The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-08-25
FEAR CAR famine
Tenth Federal District in Fine
Shape Every Other Way.
Transportation Now Main Prob
lem, Says Federal Bulletin.
WHEAT CROP TO EQUAL 1919
Corn Grows Too Fast to Make
Estimate Possible.
Mines and Other Industries
Slowed by Car Shortage.
WHEAT CROP TO EQUAL 1919

kansas City, Mo. Aug. 25.-Car
shortage is blamed for curtallment o!
activity in q large number OF lines OF
business in the monthly bulletin or the
Tenth federal reserve district lssusu
today. Decline in grain shipments, as
compared to last year, is ascribed to
car shortage; car shortage is held re
sponsible for decreased shipments OF
livestock; "a very complete 'curtail-
ment, of production OF lead and zinc
ores is held to be the outcome or an
acute car shortage, and a decrease of
So per cent in building operations in
July, 1920, compared with July, 1918,
is also blamed upon car shortage.
Retail merchants report continued
sloWness in obtaining merchandise for
the same reason, and manufacturers
assert that because of car shortage
they are unable to handle either raw
materials or finished products in sat
isfactory quantity.
The recent order of the interstate
commerce commission authorizing in
creased freight and passenger rates
says the bulletin, is regarded as
move in the direction of permanent
Improvement 81 the crippled railroad
service.
Transportation Main Problem.
Improvement of the system Of trans
portation to a state where the output
of farms. mines, oil wells and factories
and merchants goods and wares may
be handled expeditiously is regarded as
Americas greatest present task
There are many evidences. It Is as
serted, that liquidation of loans has set
in. particularly thruout the wheat dis
trict. and this 1iqu' dation is expected
to become heavier during September.
Wholesale dry goods houses, the re-
port states. are placing a few orders.
there being a general expectation of
lower prices and reluctance to buy
heavily at present prices.
Wheat Crop to Equal 1919.
Agriculture is reported to be in ex-
ceedihgly satisfactory Condition. July
was, generally speaking an excep-
tionally good month, in spite of need
for rain toward the close of the month
in many parts of the district. The
wheat crop, according to the report of
the bureau of crop estimates, is ex-
pected to be Approximately ga, 226, 900
bushels in 1919. Many we'll Informed
experts insist however, that final
threshing will bring the yield very
close to last years total. Corn has
been growing so we'll as to make ae-
eurate estimates almost impossible, it
is added.
'tAll in ALL" declares the bulletin,
the reports now show that 1920 is one
| OF the best, If not the very best crop
years of history and that the Tenth
federal reserve district ranks first
| among the twelve federal reserve dis
tricts of the nited States in broduc-
| ton Of wheat and hay, second in corn
| and third in oats"
Grain Movement Very Slow.
Movement of grain to the markets
| OF the district is reported greatly re-
duced in volume as compared with
| one year ago. Wheat receipts for
July. 1920, were about so per cent of
the volume Of July, 1919, in Kansas
/ CITY. At Omaha. st. Joseph. Wichita,
| are less than 40 to so per cent. Car
| shortage is blamed.
In the oil industry, it is reported
| that intensive drilling in Kansas and
| Oklahoma fields is bringing increased
production. The increase in these
| two states in seven months of 1920,
| as compared with the corresponding
period of 1919 is Is, 1s1,759 barrels.
| Miners Produce But Little.
every complete curtailment'' in
! lead and zinc production at the begin
ming of July followed by resumption
| of work by IS per cent of the mines
| with one shift q day is declared to
| have been hea1thfu1 for the industry
| inasmuch as it helped to adjust the
labor situation and bring production
down to the average of weekly ship
meTits.
In regard to coal the bulletin as
serts that while coal production is
considerable ahead of this time last
year it is not in line with recent de-
mands, both caused and complicated
by the freight car shortage, which has
created a1>eondition that appears seri-
Gus"
while the reports from over the
district indicate that the labor sup
ply is improving to some extent" the
bulletin concludes, experienced help
in many line is hard to obtain. par
ticularly in building lines. There are
very few strikes, and these of a local
| character"