The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1908-02-06
Four Hundred Millions Tied Up
in Idle Equipment
According to Latest Report of
American Railway Association.
FELT MORE In EAST.
Roads With Unused Cars Send.
ing Them Back to Owners.
Other Items of Interest in
Railway Circles.

A report issued yesterday by the
committee on car efficiency of the
American Railway association shows
that on January 30 there was a net
surplus of 33s.315 freight cars on the
railroads of the United States and
Canada. This is ID per cent of the
total equipment.
Approximately $500 locomotives
would be required to haul these cars,
and it may be inferred that there are
that number out Of service.
Valuing the cars at $1,000 each and
the locomotives at $4,000, there is
rolling stock representing s465,s15.-
600 of capital that is yielding no
revenue.
The net surplus on January %
varies but little from that on January
s, the time of the last report. On
January there was a net surplus of
341,6S3 cars on 160 roads. The jan
uary % figures include reports from
only 1873 roads. The statement of con-
ditions on December "a showed q net
surplus on 1873 roads of 206,155 cars.
Shortages on January % amounted
to 73s cars. the SURPRISES aggregating
339,053. The shortage figures are
slightly larger than they were for
some weeks previous. the total on
December "a being 724 and on Janu-
airy $50.
An increased demand for box cars
seems to have taken place in the two
weeks between January and Janu-
airy %. This is accounted for by
larger grain movements. The i'm
provement is especially noticeable in
the central states. Traffic requiring
other kinds of cars, however, con-
tinued to decline, judging from the
figures.
Total box car SURPRISES on Decem-
Der "a were 123,22e. ON January 8
149,624, and on January %, 1925.
Flat car SURPRISES on December "a
were 14,740, on January 23,059, and
on January % 26,7S8. Coal, gondola,
and hopper car SURPRISES ON Decem-
Der "a were 81, $50, on January 8,
127. 1926. and on January % 14o.92s.
SURPRISES of other kinds Of cars on
December "a were 42,276, on January
s 41,S74 and on January %. 4S,111.
1.-THE history Of the recent business
depression may be read In these com
parative figures" says Chairman Ar
thur Hale in yesterdays report. ''The
reports for october 80, 1907. show
the largest car shortage since the sum-
mer recession, and the largest for any
period in which we have any stalls
tics, with the exception OF February
6. 1907, when sixty-nine roads re-
ported a total shortage Of 1o4.226 cars.
From October 80 we see the cond1-
tions changing with each fortnightly
report.
while the most severe effects. as In
dictated by the surplus figures, were
felt in the eastern and middle states,
comprising roads a large proportion OF
whose business is iron, steel, and COAL
it is notable that the earliest 1ndica-
lions of surplus are in the northwestern
states, which on November IL reported
a large net surplus of boxcars, while
other groups of states still reported
large shortages Of all classes Of equip
me2t.
'tOn November q the grand total sur
pluses exceeded the shortages, not only
in the total cars, but also by classes
The surplus was still heaviest in the
northwestern states, while the eastern.
North Atlantic, southern, Pacific states,
and Canada still reported more short
ages than SURPRISES of boxcars Coal
and gondola cars had. however, begun
to grow plentiful in the eastern and
middle states, and by December II
there was a large surplus Of cars in
these classes
1.-THE Canadian roads reported grad
uany diminishing shortages and in
creasing surpluses until Decemner "a,
when the conditions quite suddenly
became aggravated, and the reports for
that and subsequent dates denote con-
ditions similar to those existing in the
United States"
The great surplus of cars has caused
all the roads to get cars belonging to
other lines back to the owners as rap
idly as possible to avoid the payment
of the charge of so cents per diem.
This movement Of empty cars has
meant a large expense, and has brought
up the question of the advisabflity OF
suspending or reducing the per diem
charges.
This proposition will be considered at
a special meeting of the American Rail
way association called for Friday of
this week in Chicago. Preliminary to
the meeting of the association the car
service committee will meet on We'd
nesday and the executive committee on
TbrrSday