The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1906-12-03
SHORTAGE OF FREIGHT CARS.
Interstate Commerce Commission 10 In
qulre Into the Cause.

qulre Into the Cause
WASHINGTON, Dec. "A shortage in the
supply OF cars throughout the United States
that threatens disaster to the stock, grain
and other industries. according TO repre-
sensations made to the authorities here, IL
about to be made the subject of investiga-
ton by the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. Many complaints have been flee
with the commission, in which 1t Is asserted
that the railroads are either unable to sup
ply cars for the transportation of COM
modities that must be moved without
further delay if great loss to producers is to
he prevented, or they are deliberately dis
eliminating against certain industries.
This latter view Of the case is not ac-
cepted here, as many officials familiar with
transportation problems are inclined to
agree with President James j. Hill that the
commercial and mercantile business Of the
country is developing with such rapidity
that the railroads are unable, through lack
Of facilities, TO handle all the business
offered them. However, the facts as to
car shortage are TO be inquired into. &C
cording TO al announcement made to-day
by Interstate Commerce Comm lssioner
Franklin X. Lane. who has had the matter
under consideration The commission will
begin its inquiry in the Northwest and all
the causes OF delay will be scrutinized.
The most serious problem that faces the
shipping public to-day, " said Commissioner
Lane, -is that Of getting traffic moved. II Is
no exaggeration to say that there are mil
ions OF tons of freight awaiting shipment
at the present time in the United States
which the railroads confess themselves
unable promptly to handle. Whether there
is an actual car shortage or not ia a question
that only full inquiry can determine, but
thaf fhara ia fanlf m hQ found with the
manner in which cars are used seems to be
generally conceded by all traffic men.
"In the Northwest the farmers of the Da-
kotas and Minnesota have filed the ele-
vators along the lines OF the railroads and
are stacking their wheat in great bins
twenty or thirty feet deep and covering an
acre or more of ground. At the same time
there is ample oom for all OF this wheat in
the terminal elevators at Chicago, Mil
waukee, Minneapolis, Duluth and Superior.
The farmers who are Unable 10 sell their
grain complain that the railroads are haul
ing other rafic and preferring II, knowing
that they are bound in time to get the hauling
of the wheat. Meanwhile, however, the
price of wheat will fail and the farmer will
be the sufferer.
Some Of the roads upon which there is the
greatest congestion of traffic complain that
while they ave been making every effort
possible to meet the demands for cars and
have a sufficient supply for their own needs,
ONllc lllltN ndNF NdhCh lpH7tHTlOh - th'h
cars TO such an extent that they are without
adequate equipment to-day. The Penn
sylvania Railroad Company makes the as
tonishing statement that approximately
~ per cent. Of its cars are not on its own
lines.
Some complaints which reach us go
to show that smaller roads are capturing
cars Of the larger roads and paying the
established 25 cents per day rate for the
use of these cars rather than attempt 10
| supply themselves with the necessary
facilities. Other complaints are TO the
effect that an effort is made by some Of the
railroads TO make a record in the operat-
ing expenses and the hauling of freight,
that only the more powerful locomotives
are used, and these are attached 10 very
heavy trains, which move not more than an
average of twenty OF twenty-five miles in a
day. 1t il even asserted that traffic does
not begin to move as fast as several years
ago, that in an effort to bring about eco
nOmical results the trains are loaded 10
their fullest capacity"