The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-11-22
R. |. is BOOMING
Every Line of the System Is
Working at Capacity.
Road Has Not Been in So Fine
Shape for Years.
G. W. ROURKE IN Topeka TODAY
Has Been on Inspection Trip
Covering 1000 Miles.
Road Has Spent Much in Bet
terments Past Summer.
G. W. ROURKE IN Topeka TODAY

In Topeka after completing half of
the annual fall inspection trip over
the Rock Island system with the off
cial inspecting party. G. w. Rourke.
assistant general manager of the road,
said this afternoon there was nothing
but optimism in his system.
II think l can conscientiously say,
Mr. Rourke announced. that the
Rock island, in this section of the
country is in the best shape it has ever
BEEN 1 haven't seen a mile of rail-
road that wasn't in tip top condition,
this trip" Mr. Rourke referred to the
physical condition of the road, which
is the item of interest in the inspec-
ton trip.
The inspecting party Is resting up
after having looked over some 1000
miles of track in the northern part of
the eastern district of the road.
Next week they will start out on
the southern part of the road, and
will, in the two weeks thereafter, in
spect some 1000 more miles of the
road
The good condition of the road is
due, in some measure, to the fact that
the Rock Island has spent more money
during the past summer in track i'm
provement and maintenance, than ever
before, and that the work is still
going on
The spending of money will have to
continue in the future A certain
amount of new ballasting and new
track is required each year to keep
the line up to standard, as we'll as to
make advancement.
The car shortage will continue thru
out the winter and late into the spring,
and will be acute for that time, Mr..
Rourke believes.
All Lines Busy.
nnoL and Of this
road is busy at present. Every branch
line is handling all the traffic that it
will bear" says Mr.. Rourke- He states
that this is an unusual condition of
affairs.
Usually the heavy traffic comes in
spots. Certain districts will be over
loaded. while others are not, but at
present there are more cars in service
on the Rock Island than there have
been for long time previously, and
still we are short" he says.
Mr.. Rourke believes that approx
mately rs per cent of the fall wheat
has already been moved, and that the
other rs per cent is still stored in the
elevators of the grain companies and
in the granaries of the farmers. wait
ing for a further rise in prices.
Also, there are some 10000, 900
acres of wheat planted for next year,
an acreage one and one-half million
larger than that of last year, and with
favorable conditions there should be
another monster crop in 1917, equal
to that of 1914
Furthermore. there IS a steady and
insistent call for cars in the south,
for the moving of forest products and
building material generally, which
must be attended to, now that the
wheat farmers have been accommo-
dated The demand for cars in which
to move lumber, cement, and other
building materials is greater than ever
before.
The Rock Island is a greater suf-
ferer from the car shortage than the
eastern lines, Mr.. Rourke explained
because most of the freight is moving
toward eastern seaports. and when 4
car gets beyond the Rock Island lines,
the company which takes charge of il,
is apt TO hold it. The Rock Island
has contributed far more cars to the
eastern lines than it has had returned.
Increase Rates
The increase in per diem rates
charged by each road for the use of
its cars, strikes the Rock island Off
cial as being a timely and wise
thing" He believes that it will assist
in getting cars returned to their home
lines more quickly, and since the
western lines are suffering the worst
shortage, will benefit them greatly.
The increased demurrage rates will
also assist in relieving the congestion.
Mr. Rourke spoke of the grain buy
ers and brokers of southern Kansas,
who have a small investment in the
way of office quarters, and depend on
using the cars of the company for
their storage facilities
when the demurrage on car is
only a dollar a day, and the rise in
price will be five or six times that in
a single night. it doesn't take mathe-
matician to figure out where they are
going to store their grain said Mr..
Rourke The Rock Island has had
about $50 cars tied up in Hutchinson
alone, for from three to five days all
fall. as result of the practice.
Since the grain has been largely
moved. however, and the demurrage
rates have been raised, this factor will
be eliminated, and cars released ear
lier for southern duty.
Also, the 1900 cars which the road
has been authorized to purchase. will
aid materially. when they are dellv-
cred, which may be next spring
There's always something broke about
that automobile of yours" There is