Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-08
WON'T SHIP COAL CARS
TO ROADS IN MICHIGAN
On Account of Shortage, Chesapeake
and Ohio Declares lndef-
mite Embargo.
FUEL FAMINE THREATENED
Officials Declare This Action Ncccs-
Sary to Protect Shippers Until
Some Action Is Taken by Inter-
state Commerce Commission.

E!nibarEocs against The shipment Of
lat-hotton Goa! ears to points in Mici'-
igan We're declared yesterday by III"
Chesapeake and ohio halfway co,n-
pany In AN cffort to relieve. in q meas
urc. the serious situation confronting
the road through the mitiou-wide
shortage In coal cars. which threatens
TO cause Il coal farnin" in many sections
of the country. Officials OF the road
were unable 10 say whether the en-
rGo would be enlarged TO cover
other sections, or for what period they
would be in force.
officials were forced to take this ac-
ton. they said, to protect the ch"sa-
pcakc aud ohio hallway as much as
possible at rhis time until some steps
are taken by the Interstate Commerce
Commission TO force the railroads o!
the Niiddlc-W West TO return tho rollins
stock on thetg lines. Headquarters Of
iicirls said that a petition had been
iilc,l with the commission. skiing that
foreign roads be forced TO return 1T
once the coal cars OF the Chesapeake
and ohio OF their lines. which total
approximately 10000 cars.
STEVENS WILL. ATTEND
INVESTIGATION TODAY
In addition. General Manager j. i.
stevens. OF the Chesapeake and Ohio,
liz in louisville. where he viii attend
the formal investigation TO he con-
Quoted by the commission into the
causes OF the car shortage. This in
luiry viii begin this morning. whcu
various railroad officials and shippers
VIII be called to give their testimony.
MI. Stevens attended the preliminary
inquiry OF tho commission last week.
which was TO determine whether or
vIs - ,r... I,..= 4 a.
Investigation into tn. situation.
1t Is probable that the cmbargocs
viii he continued in force until the
lake season closes. which under or.Ii-
nary conditions Will be about DcccIn-
Der !. TrafiIc on the lakes this year
is said 20 be unusually heavy IN all
lines, especially coal. and the Cheese
pcake and ONO is hauling heavy ton
mage TO this section. Will" the en-
bargo"s viii materially AFFECT tn. on
mage OF the road to this section, these
shipments constitute only II small per-
CciitGc OF the reads coal traffic, the
majority of which is handled 10 New
port News.
officials said tina, tho cmbnr.oes
would in no wise affect Chicago. which.
Win New YORK. and many other North-
"rn ci'tcs. is experiencing the greatest
"li'!cnIty ia securing coal At amy price.
MICHIGAN ROADS SLOW
IN RETURNING cans
Tnc principal reason for the en-
harsccs against Michigan points IS the
iAct that IA. railroads ia this section
OF the country ar. slOw IN rcturrIu.
equipment. In many Instances f, ia;
'h!u. coal cars arc used for short hnulI
IN handling hay. AMI sacked potatoes.
c"hhnge, onions. aud many other prod
ucts. while In cases of emergencies tho.
ar. pressed Into service for short hAuls
OF grain.
Reports as OF November showed
that of 3i.2So coal cars owtcd by the
Chesapeake II Ohio. that approxi-
matcly 10000 cars were on foreign lines,
which WAS an unusually large uimbcr.
ordinarily. the road delivers TO con-
Meeting roads approximately 2.2UD coal
cars daily, and Is receiving a small per-
ccntARc OF this number ia return.
There Was practically no foreign coal
enrs on the roads lines on November
!. Under normal conditions. officials
said, with connecting roads returning
cars quickly, the road has more than
enough cars to handlc the traaic.
Local railroad men hope that tho
Interstate Commerce Commission vii!
allow them 10 enforce Il dcmurragc sys
tenn that would tcrcc shippers 10 -apid-
- load ana unload cars. and In mat
way assist III relieving the situation.
They say that coal men Yin several
cities were holding Goa in th. cars.
prcferr!ng TO pay dc:nurragc charges
rather Than unload tho coal.