Show rail traffic hurt by water kansas city losses suffered by the railroads because ot of water competition were testified to by railroad witnesses it in the inte restate commerce commission hearing bearing into tho the pleas of western trunk line roads tor for increases in class freight rates western railroads have suffered tremendously from rom competition in transportation via the panama canal declared 11 II J plumhof Plum hot kansas city general superintendent in ot of the southern division of 0 the union pacific comprising kansas and colorado since the opening of the canal said we have been sending and increasing number ot of empty box cars westward which formerly were utilized by shipments ot of freight to the west the cars to be returned to the east with commodities from this important imp orant producing asecion |