Evening star., 1907-11-10
SERIOUS CAR SHORTAGE
COMPLAINTS TO INTERSTATE
COMMERCE COMMISSION.
Roads Did Not Add to Their Rolling
Stock in Good Times and Now
Can Get No Money.

The announcement from Pittsburg that
a serious shortage of cars Is being ex-
perienced there by shippers has caused
people about the interstate commerce
commission to wonder what the condi-
ton will be during the present fall and
coming winter. This condition at Pitts
burg Is said to be becoming more and
more serious each week. and is giving rise
to a great deal Of anxiety there. 1t is
said that no relief can be looked TO- while
tho heavy grain shipments of the west are
taken care of and until the lake season
closes. The complaint of shortage is
being made by the great industrial estab-
lishments about Pittsburr. and they are
said to be suffering considerable loss.
Complaints by Shippers.
1t is expected that these conditions will
later give rise to complaints by the ship
pers to the interstate commerce commits
sion. The condition in Pittsburg isj not
surprising to men who are familiar with
car shortage in various parts Of this
country during the last spring and sum-
mer. The conditions were then very bad
and the shortage of cars coming in at that
time of the year caused a good many
transportation men to wonder what would
happen in the fall and winter when the
demand TO- cars is much greater than
at any other Tina on account OF the
heavy movements of the crops. It is well
known that since the shortage in the
spring practically no improvement has
been made In the amount Of rolling stock
of the railroads to take ca-e Of the traffic.
The roads have given as their reason to
make such additions the fact that they
have found 1t practically impossible to
borrow money with which to secure more
cars.
On the other hand, 1t is declared that
the roads failed to add to their rolling
stock in times when they could have bor-
rowed all the money they wanted. al
though there was then an outcry for addi-
tonal facilities by many shippers Now
their inability to get money is well rec
ognized and the methods that can be re-
sorted TO in order to relieve the condition
that is coming upon the country is giving
a great deal Of concern to many people
/ who are interested in transporta ton mat
ters. 1t Is believed that before long there
viii be an outcry from many parts Of the
country for more cars. 1t is not consid-
cred possible for the railroads to handle
the enormous traffic now being thrust
upon them with their present facilities.
Other Facilities Deficient.
Not only are more cars wanted, but
other facilities are deficient, such as dou-
be trackage, switching arrangements.
etc. Even with more cars. In many In
stances the roads could not provide for
the demands of the public, as they are
now in many cases handling very nearly
as many cars as Is possible with their
switching facilities. 1t Is generally ac-
knowledged that the greatest necessity
exists for some plan for providing the
roads with more money with which to
secure these needed improvements II Is
thought that the shortage Of cars will he
very much worse by the time Congress-
meets. but 1t is not supposed that Con-
gress will be able to do anything to re-
| ieve the situation. The unsettled condi-
| tion likely to be brought about by the
widespread complaint that is expected on
this account is likely. however. to bring
the matter to the attention of senator's
and representatives in some form.