The Idaho Republican. [volume] (Blackfoot, Idaho) 1904-1932, 1910-11-18
BLAcKFooT BINGHAM IDAHO FRIDAY NOVEMBER ,8 ,oIo
EASTERN ROADS BLAMED FOR
SHORTAGE
Plenty Of Cars in Idaho, Say Busi-
ness Men and Railroad
Officials

That the western railroads have
sufficiency of cars is the information
given out by local railroad men. ant
they state that if there is any short
age of cars it is on the eastern line.
and not on the western roads.
Il In speaking of the situation, rail
road men say that the shortage OIL
cars for coal transportation at this
time is due to the tremendous beet
movement and the gondola cars which
are usually used in this service are
now being pressed into the beet ser.
vic.
The fact that the Oregon Short
Line has not added to its equipment
IN anticipation Of increased traffic
Is denied by the railroad officials, who
state that the Short Line has put on
more new equipment than its business
has demanded and has taken care Of
IT'S business in excelletn shape.
During the past two years the
Short Line has ordered and received
over 1900 new steel freight cars, and
this increase in it's rolling stock has
been greater than the increase in
freight traffic.
railroad men do not deny that
there Is a slight shortage of mer-
cnandise cars on the eastern roads.
and give as their reason that the
movement of crops has SO taxed the
eastern roads that they have been
unable to cope with the situation. but
claim that conditions should be chang
ed within the next 80 days and the
car supply should become normal.
Eastern Roads at Fault +
IL is said that eastern lines have
not increased their number of cars
In proportion with the increase ofl
tranic and this is the real reason that
western merchants are unable to re-
ceive their shipments on time as
promised. The larger shippers saw
that the Short Line officials have ex-
erted every effort to get their goods
mere as soon as possible, and none
blames the western roads for the ap-
parent shortage.
The shortage of stock cars is
ascribed to the fact that all available
cars which could be used have been
placed in the coal service and great
number of these cars have been cat
lie cars, so that there has been a
'light shortage of this class of rolling
'tock. ,
Railroad men predict that the {
movement Of western markets will
oon be normal and that the eastern
ines are placing heavy orders for
lew equipment and that car shortages
n the future will be mere dreams OIL
ancy. They claim that there has
'ot been any shortage Of cars at the a
mines and that the report given out 4
y the coal men to the effect that they '
ave not received the coal which was a
rdered by them on account Of a
hortage Of cars rs not correct. a. 8
here have been plenty Of cars at the 9
lines all Of the time and that mine y
perators have not had to wait on r
heir orders at all.
Mines Behind ON Their Orders t
Railroad men state that the real j..
ause Of the shortage Of coal is the .
Let that the mines cannot supply suf- :,
cient coal to MI their orders, and
hen a customer kicks they smooth .,
YER his troubled brow with the reply :,
lat they are unable to get cars. This =
not the case. according to the n
zeal well-informed traffic men. n
1t is stated that the fruit crop has
ever been moved in more salts b
lctory manner, and the shippers O,
ave complimented the western roads
a the extensive arrangements which
ave been made to get their produce
market with the quickest possible
spatch.