-The federal court
last night at the conclusion of the hearing
on the petition of the Pacific Coast Timber
Manufacturers association granted an or
der temporarily restraining the railroads
from putting into effect tomorrow the pro-
posed increase IN eastbound rates Of 10
cents per hundred pounds. making the rate
so cents instead OF 20 cents. The Injunction
was issued pending the final determination
Of the justice OF the new rates by the In
terstste Commerce commission.