Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1915-01-25
RAILROADS FEEL
TRADE ADVANCES
Gains in Traffic on Western
Lines Show General
Improvement.
STEEL DEMANDS LARGER
Buying Of Merchandise Increases, Po-
IItiesl Situation Clears and
Stock Markets Active.
-From cHIcago Hcrlldl }

Substantial gains in traffic on west
ern railroads this month bear out the
claims OF general business improve
ment throughout the country.
Compared with the corresponding
period a year ago. the loaded car re-
ports for the first three weeks OF the
current month show that the gains
made by western lines in December
not only have been held but are larg-
or this month on practically all Of the
important transportation systems.
The latest available figures show
that car loading on lines of the Bur
lington railroad has increased II per
cent so far this month compared with
the same time last year. The North
western reports a gain OF 1872 per
cent. the AtchisOn per cent and the
Rock Island 5.33 per cent The show
ing or other systems has been in SINH
lar proportions.
Analysis OF the car-loading sheets OF
these railroads shows the increase is
principally in Industrial tonnage.
which IS the class OF freight that fell
of sharply during the recent depres-
sion. The tonnage consists of lumber
and forest products. coal, ore. steel.
iron and manufactured products.
Merchandise and miscellaneous traf-
fic are holding their own, while grain
-four. meat and meat products and live
stock show large increases. This has
been the condition since the European
war began
Increasing railroad business is the
most tangible sign of the times.
Means Activity Elsewhere.
Moreover. It is an unquestionable /
fact that when the railroads are doing 4
a large business they are heavy buyers I
OF everything needed in their opera 1
tions. These requirements lead prin- /
cipally into the iron and steel indus .
tries and other large enterprises which .
find their basis there. such as railroad
supplies. cars and locomotives.
The improvement that has taken
place in these lines has been chroni-
1led in the Herald's columns week
by week. and the gains In orders of
his character continue. Railroads
make up their budgets for the
ears expenditures in January, and as
hese reckonings are based largely
Ipon current business and the outlook
{ Is logical TO suppose that railroad
managers will be more liberal in their
present appropriations than they
would be II the business situation was
eversed.
There Is more buying OF merchan-
lise and money Is growing easier all
ne time.
Large crops and the high prices
hey are bringing viii have their eff
h. 81 &
ar as manufactured products are con-
srned the country is liquidated TO the
enc. and this means an important
movement OF every thing once the buy
az demand fairly begins. Decreases Il
4 bank clearings, compared with a
ear ago. are growing smaller. but the
rade represented in these figures is
arge. since there Is no speculation TO
well them.
Political Atmosphere Clearer.
Beyond all this the political atmo-
phere Is clearing
The stock market behaves encourag- 1
igly and prices are moving nearer
alues. There IS nothing spectacular
the dealings. Trading is small. but
lie advances in prices made are held.
here seems 10 be far greater disposi-
on 90 buy than to sell securities.
Industries in and around Chicago
e picking up and preparations are
ling made for spring activity. Two
factors last week were an
that the Inland Steel
plants are operating 80 to
per cent OF capacity. which is near
60 per cent more than the concern
,erated last November. and that the
airy rail mills of the Illinois Steel
'mpany. which suspended operations
81 September. will reopen Feb. S.