Abilene weekly reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1888-1935, 1907-09-05
Mr.. LANES IOUR
The Interstate Commerce Commits
siOner Will Investigate Railroad
Conditions in the West.
CAR SHORTAGE ESPECIALLY


. WuPhAbBJOhp H0OPSs AhSNAost%S
Commerce Commissioner Franklin X
Lane left Washington Tuesday for
, protracted tour Of the West which Il
, likely to bear important results. II
addition to looking into the matter o
how thoroughly certain, big railwa!
systems have been living up to th'
anti-rebate provisions of the rate law
J Mr.. Lane will devote particular atteR
ton to the car shortage situation witt
view to preventing a recurrence Of
the deplorable conditions that existed
last winter.
Perhaps the car shortage feature
ought to be given prominence in con
nectien with Mr.. Lanes errand, as his
investigations, together with the earn
estness of the railroads in keeping
their promises to furnish better serv-
ice to shippers, may have great deal
to do with indicating the need of fur
Their legislation affecting transporta-
ton at the coming session of Con-
gress. The commissioner undoubtedly
will use his influence to have the car
| riers meet the demands of the West
ern country and prevent If possible
agitation to force more drastic legis-
lation than already has been enacted
Mr.. Lane will reach Chicago
Wednesday afternoon and will spend
Thursday in the latter city discussing
conditions with general officers with
some of the lines centering there. He
then will go to st. Paul, for confer
ence with officers of the Northern Pa
ciflc and Great Northern roads, intend
ing to talk personally with James J.
Hill II the latter be at home. From
st. Paul he will go to Spokane, Seattle
and Portland, and thence down the Pa
cific coast looking infinitely into af-
fairs embracing the Hartman lines,
the Union and Southern Pacific. The
whole trip will consume fve or six
weeks, the car shortage situation af-
fecting cotton and lumber in the south
being looked into on the return jour
ney.
Agents Of the Interstate commerce
commission quietly have been investi-
eating the observance of the new law
provisions by the railroads Of the far
west and Commissioner Lane will meet
them and get their reports.
Il am going to look into the car
shortage matter as thoroughly as pos
sible;" said Commissioner Lane Tues
day. Anything | can do to inform
the railroads OF conditions SO that they
can meet the demands Of shippers
will do. The government already has
set an example to the people by order
ing It's fuel for next winter early, and |
II a coaLfamine is to be prevented the
coming season the example must be
needed.
Conditions have partially been met |
already by the wholesale dealers at |
Duluth who have put in large supplies
of coal by boat, but the coal must be
shipped from there to the west by rail.
The railroads have complained that
dealers have not put in their orders
early enough, and that they have not
unloaded fast enough. Still the rail
roads have promised more cars, and to
what extent they have fulfilled their
promises remains to be seen.
Last year the railroads were taken
with regard to the equip
ment that would be needed to move
the crops. This year the early ex-
pectation was that the crop movement
would cali for far less attention, but
It develops that the wheat crop after
Ill Is large, and there is danger in
Of car shortage unless
special care be taken.
1T is important that coal be ordered
not only before cold weather sets in,
but before the crop movement begins,
he latter port of October and Novem-
1er The railroads have been building
new track, establishing new division
points and extending their yards and
switching facilities. | don't know to
What extent this has been done, as the
railroad officials now manage their
roads, but 1t may be possible to make
suggestions that help both tho roads
md the shippers by reducing the
chances OF car shortage to minimum.
"Unless the railroads are able to
give the shippers better treatment
han they have in the past sometimes
here is almost sure to result agita-
Jon for legislation that will give the
greater power than It now
las Much Of the restrictive railroad
egislAtion In the individual states that
las been enacted recently is due to the
'efiex action Of grievances complained
Il by shippers"
Railroad Official Must stand Trial.
New York, Sept 4.-Alfred H.