Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-11-04
|. c. c. BEGINS PROBE
into CAR SHORTAGE
Several Witnesses Appear at In
|. formal Hearing Before Com
missioner McChord.
SEEKING RELIEF MEASURES
=
Lack of Efficiency in Distribution
Blamed by Superintendent
Barnes, of c., B. & o.
SEEKING RELIEF MEASURES
IRy Assnclntehp preau1

NASS'S'
apparent shortage of cars upon the
railroads of the country was declared
to be the result OF a lack OF efficiency
In their distribution by W. l.. Barnes.
superintendent Of transportation Of the
Chicago. Burlington and Quincy Rail-
road. hero to-day. He was one Of tho
witnesses at an informal hearing on
the alleged shortage OF ears being held
by c. G. McChord. Of the Interstate
E;ommerce Commission.
1t was brought out that the railroads
OF the United states now own approNi-
mately 100000 cars. and that the APP
parent total shortage on all lines is
only about 10000. MIR barnes said
that much Of this apparent shortage
resulted from shippers asking for moro
cars than they need in order that their
allotment might approximate the num-
ber they really want Any apparent
shortages resulting from other causes,
1Ie said. could be met by i more ei.ici-
ent distribution of the car supply
FORCED IN SI:i.F-DEFENSE
TO HOLD FOREIGN CARS
Mr.. Barnes, in response TO questions
as to why the Chicago. Burlington and
Quincy had failed TO return cars owned
By other roads, declared that system
had been forced in self-de:cnsc TO hold
foreign cars, and would continue TO do
SO until some assurance was provided
that their own eQuipmcn, would he
returned. His road holds approx
mately $4,000 cars belonging to other
lines.
When the hearing was opened to-day
- oil witnesses were placed under oath
as the result Of suggestions from at
torncys for complaining shippers in
order that h,ir t,S tt,.l,. l,a
available In the even, OF a general
inquiry into the situation being held
later.
Aside from Mr.. Barnes. other rail
road representatives, heard were; W. l..
Parks, vice president OF the Illinois
ICentrnl; j. T.. rortcriicli OF the came
system. and c. T.. Phelps. supcrin-
tendent OF transportation ~ the Louis
Vile and Nashville Railroad. Short
statements Were also presented by rep
reTentatives OF Ohio and Michigan coal
dealers and onsImers
EVERY PHASE OF HANDLING:
HEiNG INQUIRED INTO
Comm issloncr McChord is seeking in
! formation on every phase OF the han.
Wiling OF rolling stock by the railroads
including the procedure followed In tn,
repairing of cars. Questions outlining
the information sought hy the hearing
were sent TO railroads in all sections
Of the country in advance.
Included In the data sought is the
number of cars the various rail
ROADS on November /. the number OF
foreign cars on each road, what effort
has been made by each road to have
It's cars returned and the results of
this effort.
Development OF opinion as to meas
tres that might be useful in preventing.
recurrence OF conditions complained
. against Is also sought. Statistics are
fsked for regarding the number OF cars
scraped by each road during the last
twelve months. ms we'll as the number
of now cars ordered within the same
period. The railroads are also asked
II shippers have co-opcrated with them
In an effort TO relieve the situation
Each OF the railroad representatives
testifying to-day recommended the as
sumption of control by the Interstate
Commerce Commission OF the distribu-
tlon OF cars, They also recon-
inended that demurrage charges as
sessed against shippers and the per
diem charge paid by railroads holding
foreign cars be increased
Mr.. McChord announced tonight
that he had telcgraphcd 10 the COM
mission at Washington, recommending
that an order for Il formal hearing bc
entered Immediately. \ reply to his
recommendations Mr.. McChord said, is
expected tomorrow.
Some action to relieve in 4 meas
ure, the serious car shortage now suf-
fered by the Eastern railroads is eX-
pected in the next few days. Chesa-
peake and Ohio Railway headquarters
oRicials said yesterday, this road hav-
ihS complained. along with many other
lines, to the Interstate Commerce Com
mission that railroads i'm the Middle
West are holding their cars for their
own use and are not returning them
as quickly as Is the custom among
connecting roads
- Reports reaching the general Offices
OF the Chesapeake and Ohio were that
there arc approximately 10000 coal cars
now on tho lines Of other railroads.
principally In the Middle West While
there are a. all times many cars on
other lines. this is an unusually large
number to be diverted at one time.
officials said.
General Manager i. p. stevens, of
the Chesapeake and Ohio. attended the
s,lhearing conducted in Louisville yes
terday by tho Interstate Commerce
Commission to inquire into the causes
for IT,, car shortage
Until the rolling stock now held on
other lines can he brought back, local
railroad men said, there is little pros
pect for any Improvement in tho coal
situation in Richmond. Practically all
of the coal used In this city is supplied
by the Chesapeake and Ohio Railway
small part Is hauled by the Rich
mond. Fredericksburg and Potomac
Railroad Company through It's North
ern connections but the Norfolk and
Western and Virginian roads, handle
their supply to Norfolk, and are said
toAhave a large export trade.