Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1916-09-24
RAILROADS Face SERIOUS
FREIGHT CAR SHORTAGE
Grain Movement Causes Demand Far
In Excess OF Available
supply.
ASK SHIPPERS COOPERATION
Southern Railway TO Carry Out En-
tensivc improvements az AlcNan-
drin, Including New RoundhouSc.
In Market for Bridge Steel.

Accordinr TO the monthly bulletin
OF the American Railway Associations
as OF September |. which has just heen
made public there WAS a gross shortage
of 57.S22 cars and a net shortage Of
l4.2S1 cars-the largest ever reported
on that datc---iu the United states Thc
only other shortage previously report
ed on September was that III 1907. which
was 10000, hut was the first year OF the
compilation Of these statistics.
Local railroad men, who recently call
ed attention 10 the threatened shortage
when the heavy movements OF grain IN
the Middle West started. reiterated
their statements Yesterday. and said
tina shippers should ~ in every in
stance 10 load and unload their cars rs
quickly as possible that they may b.
used TO the best advantage only with
this cooperation hy the shippers. Of
fcials said, would they be- able 10 har-
dle the anticipated business.
THE number OF cars i'm u service
cannot be increased 10y any further or
ders the railroads may place with CUt
builders" the Railway Age Gazette
states editorially in this weeks is
sue The problem 10 he solved hy
all concerned is 10 make the most OF
the equipment available since the
large car shortage OF 1905. the rail-
roads have improved markedly in maiu-
tanning a rapid circulation oi equip
ment. II is believed that 4 greater ct
ncicncy can and will - achieved n.'
the carriers in eliminating delays in
shipments.
The shippers, who are most vitally
concerned. can do as much ii not more,
TO prevent the car shortage from seri-
ously impeding business Every eff
fort should To- made by shippers 10 keep
cars moving 10y uuick loading and
unloading. and car space should hc
conserved by loading TO capacity, !:
possible. No shipper can anol,l to
assume selfish attitude. as all cars
hold for unnecessary length of time.
either for storage purposes or on ac-
count OF carclessuess. Viii reduce the
total number OF ears available ana
make it increasingly dithcult Tor all
shippers 10 lie supplied Win sufficient
cars
The Southern Railway will carry out
extensive improvements at AleNuudria
10 provide modern engine terminal ia
clitics. conSisting OF Il tWcuty-Stall
roundhousc and 100 foot tUrntablc cap
able Of handling the heaviest locomo-
tives There Viii also hr constructed
mechanical cOal-hauGluG plant with
100000 tons storage capacity. clectri-
cally operated cindcr pits water tank.
sand plant, small shop for running re-
pairs storehouse Tor oil and other sup
pixies, wash and l"ckcr-room for en-
rloyees. together with the necessary
tracks
The Southern Railway lis reported
as being in the market for the pur-
chase of 1000 tons Of steel for bridge
purposes, while the Scahoard Air-l.inc
is requiring for fifty 10 Zoe stock cars
The Chesapeake and ohio is said to be
In the market for Loco steel hopper
cars, and the Western Maryland con-
templates the purchase OF 1000 nfty-
ton steel hopper cars.
Ia tnf ,,ttS O. n.