El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1910-01-12
1903 BREAKS
RECORDS IN
FREIGHT
COMPARISONS With a Few
Years Ago Show an In
crease Fifteen Fold.
FOUR RAILROADS,
100000 CARLOADS
This Large Total Was De-
livered into Ell Paso Dur
ing Year Just Closed.

The city of FL Paso made a most
wonderful progress during the year
1903, and in no line of business was that
progress and prosperity more pro-
bounced than with the railroads enter
ing the city. With the close of the
year, the officials were brought to
realize the tremendous volume of bust
ness done during 1909, the aggregate on
four roads being more than 100000 cars
handled through the railroad yards of
the city during that period. The totals
for 1908 ran about 425,0OO cars. A com
parison by roads appears on page 80
and s3 of the annual review section.
Fourteen years ago last December The
Herald announced the largest railroad
business ever done in the city up TO
that time, the G. H. & S. A having
handled total Of 1900 cars during the
month of November. In the month of
November, 1903, the same road handled
2O.I2o cars in the city yards, and
comparison Of the business done for the
entire year with the same months Of
other years shows that the month of
Nsfvember was not an exceptional
mont, but that the growth TO that
gres- number Of cars handled has been
steacy, and that it is no uncommon
thing TO have that nuLAber exceeded in
almost any calendar month.
During the same month of 1909 the
Ell Paso & Southwestern, a road not in
existence II years age, handled Is, 983
cars in its FL PasO yards. In 1908 the
Ell Paso & Southwestern handled 49,
322 cars through Z. Paso and in 1893
han lied 1929 cars.
The Santa Fe. during November. 1909,
did a better business than in former
months of the year, and the average
monthly business for the year was more
than 1900 cars. The Santa Fe showed
gain OF 2774 cars, the 1908 total being
1896 and the 1909 total 1880 cars.
During the month of November, 1909,
the Texas & Pacific handled 1878 cars,
exclusive of its Mexico business and
cattle shipments from this city. There
was an increase of ISIS cars Of Ell Paso
freight and SO12 of cattle and Mexican
freight.
The FL Paso business done by the
Mexico National was nearly double that
Of 1908.
This means that while the railroad
business done in FL Paso for the month
of November IA years ago might have
totaled 1900 cars, that the total vol
ume of business as indicated by the
car reports Of the road was increased
by nearly four times the number of
cars.
But mere numbers of cars will not
tell the tale of increased growth and
railroad business for the city of FL
Paso. Fourteen years ago the average
car was rated for from 10000 to 80,
600 pounds or Is or 20 tons, while the
cars Of today are rated for from $4,000
to &c., 900, or from three to five times
as much capacity per car. The 1900
cars of fourteen years ago could have
hauled 112,5OO tons. if loaded TO what
was then considered the straining point
OF a car The 1900 cars of today could
easily carry 375, 900 tons, and not be
loaded to the danger limit When the
difference in tonnage TO the car is con-
sidered, the increase of business dur
ing the IA years figures not less than
is fold.