Barbour County index. [volume] (Medicine Lodge, Kan.) 1880-current, 1907-01-02

of its largely perishable character.
But the consignments are in the az
gregate so large that unless each days,
loading is handled promptly the ware
houses become blocked, preventing
the receipt OF freight and interfering
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. belong
ing to other lines until equipment be-
came available.
1T became question of what load
ing was actually of the most import
ance to the larger number and in the
Judgment of the management the
necessity for cars for the prompt ham
ding of merchandise outweighed their
necessity for grain shipments. Con-
seQuently orders were issued that
empties should be sent from the grain
district to provide for this merchan-
disc loading. These orders were in
effect for about ten days. Subsequent
ly the return of cars from foreign
lines has enabled us to do more to-
ward taking care of the grain loading
to better advantage.
Since January 1st, 1902, the Santa
Fee System has purchased $50 engines
and 20,256 freight cars of various
classes. In February. 1906, 1000 box
cars, included in the above total.
were ordered for delivery. the first
1000 in June and July, the second
1000 in September and October. We
have only received $50 of these cars,
due to the inability of the manufac-
turers to secure the necessary mate
| rial and labor to construct the equip
ment. In addition to the above, we
have recently placed orders for 100
engines and $500 freight cars, deliv-
| cry being promised during the Spring
and early Summer of the year 1907.
The business of the A, T. e S. F.
Railway has shown an enormous in.
crease, as for the fiscal year ending
June SOth, 1902, the Company handled
5,19S ,2S3,013 net ton miles, while for
the, year ending June Both, 1906, it
handled 1924 $685. 1866, 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,
$500, 6SO,267, an increase of 40 per
cent. The delay in not promptly I'M
loading and releasing cars by con-
signees, due to insufficient storage ia
cilities, is to a certain extent re-
sponsible for the inability of the Com
pany to furnish cars as promptly as
desired. This statement is supported
by the fact that during the month Of
October, 1906, the average daily mile
age made by box cars was eleven
miles less than during the same month
of the previous year.
From the above it will be seen that
while the business of the Atchison
Company has increased enormously,
the Company has exerted every effort
to increase its carrying facilities so 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 one station are seized by
shippers at another, but we can't pre-
vent that; the cars are seized, loaded
and gone before we hear of it,
For several weeks past reports
have appeared in the press as to the
suffering of people in certain sections
of the West, account of lack of fuel.
While careful investigation develops
that most of these reports have been
unfounded, yet it appears therefrom
that such suffering as has actually
been experienced is directly attribut-
able to the inability of the railroads
to transport coal to relieve the situa-
ton
AS indicating that the railroad is
not alone responsible for such condi-
tons which might prevail, it would
seem proper to acquaint the public
with the policy of some of the larger
railroads relative to the handling OF
coal. The Santa Fee System, for ex-
ample, has for number of years past
| put in force during the months of
April, May, June and July, reduced
rates on coal from mines on it's line
in Colorado, and during the same pc
riod the Coal Operators reduced the
|
cents per ton. The move upon the
part of the railroad was to induce the
dealers along it's line to store during
the period referred to, as much coal
as possible, as past experience had
/ proven that the Colorado coal will
store to good advantage and that
there would be practically very little.
| if any, loss by reason of Shrinkage
as result of storing same. Notwith-
standing the efforts of the Santa Fee
in this direction, it has been somewhat
difficult to induce the dealers to put
in sufficient quantities to meet the
winter demands The results have
been somewhat disappointing to both
the coal operators and the railroads,
as the conditions which invariably
confront the people of the West were
hpfOrp fho railroad and coal oDoratOrS