The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1906-09-16
ANOTHER POSITION
FOR Ed. 7. WILCOX
General Freight Agent of the
Birmingham Belt
SHORTAGE OF EQUIPMENT
Railroads Are Unable to Supply the
Coal and other Cars That Are
Demanded In the 5ir-
minaham District.
SHORTAGE OF EQUIPMENT

E. T. Wilcox, division freight agent Of
the Frisco system, yesterday received a
circular announcing his appointment as
general freight agent of the Birmingham
Belt, the terminal properties of the Frisco
in the Birmingham district.
This is one of the changes following the
promotion of A. D. Lightner formerly
general agent in Birmingham. to superin-
tendent OF the division from Birmingham
to Springfield. Mr.. Lightner's office force
was transferred to Memphis. where Mr..
Lightner will perform the duties of the
old office
R. ]. Harlan, assistant superintendent Of
the Frisco in Birmingham, will have
charge of the operating department and
Mr.. Wilcox of the traffic department, re-
porting to the general freight agent.
| There is a dearth of cars in the Birming-
ham district on nearly every railroad.
i Coal operators are begging for cars in
which to ship their coal. and shippers Of
other kinds OF goods are also demanding
cars other than coal cars.
Owing to the policy of the Louisville
and Nashville of holding its cars on its
own rails when possible, 1t is in good
shape, according to the transportation de-
partment Some of the other roads, how
ever, are complaining of lack of cars
and in several instances there are no
cars in sight.
Some of the mine operators state that
their output for the present month will
be very small unless they can secure
more cars Some mines have been closed
down large part of this month on ac-
count of car shortage conditions as they
are able to work only on those days when
there is car supply
These conditions are due in part to the
! enormous increase In business shown by
all the railroads in the south, and especial
! ly in the coal carrying roads in the Bir-
mingham district. The output of many
mines has been largely increased in the
past twelve months and other mines have
been opened, thereby increasing the total
/ capacity of the district very largely The
| railroads have not been able to get the
cars built fast enough to handle this in
crease in traffic and as result they are
short hundreds Of cars.
All the roads have big orders for equip
ment with the builders both of cars and
of motive power. but delivery Is slow now
owing to the immense amount of work on
hand
Not only is the supply of cars short,
but In some instances the railroads are
short of locomotives to haul what freight
they can take Motive power is being
worked so constantly that it is not pos
sible to keep it in the best condition some
times and it is badly run down on several
railroads.
There will be a meeting of the South
eastern Mississippi Valley association and
the Southeastern Freight association In
New York September Typ at the Waldorf
Astoria hotel Among the railroad men
from Birmingham who will attend Is ~.
A. Chadwick, assistant general freight
agent of the Alabama Great Southern
c. H. Reeder secretary to M. nA.
Richey. when he was assistant general
superintendent of the Southern, is now
traffic manager of the Manning Coal ex-
change in Midlesborough, KY, one OF the
largest concerns in that portion of the
country Mr. Reeder has many friends in
Birmingham, where he was located for
several months.
The Alabama Great Southern is expect
ing the first consignment of an order OF
$500 freight cars next month, and late In
the month delivery will commence on
four 1OO-ton freight engines, one immense
passenger engine similar to engine 1SS and
three large switch engines. Included in
the car order are coal cars, box cars, fiat
cars and 'gons."