The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-10
CAR SHORTAGE AND
HOW TO REMEDY II.
Address Of Ashley ]. Elliott In
Which Are to Be Found
Valuable Suggestions.

There has been considerable discuss
sion among shippers and railroad men
on tho address delivered by Mr.. Ashley
j. Elliott. Manager of the Illinois and
Iowa Car Service Association, PEORIA,
H.. at the recent annual convention of
the Northwestern Iumhermens Associa-
ton. held at Minneapolis. Mr.. Elliott
was the principal speaker and what he
said was regarded BY members of the
convention as forccful and logical and
seems TO have met with general APP
prevail,
Mr.. Elliott in the course OF his adj
dress made number of suggestions rs
to the best way to cope with the per-
picking problem of car shortage
Throughout the country, which he ex-
planned is causing considerable incon-
venience to the railroads and shippers
alike.
The Northwestern Lumbermen's AS
ISOLATION is made up of shippers who
are constantly and quite extensively
using the railroads as Il means of trans
portation. Mr.. Elliott confined his re-
marks to Offering suggestions to all
shippers. which, If carried out would
greatly facilitate the handling of the
vast and enormously increased traffic
OF the railroads. While it was admitted
that. in some instances, railroads have
not adequate rolling stock to handle
their business. 1t is believed that by
promptly unloading n car and return
ing 1T to the railroad for use in trans
| porting other shipments, q material stop
, VIII be made toward improving the
| car shortage situation.
| Mr.. Elliott said that another serious
| obstacle frequently encountered by the
| railroads is the lack of sufficient stor-
age facilities by large manufacturers
1 throughout the country Frequently,
| large Industrial corporations increase
| their plants to from three to five times
, their original size, but in few instances
| are the storage and warehouse facilities
| increased propOrtionately. In some In
| stances. said Mr.. Elliott. shippers will
| use freight cars for storage prior to
| fixing the price of the shipment and
| then. too, cars are often detained by
! merchants while arranging to dispose Of
| the shipments to jobberS and pending
the e-consignment to their customers
| All these little delays on the part of
| shippers are frequently the cause OF
| congestion at the shipping point, while
| en- route. and very seriously blocks sid
| ings, necessitating the railroads doing
I considerable unnecessary switching Of
cars. If closer attention were paid to
this particular phase Of TRANSFORMATION.
| VIZ aaiIlchuS Nuulu nc enabled TO use 4
| great deal OF its motive power, required
! to do this shifting, for hauling It's
/ trains.
! Mr.. Elliott who is regarded as an ex-
pert in his particular branch of railroad
! operation said that In his opinion a
safe remedy for the existing difficulties
/ would be TO do business on the Hotel
| European Dlan--oraer what YOU want
and pay for what you get" He also
said that 1t was but fair that when q
| shipper prevents the continuous car.
rage OF a car from Il snlpping point tn
ITS destination. lie should be compelled
to pay charge for so do
my. In this way manufac
turers and merchants doing n large
business. aud having but a small sid
: lnf probably large enough to accom-
modate two or three cars, would en-
large Their facilities I'm order to az
uWaN With the switching charges Thel
foo the merchant and iobber would no
load cars in anticipation OF an imlnedi
4 ate gale; ana the commission merchan
and the jobber win also find his Gus
- toner before tho goods arc shipped an,
$ avoid charges for re-consignment
4 ll tine closing remarks Of his nddres
, Mr. Elliott cited the disadvantages tina
would oe encountered were all shipper
(. aple TO obtain us inanN curs ms they de
sired ana AZ once Using CHICAGO Il
q an example. he explained the havo
that would be wrought to the lnnrl,,
l. of that CITY were 1T to be dcluged D.
q the entire output of Cor&ain inaustrie
Il being unloadcd on 1T at the same timt
Il which Would he likely TO occur If nj
shippers could obtain as many cars a
/ desired from the railroads for the NOR
J, asking,
i The speaker also cndcavorcd 10 i'm
+ press upon the members of the ascot
4 IN, a.,