Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 4, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 January 1917 — Railroads in Equipment Mart. [ARTICLE]

Railroads in Equipment Mart.

Buying of equipment on a large scale by the railroads is becoming increasingly apparent. The carriers are becoming a big factor in the steel market, as a result of orders for more than 25,000 cars having been placed in the last five weeks, with 10,000 more pending. The carriers also are bnying structural steel and have ordered 100,000 tons of rails for 1918 delivery, the rail orders going in at the advance of $5 a ton over the price that prevailed for so many years. Railroads are not buying because they prefer to buy at this time of year or for any other reason that might be classed as choice. They are buying because they must, regardless of price, deliveries or anything else. Prices are mounting steadily and the roads have abandoned the notion that by Waiting until winter or spring they can obtain better prices or earlier deliveries.