New-York tribune., 1917-09-07
Relevant Facts

Southern Pacific Railroad.-William
Sproule, president of the Southern Pa
cfc Company, has announced the plac-
ing of an order for sixty-ive locomo-
tives at cost of $2,5OO,OOO, for the Pa
cifc system lines of the road. This
order brings the total expenditures for
new equipment by the Southern Pa
cifc and the Pacific Fruit Express to
S24,5O0,OO0. Mr.. Sproule said:
"The total number of freight cars
we have had built this year, or are
having built, reaches almost 10000
and comprises 300 box cars, 1000 fiat
cars. 900 stock cars, 600 oil tank cars,
1000 automobile cars, 400 gondolas, 40
narrow gauge fiat cars, 80 cabooses and
200 modern refrigerator cars for the
Pacific Fruit Express. One thousand
of the Pacific Fruit Express refrlgerat-
ors. as well as 10 locomotives, are to be
built on the coast.
There have already been delivered
20 US under this programme $3.50
freight cars and five mail and baggage
cars. We have now building in the
East 800 oil tank cars, IL locomotives
and 90 baggage and mail cars. We
are about to start on the construction
Of the 324O freight cars announced
some time ago and this work Will be
done at home.
at is very difficult during these
times to make any predictions as to
when equipment which we order can
be delivered, because the orders OF our
government and the government OF the
allies for cars and locomotives are
being given preference.
I'VE are making this expenditure re-
sponsive TO the needs of the present
emergency, although the price of LABOR
and material is the highest in the his
tory of the world. While the acqulsi-
ton of this new equipment will afford
great relief TO shippers, 1t must be
borne in mind that car supply is really
a matter of keeping the cars moving
TO the west as rapidly as they are NOV
ing 70 the east. No matter what guam
tity of cars a railroad owns 1t VIII al
ways be quickly drained OF ITS car sup
ply unless there is promptness IN re-
turning the cars. IL is like an endless
chain. cars moving out on the chain
must be replaced by cars coming IN
over the same chain. PrOmprness with
which shippers use cars is the other
great factor in creating car supply
July Railroad Revenues. WASHING
TON. Sept. 6.-Preliminary returns for
lO6 OF the 1856 large railroads OF the
country made public by the Interstate
Commerce Commission indicate that
the July revenues will exceed those OF
juno which established a new high
record.
The 106 roads reported net revenues
Of s6s s.3OS. 1875, compared with SCI ,299,-
$50 in July, 1916.
The increase is divided wholly among
railroads of the Western and Southern
districts. Eastern roads report net
revenues slightly under those of July,
1915, but it is believed that final re-
ports from Eastern roads Will show an
increase.
For the seven months ended with
July the lines show net revenues Of
$367 ,914.241, as compared with $780,
l80.674 for the same seven months OF
1916.
New Ship Companies.-In the. month
of August new shipping and shipbuild-
ing concerns, with 4 total capitalization
Of s19,03s, 900, were organized, accord
ing 10 a summary compiled by "The
Journal Of Commerce" The total capi-
tai stock authorized in July amounted
70 Sl9,020,000, and in June, the record
month for the current year, the total
reached Ss4025,000. For the first eight