The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-10-29
RAILROAD POVERTY
BRINGS CONGESTION
One Of Causes Of Export Tan
gle Said to BE Enforced
Economy Of Lines.
LACK OF SHIPS ANOTHER

More ships is the cry Of railroad
men and exporters, who view with In
creaslng dismay the spectacle Of Ions
miles Of stalled freight cars loaded
with goods for abroad at the terminals
Of the Eastern trunk lines. This con-
gestion has grown with each day. as
shippers dump more M more Of their
goods on the roads without any imme-
date chance Of having them loaded on
vessels. The lack Of ships and the
inadequate facilities for handling the
great increase in export freight-due.
railr pad men say. to the economy which
the roads have had to exercise because
of adverse legislation-are given as two
Of the chief reasons for the turning of
miles OF cars. hat might be u~sefully
used elsewhere. into storage
on wheels.
But those In touch with the general
tive Importance Of these two causes.
Some say hat the entire trouble can
be traced to n lack Of ships. with made
uuate equipment due to forced economy
as a contributing cause They give point
to their argume by showing that the
congestion Is almost altogether local.
and hat there IL only a slight car short
age in other parts OF the country.
Others place the impaired transpor-
tation and terminal facilities first. while
admitting that a shortage Of ships has
a great deal to do with the situation.
Can't Charge Demurra1e.
Another factor that has made the bur-
-. -, sk. .,al.,,I. lAaxy 80 tho fact
that on goods for export demurrage,
except in "a few cases, cannot be charged.
This gives the shippers the opportunity
to toss their output into cars as last as
produced and crowd IL into damned
freight yards and sidings as near d
water as the roads can take II. This Is
done in most cases without any provi-
sion for transshipmert to steamers nav
ing been made. SO that while the shipper
is hunting a ship his goods are kept IN
storage in cars hat the railroads wish
to get out Of the way OF traffc.
Lewis j.. Spence, traffic manager oil
the southern Pacific Railroad, blames
the congestion to the placed
in the way OF the railroads by the Gov
eminent.
Howard Elliott, president or the New
Haven. said recently that the roads were
not prepared for the rush of export bust
ness because OF the rigid economy which
had necessitated cutting down aFrro'
priations for equipment.
Prof. Emory X. johnson of the tniveT-
sity OF Pennsylvania In an address AT
the annual convention OF the American
Manufacturers Export Association here
last Wednesday said that the present
trouble was caused because the railroads
postponed expenditures too long. He pre-
dicted that the car shortage this year
would be- as great az IL was nine years
ago.
ITO lessen the present congestion at
seaboard terminals said Prof. Johnson.
the railroads will probably Toe obliged to
reduce the time that shippers may hold
cars without penalties. II IL my under
standing that shippers OF grain may hold
the grain in cars at the seaboard for
twenty days without payment OF demur-
rage or without providing for storage OF
the grain In ~seaboard elevators until ves-
sells or berth space can he secured. IL
the present twenty days free time were
to date from the time OF shipment from
the interior point. in case .he grain were
sent forward without previous "A
n.ents having been mad for its storage
or for its shipment beyond the port. the
railroads would probably be somewhat
relieved from the present condition Of
congestion. II IL also probable that track
storage charges VIII need to he imposed
for the purpose of reducing the time
which shippers allow grain and other
commodities TO remain in cars at ter
minals.