Business & Finance: Record Loadings

The high point this year for freight was reached during the week ending Aug. 23rd, when 982,248 cars were loaded. This figure compares with 1,069,915 cars for the same week last year, 879,902 cars in 1922, and 829,709 cars in 1921. The gain over loadings for the preceding week was 29,360 cars.

The increase came in all commodities handled except forest products (i. e., lumber) and ores, and was most noticeable in coal and miscel laneous freight.

Of the total 982,248 cars loaded, coal was responsible for 159,814 (or 16%); miscellaneous freight for 358,031 (or 36%); grain and grain products 61,613 (or 6%); live stock 34,237 (or 3%) ; forest products 69,138 (or 7%); merchandise 243,873 (or 24%); ores 48,313 (or 4%); coke 7,229 cars (or less than 1%).

Increases in freight loadings over the preceding week occurred in all sections except the Northwestern. Except for the latter and the Eastern Allegheny sections, loadings were in excess even of 1923 record figures.