The Birmingham age-herald., 1915-12-29
Sevier Discusses Car Short age in South and What
 Is Causing It
PENSACOLA ROUTE
 IS ALMOST READY
Southern Will Connect With Gulf, Florida and Alabama Line at Kimbrel Within Next
 Few Days

There is no truth in the report that the Alabama Great Southern railroad has purchased a large tract of land in West End for the purpose of constructing shops and yards, according to L. Sevier general agent of the Southern Alabama Great Southern and Mobile and Ohio Mr Sevier stated that the only land which had been acquired by the Alabama Great Southern around West End was a slight amount along the right of way, which was neces- sary in double tracking the line
 Mr. Sevier stated that it was fact that the Southern railway was handling coal from Ensley Junction to the Warrior river at Locust Fork and loading it in barges for shipment to the gulf coast at a rate of only 30 cents per ton He denied. however, that another railroad which had in the past been securing much Of this coal for an all rail shipment to the gulf coast, had threatened to retaliate unless the rate was raised Mir. Sevier stated that there was no foundation for this report and that within a very short time. the other railroads in this district with lines running to points on the War rior river would put in similar coal rate for the same distance haul
 Only the coal from the mines around Ensley Wylam and Pratt City can be handled by the Southern under this ar- Engagement, and all the freight is from the Tennessee company and is loaded into the Alabama-New Orleans Transportation company barges which are now being used by the Tennessee company
 When asked as to the reason for the shortage of cars, which is said to have been more or less serious in this district Tor the past six weeks, Mir Sevier said.
 This shortage of cars is due to a varie- ty of circumstances. Of course there are many thousands of cars tied up in Amer dcan seaports loaded with freight which is being held awaiting bottoms in which to export it, but this is by no means the only thing that has caused the shortage. There is always a shortage of cars dur ing the rush season in the fall It is the time when the great grain and other crop movements are at their hels.t and when the fall business is heaviest This year prosperity returned to the west, the mid dle west, the north and the east some months before it spread to the Birming- ham district
 The cars Of the country naturally were collected in the sections where there was the greatest use for them, and when the need for more cars arose in the south there was great difficulty in getting them.
 
 were not buying goods in other parts of the country Jas they have done in years past. Therefore, there were not nearly so many cars coming to this section.
 The shortage has only been pronounced since about the middle of November. How long it will continue depends largely upon business conditions in this section. Of course, every effort is being made to re- lieve the situation, but it is a big problem and has to be faced to a greater or less extent from time to time. A commission of the greatest railroad experts ill the country has been studying the car short age question but up to the present time no feasible method which promises to en- tirely eliminate the trouble has been found'
 Mr. Sevier announced that beginning January 1, the Birmingham district would have another line running to Pensacola, which is now served from Birmingham only by the Louisville and Nashville. The connection between the Southern railway and the Gulf Florida and Alabama line at Kimbrel will be made within the next few days. Kimbrel is on the Birming- ham, Mobile branch of the Southern below Selma. The Gulf, Florida and Alabama line is being constructed from Pensacola to Birmingham and is expected later to come into Birmingham on it's own rails. The line is already in operation more than half the distance from Pensacola to Tuscaloosa.