Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1917-07-13
CONSERVATION OF CAR
SPACE is EFFECTIVE
Excellent Results Already Obtained
by Railroads War
Board.
DEFENSE COUNCILS STATEMENT
Increasingly Good Reports on Grain
Transportation, With Encouraging
Government Figures on Amount OF
Bituminous Coal Hauled Are Cited.

Bituminous Coal Hauled Are Cited.
Excellent results have already been
seen in the conservation of car space
through the cooperation of railroads
and shippers. according to figures COM
piled by the Virginia Council OF De-
Tense. based on the latest report OF
the Railroads War Board. Full car
shipments and the use Of every pos
sible inch OF space has already ac-
compiished much, and when the figures
for June and July are tabulated. IL is
believed that the results Will be even
more remarkable.
In April the railroads showed an in
crease OF sixty-siN tons. or 10.4 per
cent per train. and "a Ions or 10
per cent per loading OF cars, equivalent
to the addition of 126.e0o cars to the
equipment of the roads reporting.
This result was accomplished with but
4.3 per cent more locomotive miles and
per cent more freight car miles.
Some conception may be had of the
magnitude of this increase OF 16 per
cent, or 1854 100000 ton miles. in one
month. on the mileage covered by the
report, from the fact that ii is cQuiva-
lent to adding $4,000 miles of rail
roads to the roads in the United States.
with a density OF freight traffic on each
mile equal TO the average density for
all railroads OF the United States for
1915. This addition TO the fixed plant
of the railroads exceeds the total mile
age of the railroads OF Great Britain
in 1914 OF $4,000 miles. and nearly
equals the total mileage Of the rail
roads Of Germany in 1913 of 3S.l54
miles.
CARS BEING SENT
WHERE SHORTAGE EXISTS
To help those producing communi-
ties and shippers, and those railroads.
which by reason of their economic sit
uation are suffering from shortage
OF freight cars, the Commission on Car
Service has ordered those railroads on
which cars accumulate In congcsted ter
ritories- to turn over to roads on
which shortage exists cars to the num-
her of 34,245. These cars are being
sent in train load lots direct to the
points where they are most needed
Reports to-day show that more than
$4,000 OF these cars havS already been
delivered. Shortage OF freight cars
In the United States was reduced dur
ing the month of May from 1852 to
105127 cars, almost one-third.
This marked reduction in one month
following four months of rapid in
crease. is attributed 10 the prompt re-
Spouse on the part of both shippers
and railroads to the specific suggestion
which has been made by the Railroads
War Board as to how to secure more
effective use OF existing freight equip
ment. Some of those suggestions are:
Load cars 10 per cent in excess of
marked capacity. reduce percentage OF
cars and locomotives under repair, i'm
prove methods OF firing locomotives
defer scrappinE light locomotives,
speed up handling OF cars in tcrali-
mails, load and unload cars promptly,
enlist cooperation of shippers as a
war measure to secure heavier loading
of cars.
The progressive Improvement in the
situation is indicated in that on March
i reports made by railroads to the
American Railway Association showed
a shortage in the entire country OF
l3o.os2 cars. The shortage grew to
1877 by April !. and on May l. when
she Railroads War Boaro was just
starting to operate all the railroads
as continental system. with the aim
Of producing a maximum of national
transportation efficiency. the shortage
had reached l4s.e27 treigh, cars.
SECURING MAXIMUM
TRANSPORTATION EFFICIENCY
Increasingly good reports on the
Grain transportation situation. together
with government figures just at hand
on the amount of bituminous coal
hauied from the mines by the railroads
In May. Led TO The belief that through
the co-opepation OF railroads and ship
pers real progress is being made in the
campaign nauguratcd in April TO Sc
cure the maximum of q national trans
portaton efficiency.
According 10 figures now compiled,
the eiEhty-two principal coal-carryins
railroads in May. 1917. hauled Ii2.l57
more carloads OF bituminous coai-ap-
pro1imately 100, 900 tons--than they
did In May. 1916. This was an in
crease OF c3.s per cent. The railroads
hauled 1864 carloads in May, 1917,
and 5s7,5ls cars in May. 1916
Headway is being made in the cffor,
TO save the time OF coal cars by quick
and prompt loading. The daily aver
age of cars loaded with h!tuminous
coal each working day in May was
2s,4ss. an increase of cas- per cent
over May. lI6. and 81 per cent over
April OF that year.
The council is authorized to make
the Following statement from the
point OF view of water transporta-
tion:
The railroads will welcome any
practical water transportation, and
they are prepared TO cooperate cor
daily with responsible persons or cor
porations who may provide such water
transportation. by the exchange OF
traffic. the issuance of joint bills OF
ladinE. and. II necessary. where CON
dftons justify II. by joining the water
carriers in the building of tracks 10
connect the railroads with tho wharves
and landings of water carriers"