The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-03-05
Mr.. Yoakum of Rock Island Pre-
diets GreatTrafflc.
Says That Another Crop Will Be
Ready Before Last Is Moved.
SOUTHWEST GROWING.
Claims Growth Is Much Too Fast
for Extension of New Lines.
Other Railway News OF Interest
to Railroad People.

ST. Louis, March 5.-B. F. Yoakum
chairman of the executive committees
of the Rock Island and the Frisco, ar
rived in ST. Louis yesterday from the
southwest, accompanied by President
WincheI, of the Rock Island, Vice
President Gray of the Frisco and Vice
President Nudge of the Rock Island
Messrs Winchell and Nudge departed
Immediately for Chicago. Mr.. Yoakum
will remain in ST Louis today for con-
ference with President Davidson of the
Frisco.
I'VE have been on a short trip in Ok
lahoma," said Mr.. Yoakum. THE diff
ferent members of our party endeavor-
ed to get in touch with the people at
various points along the line by stop
ping a few hours wherever we could,
and meeting shippers.
I'VE endeavored to ascertain actual
conditions. 1t was gratifying to hear
from business men and the public gen.
orally many complimentary assertions
about the system. But we also sought
to hear complaints. AS l said in re-
cent interview in The Republic it is adj
visable and beneficial that officials
should meet the people along the roads
This is what we have been doing.
The southwest is, If possible, mora
prosperous than ever. During recent
years we have increased our mileage,
motive power and equipment in order
to handle the heavier traffic, which we
felt sure that the territory would pro-
duce We got in shape to provide ade-
quate accommodations for the freight
and passenger business But all our
plans and work have only met part of
the extra requirements, and now we
confront the necessity of furnishing ad-
ditional facilities.
DEVELOPMENT in the southwest IS so
rapid and extensive that it is absolutely
impossible for the railroads to keep
pace with it, After building an extern
sion and congratulating ourselves upon
preparedness, we find the development
spreading and are obliged to lay more
tracks and put more cars into commits
sion. This has been our experience for
several years. notwithstanding the
growth of the railroads to satisfy re-
ouirements the progress of the territory
Now we must not only catch up with
the southwests present development.
but must get ready for prospective I'M
provement. The traffic demands are
heavier at the present time than they
ever were before. and they will be heav-
Ter. ~s
"The last crops hapesnot been moved
vet An enormous volume of freight -
still standing at points of origin In all
narts of the country The roads must
handle the remaining traffic as expedit-
iously as possible, and they viii not
have all the last crops moved before the
next crops will be brought to the depots
for transporta ton.
ut is not encouraging, to be sure
that rates should be reduced at time
when the traffic requirements have at
tanned a maximum: nor does agitation
help the roads or the public. But the
roads will succeed, l am confident N
rendering good service and superinduc-
ing friendlier sentiment. The opinion
is growing that the railroads are i'm
portant factors, after all, in promoting
prosperity and there are lndlcallohs
that a calmer feeling will prevail.
mo, do not agree with the preolc-
tion that a depression is due There
will be no depression. For some time
there will probably be a Stacking up,
NOT a depression; but this will be good
for the country The Stacking up Will
relieve the high pressure and reinVig-
crate the country for even greater pros
perity. 1,o,
OF the affairs of the Mobile jackson
e. Kansas City, Mr.. Yoakum said that
the Frisco does not own or control the
property and that no plans have been
formula ted for improving the line He
is a member of the committee OF man
agement. and this committee will deter
mine upon plans for betterment and
traffic interchange. Mr. Yoakum PROB
ably will let a contract this week Tor
l 900 or 1900 new freight cars for the
MObile-Ja ckSon.