The Washington herald., 1912-11-04
hlIlh0lI|s fIGE
CAR sA0RIlgE
1errswiag xasiSasst sad 1st p.
tszaing Il \ 1seening
Serious.
COMMERCE. colnu1uoU
msuu WANING Ho!E
Many Carriers Prefer b Psy Rental
for Osrs Rather 1hal
Return Thar.

10S U8tU 8Stn0I 1181 u
Return Thar.
That car shortage Of suncisnt proper-
tions to seriously 5sopardiss tbs CONNER
eiai and Industrial prosperity of the coun-
try is impending through the failure OF
certain railroads 70 play fair with other
carriers BY returning borrowed equipment
at the earliest possible dsts after the de-
livery Of freight 10 the information car
risd In q warning issued BY the Interstate
Commerce Commission.
The warning indicates that unless the
situation II relieved Immediately, the
commissten fears O return to the Indus
trial conditions Of lSos and 1907. The fall
ure Of connecting lines to return equip
ment borrowed from other lines for the
transportation Of coal u Characterised
n nothing less than theft" The COM,
mission has been Informed that many
railroads having failed to provide them
selves with sufllcient equipment for the
increased demands which usually come at
this time year. have Appropriated ears
belonging to other lines and which came
into their possession only to be used In
continuing the Transportation Of the origi-
nal freight to its destination. Instead Of
returning these cars. however. now that
the rush season 10 on. these railroads. the
commission 10 informed. are willing to
pay the nominal thirty or thirty-five cents
per day rental charged for the failure to
return cars Immediately rather than pur-
chase and maintain their own equipment.
thus leaving companies which have ade-
Quatsly provided for such acceleration in
business unsble to meet the demands Of
the shippers because Of the failure OF
their connecting lines to return borrowed
equipment.
Cenmissios PswsPlsss.
The commission admits its inability.
because OF the lack Of time. to meet
the situation through orders to the
carriers. but makes the following three
suggestions:
That Q higher per diem rate shall
be made to apply for the use Of cars
a. between the carriers.
That an inspection service be At
once instituted which shall report to
this copinission violation Of the rules
sxIstinE which are intended TO insure
line.
That operating ohicials be instruct
ed TO make fuller use of locomotives
and cars by Increasing the speed Of
freight trains. An average movement
OF less than twenty-five miles per car
per day 10 not adequate to the need Of
times such a. these. An increased
speed Of movement 10 tantamount to
an increase In equipment
The warning. which 10 addressed to
mail carriers and shippers. In par,
reads:
From, all parts Of the country re-
ports are brought to US indicat ting that
there already has begun . car short
age which promises to be more serious
In the immediate future. 1t would be
dtmcult to estimate the financial loss
to the industries and commerce Of this
country should such . condition OBJ |
tain for any length Of time. without |
raw material or without COAL indus |
ment. and structural steel, building
would be stopped: without the distri- |
button Of the great body Of our manu-
factures. commerce will slacken and |
the people at large suffer serious en-
Especially 10 there dan
ger Of distress arising out Of an insult |
fcient coal supply such as arose In |
certain parts Of our country in the |
winter OF 1s0s-o7. The commission 10 |
receiving daily advices from indus
tries. State institutions, coal msr-
chants. and private individuals that
unless relief 10 had Immediately. great |
suffering will ensue.
Oraers an Embargo.
1T appears that many Of the roads
which have adequately supplied them
selves with equipment for the transpor-
tation Of coal are unable to secure their
equipment form their connecting lines,
L having been appropriated by those
lines and put to other uses. One rail-
road reports that out Of 5000 coal cars
owned. II now has but $500 on its line,
Ind has been forced to place an embargo
against coal going of its line on its
.ars.
The carriers by agreement have pro-
rided rules under which. when carried
'ut In good faith. cars may promptly
De returned to the home line. Depar-
lure from these rules is an appropriation
II property which 10 nothing less than
.heft.
I'VE are authoritatively advised that
I has been the policy OF some carriers
o rely In times Of car shortage upon the
equipment built for and owned by their
and that while the railroad
'ystems Of the country ~ q whole are
adequately supplied to meet reasonable
demands. the present embarrassment.
10Th Of the railroads which have not
,esn equipped forssighted or have pur-
'ued = policy Of renting rather than
,uying cars, ID the chief cause Of pres
mt conditions. Inasmuch a. carriers
ave not been able to devise for them
elves methods by which they can ~
:ure honorable treatment from their con.
lecting roads, the duty devolves upon
III carriers to adopt methods which viii
i've relief to the public.