The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-14
Added Equipment Will Facili-
tate Movement of Cars.
WILL BENO SHORTAGE
Officials and Shippers Are Sat-
isfied With Present Conditions.
Other Items of Interest to
Railway People.

In transportation the main question OF
the problem of railroad traffic which
concerns the general public is whether
or not the railroads will be able to
move the traffic expeditiously this year
or whether the conditions will be the
| same as last season when traffic was
paoly congested. These questions are
| OF special interest in the southwestern
seetlen of the country which is the
| greatest market place in the country.
from transportation standpoint there
| are at this time two features which
particularly affect the general situation
III the southwest, southeast and west
Mn!cn anord some basis for the general
| satisfaction of the public. One feature
! Is tnat the traffic of the railroads will
De enormous this year. probably much
| greater than ever before. The other
| feature is that the railroads will he in
| much better condition to handle the
movement of freight with greater ex-
pedience.
BY heavy traffic the railroad compan-
les and the employees will be mutually
Denenteo. The employees will be assur-
ed OF steady employment while the COM
Ranies VIII be assured of large profits.
Inc additional equipment and facilities
Tor the movement and handling of traf-
nc augur much for the general satisfac-
ton of the shippers and the consignees
as Well. There are also indica tons
which seem wholly trustworthy that in
normal and even in somewhat extraor-
binary circumstances the roads. will be
able to handle the traffic expeditiously
and that there will be none of the evils
nor repetition of the car shortages of a
year ago.
This fall finds most of the railroads
better supplied with equipment than
year ago. Orders which were placed for
rolling stock and motive power a year
ago are now being delivered. Every
road In the west is daily receiving new
and additional motive power. The
iG 10 inc dA1T - T., T<@r1o Ira
81 new Prairie type locomotives which
Will be used in moving the immense
crops eastward. Other roads are making
equally as much progress in adding to
the motive power. Nearly every road
has received large amount of new
rolling stock. This stock for the most
part should have been delivered a year
ago but was not on account of the ex-
treme rush. The railroads with the in
creased motive power and equipment
are in a great deal better shape to
render good service to the public than
a year ago..
In many cases where the deliveries
of equipment have not been as great as
was expected, the enlargement and i'm
prOvement of terminal facilities has Off
set the shortage and has increased the
efficiency of the roads in meeting the
tremendous traffic. The difficulties
which the railroads had last year, caus-
ing great losses to themselves and the
shippers as well, furnished experience
of a very useful and practical kind to
the officials in the operating depart
ment. This will induce the operating
department to apply more system this
year to the furnishing of cars and the
handling and movement of freight.
There seems to be a general feeling
of satisfaction among those interested
pers and the railroad companies. Both
expect favorable results as they both
count on heavy traffic and excellent
service.
Although a great deal of work has
been done in the past year towards al
leviating the congested conditions of
traffic by charging terminal facilities
and increasing the mileage of passing
track so as to handle the traffic with
more dispatch, they have in reality only
made a start. The business from the
west and southwest is beginning to as
sumo such large proportions that new
roads are being chartered and in fact
in the west and southwest actual con-
struction work has commenced.
The southwestern lines have tnaugu-
rated financial arrangements for multi
plying their facilities. Many hundreds
of millions of dollars will be spent in
the next five years, on various i'm
provements. Probably as many more
will be spent within the succeeding five
years. This enlargement and better
ment will put the southwestern roads
in better physical condition, and will
enable them to get as nearly as posi-
BILE in condition for the traffic which is
constantly growing and keeping pace
with the Industrial development of the
country.
The great problem in the southwest
is adequate facilities The territory
needs larger terminals at the more i'm
portant trade centers, more double
tracking, more trains, more cars, more
locomotives and more railroads. The
railroads this year expect and will be
content to get through to the satisfac-
ton of their patrons the shippers. But
this western territory is developing and
the improvements referred to will have
to be started soon and finished with dis
patch or the railroads will not be able
to keep up with the onward march of
the great southwest.
New Santa Fe Line.