Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1931-04-08
FREIGHT INCREASE
APPEARS CERTAIN
Volume of Goods in Transit
Expected to Show
Sharp Gain.
BY J. c. RoYLE.

More freight will be moved over the
railroads of the country in the next
three months than in the first quarter
of 1881. 1t will be moved faster, more
safely and more satisfactorily than ever
before, but the volume of business pass
Ing over the tracks of the country prob
ably win be around per cent less than
was the case in 1880. This fact is not
depressing either to business men, ship
pers or to the railroads. It simply
means that the industries OF the coun-
try have got down to cases" They
have gagged demand and regulated
supply TO it.
Movements a year ago were to a GER
| tain extent on speculative basis. No
body knew what demand would be and
some overest'mated 1t. This will not
| take place this year. These railroad
shipments are the most thoroughly re-
liable balances known, on which to
weigh the general prosperity of the
country. Were the railroads not oper-
ating at the efficiency which they have
attained, there could be no prospects of
renewal of prosperity, but the fact
that they can and do move freight
faster, farther, more safely and cheaper
than ever before casts decidedly rosy
light on the gain in shipments as COM
pared with the first quarter of the year.
Increase Expected on Coast.
The decrease in shipments will nat
urally be most heavily felt in the agri-
cultural districts, such as the Pacific
Northwest, the Great Lakes Country
and Middle Northwest. The Pacific
Coast is expected to show a slight In
crease, and so is the Ohio Valley, which
has become essentially an industrial
territory. Some specific industries viii
show gains and it is noticeable that
these reflect a general improvement in
employment. Among them are the
liquid fuels, chemicals and explosives.
The move to distribute fruit juices,
especially those of the citrus fruits,
through the medium of dairy products
msrchandizers has raised the probable
volume Of citrus fruit products IS per
cent as compared with last year. Near
~ per cent more petroleum products
will be used than were used in the
country a year ago. and similar i'm
provement is noted in the chemicals
and explosives lines
As Is natural under existing condi.
tions, there probably will be a decrease
in the shipments of lumber, brick, clay
products and lime and plaster. This
Is due not so much to check to
building construction, but to a change
in the methods of building construction.
Farmers of the country undoubtedly
are still in depressed condition. This
viii be reflected in the shipments Of
sugar, sirups, molasses, poultry and
dairy products, live stock, fodder. cot
ton and wheat. 1t is obvious that such
check to shipments of agricultural
products must affect the sales Of fer
tilizer and farm vehicles. A slight drop
in the transportation of coal may be
anticipated, but this is not due to
inactivity of factories, but to improved
methods of firing and heat transmits
sion.
Personnel Excellent.
Railroad roadbeds, rolling stock and
equipment probably were never In as
efficient condition as at the present
time. It is certain that the personnel
of the railroad workers was never so
excellent. The carriers may not gather
as much net freight revenue In the
next three months as they did year
ago, but they are in q position where
they can and will take full advantage
of the improvement in business In the
shape of increased profits for their
shareholders.