The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-02-02
MOST OF THIS TALK ABOUT
COAL FAMINE IN DETROIT
is BOSH, SAYS S, ". BROWN
Michigan Central Superinten-
dent Asserts Road Brings in
$50 to 500 Cars Daily
LAYS BLAME ON DEALERS
Much Time Lost in Switching
Because Destination Isn't Told
Till Shipments Arrive

Most of this talk about a coal
famine In Detroit is bosh," said S. w
! Brown, general superintendent of the
Michigan Central railroad 1T is
true that we have had more difficulty
In keeping the coal moving in the
severe weather we have had this sea
son than ia ordinary weather, but
nevertheless, We have been hauling
from $50 to $50 cars of coal into De
troit every day and most OF this has
boon for consumption In the city.
we have not heard of single fac.
tory in Detroit in any danger OF
shutting down for lack OF fuel, and
We would be very likely TO hear about
IL II such were the case.
The coal dealers themselves are
responsible for large share OF our
difficulties in handling coal They do
not give us the final destination OF
their cars until they arrive In the
city. and this greatly increases the
amount of switching necessary to get
n car into place, When it is neces-
sary to handle each car OF coal two
or three times 1t Is bound to ball up
our services.
1T Is true. too. that we have more
hiOdblt VIII our DOWtI III tA-
tremely cold weather than we do un.
der ordinary conditions, and each
engine put out of commission for a
day handicaps US just that much.
One day during the cold snap there
were IL OF our As switching engines
in tae Detroit yards out OF service,
but this was unusual"
The Boa OF Commerce has re-
ceiveG a few complaints on coal snip
ments, and the transportation bureau
Is doing what ii can to trace them
and keep the coal moving. Ii is stated
there, however that there does not
seem to be any danger that any De.
troit factories will have to be closed
on account OF the lack of fuel, unless
the railroads are further handicapped
by long spell OF extremely cold
weather.
Conditions are somewhat worse
this season than last year on account
or tho severity of the winter. and
some of the dealers are running
short or coal. More severe weather
might result in a shortage approach
ing famine in some sections, but IL
We have another week of ordinary
temperatures the situation will prob.
ably be entirely relieved. ~.
The statement of a prominent De-
troit manufacturer that the railroads
OF the country are short 500 900 cars
and are unable to move the coal traf-
fic on that account looks somewhat
foolish In the light of the figures for
idle cars issued by the American Bu-
reau OF Railway Statistics. Jan. II
IL vas shown that there were over
10000 idle cars standing on the tracks
OF the railroads of the country, and
similar conditions have prevailed for
more than year past. The railroads
have plenty Of cars TO handle the
present traffic unless there is some
thing grossly wrong with the figures.
The Pennsylvania railroad alone
placed an order for 10000 cars re-
Gently and the New York Central lines
have also placed orders that would
'~,ng the total for the last six months
nearly up TO the 100000 which this
manufacturer says covers all the new
cars ordered since 1907.
To augment present equipment the