An arrangement determines the height of a multilayer stream of articles such as the rod-shaped cigarettes of the tobacco industry. The arrangement includes a flexible elongate member connected to move up and down with the uppermost articles in the multilayer stream as the height thereof varies. The flexible elongate member has a first end fixed in place and an opposite end connected to a weight which moves in a vertical direction as the flexible elongate member moves up and down in response to the height of the multilayer stream of articles. The flexible elongate member is trained around an idler roller, and a sensor is spaced directly below the weight for determining the elevation thereof. Such elevation is directly related to the height of the multilayer stream of articles. A conveyor system having a variable drive moves the multilayer stream of articles along a predetermined path of travel, and a control between the sensor and the conveyor drive varies the drive in response to varying elevations of the weight. When the weight is further away from the sensor, the height of the multilayer stream is excessive, and the conveyer drive is decreased to thereby lower the height of the stream to within predetermined levels. Conversely, when the weight is closer to sensor, the height of the multilayer stream is low, and the conveyor drive is increased to raise the height of the multilayer stream to within predetermined levels.