The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1916-11-04
ASKS COMMISSION TO
COMPEL CARS RETURN
Chesapeake and Ohio Also Considering
Plans to Carry CIR Shortage Case
Into United plates Court.
Norfolk and WeMern and yirgintAn
Railways. Other Big Coal Carriers,
May Join e. = in Fight to Get
Cars Back Frc4 Northern Roads.

Following ActtoHs taken yesterday.
appealing to the Interstate Commerce
Commission to COMPEL railways in the
North and Middle Vest to return coal
and freight cars to the owning sys-
tenn. the Chesapeake and Ohio Rail-
way Company Is p14nnins to institute
proceedings in the United States Court
to hurry up the geealrn of its cars to
its lines. Throughout the North.
West and Middle West. 1t is sserted
by C. & o. offlciaie, ether railway com :
panies on whose Ines c. & o. cars
are found are using those cars in vio-
lation of the rules pf interstate COM
meroe and 10 the Ioes of the c.. & Q.
The car shortage@8is SO serious that
the Chesapeake ami Ohio. one of the
greatest coal-carTyfNE railways of the
country, and . rat3way the bulk OF
whose hnsinesG Id .in3he transportation
Of coal, Is preparing TO take drastic
action. There il threatened for Rich
mond and for this section OF the coun-
try a coat famine because OF the car
shortage. SCI >ctty of labor at the
mines. it was said last night aggra-
Yates the situation.
n. & W. and Virginian Suffer.
In spite Of Dor scarcity. there is
ready for shipment. enough to relieve
the threatened famine. could the some
20. 600 cars owned by the c. & .. and
fused by other companies he brought
back into the Virginia West Virginia
Icoal-carrying service. Other roads
than the c. & o., are also suffering
because of their inability TO secure the
return of their equipment from North
Iern lines.
Among them are the Norfolk and
Western and the virginian roads.
which,. with the C. & o.. form the
largest collaborating group in the
pated, will cooperate with the c. a.
To- In its efforts to get restoration
of cars.
All three of these Virginia roads
have for months been securing equip
ment. placing large orders for rolling
stock. particularly for coal cars. that
they might meet the extraordinary
demands which are being made by
IsEurope since the war closed the mines
ION the continent. The companies in
the North and Middle West have been
lax in securing equipment, 1t is
averred. and now. when there are
heavy trafsc movements throughout
!, the country they goobie up every car
that comes into their Territory from
.he South
Used For Northern Business.
The railways into whose territory
come cars of other roads are sup
posed. under the rules. to turn these
cars back toward the nearest point on
the owning line Just AZ soon as they
have heen loaded. Cars that have
gone North and West have not been
returned as they should have been.
They are being used by the Northern
and Western roads for carrying the
freights of those roads. in the North
and West and East. and not permit
ted to get into the South whore they
could he reclaimed by their own
lers
These and similar other allegations
are made ny. the Chesapeake and Ohio
| in its complaint to the Interstate
planned that great injustice ID done the
narrowing railroads. who have exc
pended much for equipment by the
roads in other sections which have
not used earnings Of the last two years
!. In purchasing cars.
Price Is Soax1ne.
In order to hasten action by the
interstate Commerce Commission. the
railways suffering car shortage are
laying plans TO carry the matter into
the United States courts
Because Of the shortage, the dump
tngs at Hampton Roads terminals OF
the three companies hauling coal in
Virginia are smaller than : year ago.
Though the quantity dumpad A. large.
II 10 not needing foreigu AetnAAds, for
take cara cf domestic nSAds.
~ tYsta atty nnA ,alaaikl Aapas1v, aAa<Ary,