The Washington herald., 1914-10-17
ROADS Earnings
SHOW DECREASES
September Figures Indicate
Continued Revenue Loss.
- Southern Lines Hit.
LOCAL TRAINS TAKEN OFF
Washington Banks / Per Cent Quota
10 Fifth District Reserve Pay
" able November 2.

In connection with the hearing before
the Interstate Commerce Commission be-
ginning Monday, preliminary returns Of
lrailroads for September are OF interest
at this time.
Forty roads, whose estimated gross
eanings are available, covering about
one-third Of the mileage Of the country,
report decrease in gross for September
of SIS per cent This compares with a
decrease in August of the same roads OF
4-S per cent and in July Of 313 per cent
Final results for August, including all
the roads OF the country, were pracucal-
ly the same as the preliminary estimate,
the decrease in gross being AZ per cent.
met for August increased 2O5 per cent
The Southern roads, as was to be sup
posed, make a particularly poor show
ing, because Of the heavy reduction in
shipments Of cotton. At thes Southern
outports receipts of cotton for September
wens but $4,000 bales as against l.25O,OO
bales the year before. This stagnatfon in
cotton has slowed up business all over
the South and all the South and South
western roads reporting show decreases.
Southern Railway was of S46O,3 or rs
per- cent for the month: Louisville and
Nashville S6S3.lH or 12S per cent, and
Seabosrd Air Line SS64,S6s. or 10 per cent
In the West, in spite of a heavier grain
a
the rule Great Northern reports falling
OF of s6Ss 594: Canadian Pacific, 81 ,4OS, 600;
Chicago Great Western, S49.s26, and Mis-
souri, Pacific, S19O, 900. Receipts Of wheat at
principal primary markets tOtaled near
ly 100000 bushels for the five weeks
ended October 3, compared with but ST.
100000 bushels the year previous. Receipts
Of the five principal cereals were 155, 500
boo bushels against ~ 10000 the preceding
yeaF.--
Canadian roads, as has been the case
heretofore, show up worse for September
than the United States roads. Prelimi-
nary. returns. Of Canadian Pacific, Grand
Trunk and Canadian Northern indicate
a decrease in gross for September Of
7.6 per cent This, however, is a distinct
improvement over the August and July
showings when a decrease of 125 per cent
and III Per. cent, respectively, was re-
ported.
Comparison for September is not with
unusually large gains in the preceding
gear. Gross earnings in September. 1913,
were but SO per cent ahead of Septem-
Der. 1912.
Total gross of the forty roads report
ing. was S57-s4SSs2 as against So, 90, ,4O4
the preceding year. decrease of A.2SL- |
4l2 or s6,SS' per cent.
,---f Virtue Of Necessity.
In comment upon the announcement Of
several sugar refiners that they would !
help the cotton States as much as pos |
sibIe by using cotton bags instead OF the |
usual burlap variety, Claus A. Spreck |
els. president OF the Federal Sugar Re |
filming Company, declared that such ac-
ton. amounted to nothing more or less
than making virtue a necessity"
"One-hundred-pound cotton bags said |
Mr.. Spreckels, cost sugar refiners at
present prices about cents more
than those made Of burlap. Nevertheless |
some Of the sugar refiners are using |
cotton bags, and If there is any public !
demand for them, the Federal Company !
will do likewise, although it is fortunate
in having enough burlap bags on hand to !
take care of its trade for many weeks !
This is not the case with most other !
refiners. however, and they must there !
fore use cotton, or second burlap If |
thy. can get It. as the war in Europe |
has shut OF all imports from India, the |
only source OF supply. Thus far. halt a
dozen or more steamers bound from Cal |
cutta- with cargoes of burlap have been
sunk by German cruisers and as a re-
suit. there is practically a famine in the
trade What burlap there is available
is quoted so high that no business is
being done. In the circumstances it is
plain that those who are using cotton
bags are doing so not from any motive
of philanthrophy, but because Of stern
necessity.
There are several steamers now on
the way to Cuba with burlap bagging on
board, which have managed so far 10
escape destruction, but there is plenty
of toom for speculation as TO whether
they will ever make port The sugar
bag situation in Cuba is even more Sc
rious, than ii is here as the planters
have, absolutely no substitute for burlap"