Omaha daily bee., 1906-12-20

HILL ON TRAFFIC DELAYS
Northern ksenats Says Fuel and Car
anime is Due to Growth Of Tonnage
PENN8YLYANIA MAA UIsCvss.s sAORTAOL
Tramo Manager Says Capacity OF
shops L. Only Two-Thirda Of
Normal Demand for
Equipment.

MINNEAPOLIS, Dec. 1s-The Interstate
Commerce commission, represented by
Franklin X Lane and John s. Harlan, ad-
jouined its hearing on the car shortage
In the west tonight, to reconvene tomorrow
morning In Chicago. The feature OF the
proceedings today was brought forward in
the testimony Of President Howard Elliott
of the Northern Pacific during which Com
missioner Lane and President Elliott had
lively tilt on the subject Of reciprocal
demurraEe.
President Elliott was unmovabte from
his position as opposing reciprocal demur-
rage on the ground it would move freight
faster. He said the railroads collected de-
murrage for the purpose Of facilitating
| freight.
President James ]. Hill Of the Great
Northern, took the stand late in the after
noon. As witness James ]. Hill proved
disappointment. To be sure, Mr. Hill
came to the hearing fortified with q mass
OF figures to prove that conditions outside
the control Of the railroads were alone
responsible for delay In trafAc.
New Lines Building.
I'VE are to build a line from Aneta, N. D.,
TO Devils Lake, N. D." began Mr.. Hill
This would mean practically an alternate
line to the Twin Cities. We are also build
/ lllB u uUuDle track line from DeNll s Lake
to Rugby, N. d. This would mean a great
diversion Of the traffic in that section, but
owing to the inability to secure labor we
could not complete either OF these con-
structlons this year They will be con-
structed by next spring. We are within
twelve miles OF Devils Lake, but could
not complete the work for this falls crop.
! There is no place in the United States
where the growth has been as rapid as
along the line of the Great Northern. The
/ Improvement is tremendous and presents a
problem of vast magnitude to the railroads.
| The tonnage mile has increased from
606,OOO in 1893, to 1893 900 tons in 1908, and
almost doubled since then to the present
| time. l have left a sick room to come here
and give these facts. They are records
taken from the books of the company, and 1
beg the commissioners to investigate deeply
into this question"
What do you think of J. w Midgeley's
scheme for an equal exchange of cars be-
tween roads, or the penalty Of fine for
each car over an equal exchange in the
service of a company" was asked.
Il don't think there is anything in It.
Fifty cents a day on a car in times of
shortage is not going to solve the situa-
tion.'
Capacity of Car Shops Too Small.
ST. LOUIS, Dec, 1s.-The Investigation
by the Interstate Commerce commission
into the general shortage of freight cars
was resumed today. A number of promi-
nent railroad men were subpoenaed to APP
pear as witnesses today.
According to the testimony of railroad
men who testified today, the present famine
In railroad cars is due to the inability OF
car manufacturing plants to meet the de-
mands OF the railroad companies.
A. B. Starr, general superintendent OF
freight trafic of the Pennsylvania lines
west of Pittsburg.. said he favored a Law
that would require railroads to provide
equipment sufficient to meet its traffic
needs. ...
Mr.. Starr testified that there are in op.
Grafton at present in the United States
!, $4,000 freight cars. About $1,000 OF these
must be rebuilt every year.
The Pennsylvania railroad owns, he said
about IL per cent Of the total freight equip
ment in this country.
"The producing capacity of the car fac.
tories OF the United States" said the wit
ness, us about 10000 cars a year
ITO keep up with the country's develop
ment the car plants should be able e
build at least 10000 cars a year"
General Manager McKeen of the Vandalis
testified that his company had increased
it's power service IS per cent during the
past five years. A contract now calls for
twenty new locomotives and 500 cars.
w o. Bracket. chairman OF the arbitra-
ton committee OF the Texas Grain Dealers
association, offered as evidence Tuesday
the statements Of many southwestern grain
dealers relative to the delay In getting
cars.
8. II. Cowan, representing the National
Live Stock association and the Cattle
Faisers' association of Texas, read extracts
from letters to prove that thousands OF
head Of cattle had been sold at a sacrifice
because cars were not provided.
II. d. Richeson, president OF the Burilng-
ton Elevator company, testified that II now
required an average Of five days to get 8
car placed at his elevator after It reached
st. Louis and sometimes fifteen days.
Commissioner Prouty departed tonight
for Kansas 4CIty, where the hearings viii
be resumed.