Rensselaer Journal, Volume 12, Number 20, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 October 1902 — ROLLING STOCK IN SHORT SUPPLY [ARTICLE]

ROLLING STOCK IN SHORT SUPPLY

Railroads Are Embarrassed by Lack of Cars In Which to Haul Freight NOT ENOUGH ENGINES IN WEST Builders Are Behind in Orders for Locomotives and Traffic is Delayed on That Account-Lines Can Handle Hard-coal Rush. Increased anxiety over the car shortage is evident among western railroad officials. This condition has prevailed for some time and has been most embarrassing to lines farther east. At times, however, the western roads have been so situated that a more plentiful supply of cars would have been very acceptable. With the coming of the fall traffic in grain and the natural increase in shipments of live stock to be expected at this season the need of cars has been more keenly felt. The northwestern lines are getting the full effect of the rush of small grain to market and several weeks ago the principal lines in that quarter were complaining of inability to move the freight as promptly as they demanded.

Not Enough Engines. The trouble with the western lines is not so much the lack of cars as it is the lack of a proportionate number of locomotives to handle what they have. During the last year and a half there has been an enormous increase in the number of freight cars in use on the roads centering at Chicago. There has been as large an increase in the number of effective locomotives as the builders could turn out, but the motive power men have been outstripped by the car men in the race. It is believed by those conversant with the situation that the orders for locomotives now in the hands of the builders will remedy this condition. Some anxiety has been felt over the prospects of a great rush of hard coal for delivery through the middle west on the resumption of work in the east, but the roads are confident they can take care of this trade as fast as the coal lines can turn it over. Traffic Increases. Lines extending from Chicago directly west and to the southwest re port that the freight traffic has been very largely increased during the last month, though the season for heavy shipments of corn has not yet arrived. Live stock and small grain have been in excess of expectations ana the condition of the fattening pens and stock farms of that section are believed, by railroad men to portend the same heavy shipments of cattle for several months. One effect of the demand for motive power and general freight handling equipment has been that western roads are becoming the best equipped in the country in this regard, and when the cars and locomotives now in the shops and under contract art put into service this will be vastl3 improved.