The sun., 1916-12-03
CAR SUPPLY ONLY
LIMITS RAIL TRAFFIC
Gains i'm Loadings Over 1915
Arc Reported by Roads All
Over the Country.
LARGE EARNINGS RESULT
Orders for Equipment Run
Through Next Year, With
Inquiries Numerous.

Railroads In all sections report traflc
continuing at high levels with tho supply
Of available freight cars still the largo
determining factor. Eastern n middle
Western railroads are showing gains OF
from 9 per cent. TO 10 per cent. in their
loadings compared with the am time
last year. Tonnages moved. In many
cases are somewhat better diversified
han last scar and this. coupled In some
Instances with a less stringent car short
age. Is helping the situation. Western
roads are sending in good loading reports
also. while Southern roads state traf-
lie generally ID running about . per ceut
ahead OF last years best figures.
Earnings OF most of the railroads for
october were the heaviest In their re-
spective histories. Preliminary figures of
weekly earnings indicate that November
last will run october "A close second,
IL not exceed II, IN the volume of ten
mage handled. With every available car
being used by the railroads. traffic men
say. the only chance the companies have
81 exceeding their october records viii
be through greater cooperation by ship
pers in circcting load!ngs and unload
inGs.
Tho railroads continue actively IN the
equipment market. With something like
100000 tons Of rail contracts closed In
Chicago mill territory. railroads have un-
dertaken mill reservations for 1918 re-
quitements. and some $4,000 10 io.00n
tons OF rails FOR shipment In 1915 have
already beeen booked. About a million
tone of rails. according to on authority.
have been purchased for 1918 account.
The equipment companies booked
further orders last week for about SO
cars. while nearly $500 cars OF several
descriptions figured in the weeks IN
Qulries. The Union Pacific asked for
$500 refrigerator cars and the Norfolk
4 Western for 5000 gondcla and box
cars.
CHICAGO, ROCK ISLAND 4 PACIFIC
Charles G.. Dawes. representing WIN others
lsrse interests In GO nunon stock, 10y,
Islands reorganization. whi'h expect WI,
proceed Ia due time, alih"ush snpps', J.;
be taken out OF the hands OF the receiver
HocKING vAiL.EY-Gross earnings In
october were ';2i,oIo. an increase oi w
$50, and surplus after ch1rsss $500.
was -, 1919. o57. an increase Of sss7'il:, am
.urplu. ate: charges. ~ssii,oes, Increase
u e c-rrenm,nary figures compiled
from tho monthly report. ~ ntty.ons rail-
roads for october. 1915. show Mileage -
.ss. arAins; 5tl2i for october. 49,. op'
Grating revenues .l:?. 100 :9i, ng,ins. lilS
soc. tS?; operating expenses Fl.'ss'S!s'
against s13,lGa,Sl-: net revenue from ."r
c~ratlons tE.sls.is5. against tt5,6.. Nv
rn,Vnles p.r mile we. sg1iu-t Sl.St'
expenses per mile fi.o9N. against S.9SN, ana
net revenue per mile sGii, against ss>"'
MINNEAPOLIS & st l.otlS-jross
s,rrlnEs In October were flo1l,1tf. In
erase s67.s.i, and ne: after take, tsos,5'-'
iucteasr sJ,0Sa. For the four months grote
carn.ngs were s3.S5sstt. i~ncrcaS" f.fe."s'.
and uei after taxes Il!i'S3', increase 49,
iS5.
MISSOURI, EASsAS & -TENAS-Gros'
earnings for October wern S,ssN,hl', cont
nlrcl with 5. 9I6.lAG IN the ,~"rrcspou.ins
month OF 1915. aud net income 3'sa''f',
az tin,t s7lU,69r. Tor IA" four months
ended Dctober 81, rrus- earnings We're SIS
sI3,sSl. against Si0,ii5.5,: operating N.
come ;5l55,7ts, against s2,61N"Ii, ana nel
.ucofhc ssil,i79, against S.js,ce3,
TOLEDO. 81. Louis & wEsrERN--Rc'
ports gross earnings for tAlrd WseN Nov
$3.50. 367. dec. ss,lli From July 20 nav
q, S..tsi,ily inc. s3s-,lt-