The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-01-03

terminal elevator. The terminal ele-
vators at Duluth, Superior and Mime
apolis, which act as great reservoirs
for the line elevators, are almost empty
and at no time during the season have
they been filed to more than one-third
of their capacity"
The situation was explained by Pres
ident Elliott of the Northern Pacific,
who said that in attempting to handle
the freight offered they were trying to
force a three-inch stream through a
one-inch nozzle, and President Hill of
the Great Northern declared that his
railroad, as well as others, was endeav-
oring to bore a one-inch hole with a
half-inch augur.
In considering the evidence taken,
Commissioner Lane says that a plan
for proposed car clearing house, or
car pool between connecting lines, is
regarded with much favor. The details
of such plan have not been worked
out, Car appropriation between the
carriers is treated at some length, and
the adoption of rule is suggested fix
ing a minimum of fifty cents day
during those months of the year when
traffic is light, and increasing it posi-
bly, fourfold during the latter half OF
the year when cars are most needed.
The most generally advocated remedy
for. the failure of carriers to furnish
cars when demanded is known as the
reciprocal car demurrage.
THE problem is one that is much
deeper and much broader than mere
lack of cars and engines says Mr..
Lane 1T is one in which is involved
every factor in railroading. the con-
struction, the operation, the mainte-
nance and the financing Of the railroad.
The inabality of the shipper to secure
car may be but symptom of a
deep-seated and organic trouble. The
real cause Of car shortage may lie in
the ttoo conservative character of the
management of the road, or in the I'M
fitness and incompetency Of its operat-
ing officials. 1t may flow from an in
comprehension on the part of the di-
rector of the full duyt imposed by law
upon a common carrier, It may arise
out of policy in railroad operating
which gives primary consideration to
speculative stock operations. 1t may
come from an inability to secure funds
to so fit itself that it can discharge its
duties. It may follow in a time of ex-
ceptional prosperity from an increase in
traffic which could not reasonably
have been anticipated Or it may re-
suit from an inability to secure labor
and materials necessary to the proper
charging of the railroad facilities.
This enumeration, of course, is not
exhaustive 1t could not we'll be com
plete without giving consideration to
many industrial and economic factors
which at first glance would appear re-
mote and unrelated. Clearly the prob
lem of transportation is so closely WOW
en- with the fabric of our commercial
system, and so closely related and so
inter-dependent are the various activi-
ties Of our industrial life, that one may
not lightly say what are the multitudin-
Gus considerations which necessarily
enter into so simple question as the
reason why a railroad car is not at
once forthcoming when ordered.
THE enactment of reciprocal de-
murrage bill will not build railroad
track, equipment, enlarge and simplify
terminals, nor transform incompetent
operating officials into first class rail-
! road men, but it might stimulate, ener-
gize, and in some cases. revclutionlze
the methods of delinquent railroads, so
that they would render the service
which they We're created to render.
If the interstate commerce commits
sion is to be vested with power to make
rules under which railroads shall be re-
CURED upon penalty to furnish cars to
shippers, this commission should also
be empowered to make rules under
which free interchange of cars shall be
effected, or to require railroads engag
ing In Interstate commerce to make
such rules for their own protection and
provide for their enforcement"