Albuquerque morning journal. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1903-1926, 1907-01-03
Heavy West Bound Traffic at
Head Of Lakes Held ReSpon-
SibIe For Recent Coal Fam
inc in Northwest.
COMMISSIONERS UNABLE
TO SUGGEST SURE REMEDY
PenaIizing Railroads For Fail
ure to Furnish Needed
Equipment Urged as Means
Toward Mitigating Evil.
tBy Morning Journal Special Leased wire ]


tBy Morning journal Special Leased Wire ]
Washington, Jan. 2.-The causes,
but not the cure for the car shortage
in the northwest and the consequent
coal famine in North Dakota, have
been determined by the members of
the interstate commerce commission
participating in the recent hearings
at Chicago and Minneapolis. Frank
lin X. Lane, who served as chairman
of the investigation committee today
filed his report with the full commits
Roosevelt, who ordered the inquiry.
He finds:
1T is fair inference from all the
testimony that the real cause of the
scarcity of coal in North Dakota was
that there was such an abundance of
west bound traffic at the head Of the
lakes that cars were not available, in
the congested state of that terminal
for the carrying of coal to North Da-
kota. A comparatively short haul for
first class commodity"
In his letter of transmission to the
president Mr.. Lane says the report
will be followed in due course by the
special recommendation of the COM
mittee as a whole as TO whatever
legislation, If any, may be deemed
advisable.
il'fFlii iliE 80 htfA tFtiAfN ~ III - " ffttt
shortage was due to the presence of a
trust or combination between dealers
in coal which fixed prices in the north
west and refused to sell to outsiders.
and ''irregulars, the report says:
THE commission has gained indis-
putable proof of an agreement be-
tween coal dealers to maintain prices
and to boycott all who did not so
agree. but there is no evidence at all
81, 4. &.
combination is chargeable with the
coal shortage prevailing, nor that the
railroads We're party i'm any way to
such a conspiracy"
The report of the commissioner
first deals with the coal famine in
North Dakota and presents the condi-
tions of distress found to have existed
in that state. The remedies which
the commission purposes to work in
clude a proposed plan for a car clear
ing house or car pool and reciprocal
car demurrage.
Financial loss to a large percentage
of the people of the northwest is
shown to have been caused by the
failure of the railroads to prepare for
the large movement of grain. Mr.
Lane shows that the railroads tapping
the great grain belt Of the northwest
seem to have been overwhelmed by
this years crop, although, in fact, the
crop scarcely exceeded that of 1905,
nor did it equal that of at least one
other preceding year.
In considering the evidence taken.
Commissioner Lane says that a plan
for proposed car clearing house or q
car pool between connecting lines is
regarded with much favor. The de-
tails of such a plan have not been
worked out Car apportionment be-
tween carriers is discussed at some
length and the adoption of a rule is
suggested fixing a minimum of fifty
cents "A day during these months of
the year when traffic is light and de-
creasing this sum during the latter
half Of the year when cars are most
needed The most generally advo-
Gated remedy for the failure OF the
carriers TO furnish cars when de-
manded is known as reciprocal car
demurrage.
This phrase means, in a word. that
carriers shall be penalized on failure
to furnish cars demanded and I'LL
arises out of the universal railroad
practice of imposing a per diem pen
atty when car is held by consignee
for unloading beyond a certain fixed
number of days.
The commissioner says this plan
alone would not overcome the trans
portation diniculties if the measure
merely provided for Furnishing the
railroad for non-placing of cars or
non movement thereof
Mr.. Lane in his report sums up the
question in the following.
The problem is one much deeper
and much broader than a mere lack
OF cars and engines. 1t is one in
which Is involved every factor in rail-
reading. the construction. operation.
maintenance and financing of the
railroad. The inability of the shipper
To secure "a car may be only symp-
tom OF deeD-seated and organic
trouble. The real cause Of car short
age may lie in the too conservative
character of the management OF the
road. or in the unhttingness and in
competency of its operating officials.
IL may follow from an Incompetent
sion on the part of the directors Of the
full duty imposed by law on a COM
mon carrier. II NAV arise out Of a
policy in railway operation which
gives primary consideration to specu-
latiVe stock operations. II may come
from IAN inability to secure funds so
10 III itself that II can discharge its
duty. II may follow IN a time OF ex-
cepuonal prosperity from an increase
In traffic which could not reasonably
have been ANTICIPATED. or ii may
result from an ability TO secure labor
and materials necessary To the proper
enlarging Of the railroads. facilities.
This enumeration OF causes is not
exhaustive. II could not we'll be
complete Without giving consideration
90 many Industrial and economic Fac
tors which al hrst glance would ap-