The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1906-12-19


6 On our main lines, except where
there were unusual weather conditions,
there have been no slow running orders.
A We have 822 locomotives and are max
4 ing running time.
~ Great Northern Cars.
How many boxcars have youa"
! per cent of our total equipment is off
our lines. 6,057 cars. We have 9,462
foreign cars on our lines, a balance of
about 5000 in our favor.
g Can you make any suggestion Of 9
plan to stimulate the movement of
freightcars9' asked Mr.. Marble.
II think plans which have been con
sidered for Improvement in our facii-
ties and equipment should provide for
growing traffic of next year, was the
reply. g Under present conditions, II
I could think of any plan for immedl-
ate betterment of the situation. would
put it into effect. The last few months
way, shape or manner; have employed
all we could and have given the best
service we could under the circum-
stances.'
80 What is your opinion Of what J. w.
Midgley Of Chicago says of there. be.
/ ing: no car shortage, but more a lack OF
facilities?'
No, sir; don't agree with him"
said Mr.. Slade. In response to inauir-
les by Commissioner Harlan. Mr.. Slade
said his road had bought 1913 new en-
s zines since June 5. 1905, and that sixty
/ four engines are now in shop. The gem
Il eral basis of compensation is the same
z on all northwestern lines. - =
Have you taken any special meas
ures for relief at stations where grain
is piled out of doors?'' asked the com
missioner. j.. ..E.-E.
Hasn't Heard Of Grain Piles.
IT have not heard of single sta;
ton on our line where grain IS piled
outdoors" replied Mr., Slade. ,..We
have, however, endeavored to- relieve
points where elevators are blocked and
not able to receive any more grain. - s.
In response to questions by Mr. Begg,
Mr.. Slade said that the greatest de-
lays are at terminals, in the release of
freight The new engines OF the past
4 year have increased the whole number
of locomotives Is per cent. -
Mr.. Slade, will you tell Of the
causes that have led up to the present
car shortage difficulties?'
"In the first place. was the reply,
tsthe increase in general traffic due to
increased consumption of manufactured
, material in the west; greater demand
, for Pacific coast lumber; increase in
density of population in the northwest,
with consequent increase in demand;
! the unfortunate weather of the past
year, long periods OF dry weather, Sc
we're storms at other times; practically
a continuous blizzard in North Dako-
\ ia for thirty days; and a further
I complication caused by strike Of miners
!: of the Grow s Nest Pass company,
where we have been getting one-fourth
of our fuel, the strike lasting from
10 n1,
we had inferior, fuel. We have had
! cases where we have had to send out
three fremen on Individual engines. -
Mr.. Slade said lack of material and
labor had prevented completion of the
Aneta extension to Devils Lake this
season, which would have given double
track facilities for some distance and
been increased 100 miles the past year
and new shops put in at Devils Lake,
N. D. ...
Labor and Weather Blamed.
: Briefly, I would say,' he went on,
the lack Of labor and bad weather
conditions are at the bottom of the
present trouble. - 80
'sWhat would be the effect of redue-
ing the size of, trains 9'aW ould that per-
vice9'' $500
''In places it would reduce the press
ent efficiency. Increase in trains in a
congestedH district would cause more
lost time in meeting trains than is now
the case with. engines. pulling a rea-
sonable load. For instance, with two
meeting points, with three each way,
nine meeting points. The increase in
meeting points is in proportion to the
square of. the number Of trains, and
hence the more> trains each way, there
is much more time lost in passing each
other. - .<.[.s%
The Lumber Situation.
"Has there been a discrimination
against LUMBER, as the lumbermen of
the. northwest. are preparing to COM
plain?' asked Mr.. Lane. .......
No, sir, / don It think so,'' said Mr.
Slade. Then he told of troubles in get
there are now 1000 loads waiting west
Of the Cascades. ss.@l ..-
coast traffc?' 80 49,
emo, sir, except on the general rule
that we give preference to merchandise
and frst-class freight. The crop move
ment is peculiar this year. At the
opening of the season we had many
4 cars on sidetracks waiting for grain
W. ooppooou Vn0y Woulu Ue
needed The ears were loaded very
quickly; more rapidly than we could
& handle them. There were sometimes
twice the usual number Of cars loaded
on each division. Naturally, delays re-
sulted.' =. -. =
Long Time on the Road.
81. You have heard evidence of cases
where. q car. would take twenty days
Fl to 20 200 miles?'- =. ~ H. ! :, +
IS. Yes, sir, [ have, but 1 think such
6. instances on our line are only isolated
cases. ',@ sE">
Mr.. Slade told the commissioners the
Northern Pacific system has 5000 miles
of track; that but 20 miles is double
& track. In places, there are different
d single lines which act as double track
ing. For instance, in the Red river val
& ley the Northern Pacific has six parallel
e lines. ......-
Is it true Or not that a northwest
policy was invented, Of having as high
+ ton. mile as possible, and that your
( road is proud. of. this, and the policy
has spread to other 1iness''
That is true, but with the matter
OF time always being considered with
( the load,' said Mr.. Slade.
If you had heavy load to haul
and two freight trains available, would
I you give it all to one train or di-
ttI'd divide it. That is the instruc.
lion to superintendent in such cases. y
Do you think accidents which hap
III pen on your line are due to men being
tired from overworkq'
{s In isolated cases, perhaps. But