The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-09-23
RAILROAD NEWS.
Traffic Over Country Is Large
But More Irregular.
Merchandise and Coal Show the
Best Increase.
NO SHORTAGE OF CARS
Passenger Business Keeps Up
Without Change.
Other Items OF General Inter-
est in Traffic World.
NO SHORTAGE OF CARS

Chicago. Sept. 23.-Traffic with all
railroads is heavy, but there is more
irregularity to the movement of gen
eral freight than is usually experienced
st this season. In all, the volume ex-
ceeds last years by a small percent
age, and a majority Of traffic officials
are optimistic for the future. The
volume of loaded cars moved over
western. northwestern, and southwest
ern railroads last week was about the
same as in the previous week and last
year 1t was expected several weeks
ago that the heavy volume of gram
would keep up, as September IS al
ways a good month for all KINDS OF
traffic, especially grain, but there mas
been 4 decrease. and the movement so
far this month is rather Disappointing
An increase in the merchandise ton
mage, and prospects of a better coa4
traffic, however, have made trar1lc ana
operating officials anticipate pettcr
things in the future, they say that.
with the miscellaneous movement OF
freight equalling last years without
the coal tonnage, any increase IN Ine
latter. which is sure to come from now
on, because of resumption OF mlnllS
in Illinois, will bring the total 1relSht
movement we'll above last year There
IS also an increased tonnage IN heaVy
building materials, particularly IN ce-
ynent There is no shortage OF box
cars. neither is there any surplus al
though a few of the largest railroads
report that they are better fixed for
e,,rrlving them than they were two
weeks ago. Coal cars are in increased
request, and it is necessary Tor the
railroads to rearrange their disposition,
70 secure advantageous results.
Business with mercantile houses an9
manufacturers has improved, ana
there were 10 per cent more buyers
here last week than at the same time 8
wear ago. and some merchants report
sales both for immediate and future
shiDnent as considerably in excess OIL
last years. One feature is the lncreas-
Ing demands made on merchants TO
have goods that were bought for de-
livery in the first half of October, SNIP
ned at once It is also freely remarked
that there is more disposition on the
mart of interior distributors to buy
Conservatively and in small lots, ana
come into the market more frequently
so that the railroads are beneflted py
having the movement of goods more
evenly distributed over longer perlou'
In the grain movement last Week
there was somewhat of a disappolnt-
,nent If being the lightest for the mid
die of September in seven years, de-
creasinsr .. O65. 900 bushels, or % per cent
IRON, tbe previous week, 301 900 bushels.
or Sc per cent from the previous year
and was ], 100000 DuShels, OF ~ PEI
cent below the average for the past
five years. The feature was the de
crease in the deliveries Of corn, which
were :, O99. 900 bushels less than the pre-
vious week, and only $4,000 bushels
more than last year. Arrivals Of wheat
decreased 1877 900 bushels for the week.
bnt Increased 926, 900 bushels from last
r-esr and in the movement of oats.
there was a reduction of s5S,000 bushels
Tor the last week, and of 100000 bushels
from last year. =
A marked change has been made in
the location Of the grain movement the
mast few weeks. During August, it was
largely from Illinois, as the winter
wheat movement was on from that
state. A large percentage of the oats;
which helped to swell deliveries OF al
grains to the greatest in years, also
came from Illinois. Now, the rush OF
winter wheat is over from Illinois: ana
IS under way from west or the Mlssl9-
eippi river, and the oats are also COM
ing from there, with only fair per
centage from east of the river