The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1911-05-24
RAILROAD NEWS.
Traffic Outlook Looks Better
Than Ever Before.
Recent Court Decisions Have
Stimulated Industry.
CROPS IN GOOD SHAPE
Officials Feeling Good From
Grain Belt Reports.
Other Items of General Interest
in Traffic World.

Chicago. May 24.-Western tranc
conditions remain in a satisfactory
and healthy state and business over the
principal lines is holding even with or
little above that of the same time a
year ago. Traffic officials as well as
industrial interests are of the opinion
that the recent court decision will have
. a stimulating effect upon business gen.
orally and that trade expansion will
result from the settlement of the ques-
public for many years and had always
been source of uncertainty in the con-
duction of business operations.
Traffic officials do not look for any
thing like a boom in business through
out the summer months, but they do
believe that there will be a steady
growth in the movement of freight, and
that earnings will show a correspond
ing gain. As to what attitude the rail-
ROADS will take in the way of buying
for betterments and improvements is
still a matter of conjecture as they
have not come into the market to
any extent, except to meet immediat e
requirements.
The general outlook for crops over
the entire grain belt was never more
encouraging than at the present time,
and without disaster it is expected that
a very heavy yield of all cereals will be
harvested. Reports to the railroad Of
ficialS indicate that the growing grain
is in satisfactory condition in all 1ocali-
ties, and that, while prices are lower,
farmers are generally satisfied with
the prospect for liberal returns for
their products.
Railroads operating eastward from
Chicago and St. Louis maintain fair
ly steady volume of business during
the past week, the general average be-
ing about per cent heavier than the
same week a year ago The feature
of the tonnage was the heavy mer-
chandise and package freight, but in
all commodities, except dressed beef,
there were substantial increases. West
bound tonnage was reported better for
the first time in many weeks, and ship
ments from Industrial concerns in the
central territory gave railroad officials
more encouragement than at any time
since the first of the year. The lake
lines do not appear to have cut down
the tonnage of the all-rail lines to any
great extent, although considerable
freight is going by way of %he water
route. Traffic officials are now gen
orally of the belief that the industrial
situation will improve and that with
moderate expansion. which is expected,
earnings should show Improvement
soon. Officials of the southern lines
report business as holding steady for
this season of the year, and that the
movement is we'll balanced.
The movement of grain from the
farms and interior elevators was mod
erately enlarged during the week just
closed. Receipts at the leading dis
tributing centers were more liberal. In
the Northwest the marketing exceeded
those for Il similar period in 1910, and
in the Southwest the arrivals at ac-
cumulating points were also in excess
of the returns for the corresponding
week one year ago. Grains, too, moved
with greater freedom, and, with farm
work out of the way, a still larger
movement is anticipated.