The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1917-02-21
FREIGHT CONGESTION N EAST
SHORTAGE OF CARS CAUSED BY
CONGESTION PRESENTS sE.
e. RIOUs PROBLEM.
Embargo Placed By Railroads on
Ship0ent Of Exports to East ami
Moving Of Steamers to Ports are
Expected to Relieve Trouble.

kCuS VI kSAkOttS I'd HLuSt anu
Moving Of Steamers to Ports are
Expected to Relieve Trouble.
Washington, Fell. 15.--The chief
railroads OF the country took sum-
mary action today to relieve the
shortags OF freight cars and traffic
congestion at Eastern seaports, again
approaching an acute stage because
OF the curtailment Of transatlantic
sailings by Germany's new subma-
rins campaign.
Representatives Of 80 roads at a
meeting here attended by interstate
commerce commission officials reach
cd . "gentlemen's agreement" for q
new and drastic campaign Of re-
hsf. including the following meas
ures:
Adoption Of regulations tantamount
to'a virtual embargo on all export
shipments through eastern ports un-
III . part oil the vast accumulation
already awaiting steamships can be
cleared away.
Liberal use Of ian intelligent en-
barge on all domestic eastbound
shipmsnts. such an embargo. al
ready sf1sctive on some roads. may be
sxtsnAsd.
A policy Of separating empty from
loaded cars In the cohsested yards
aud sending the smptiss back with
eshess rslsassd BY unloading ia West
En- lines In solid train loads ahead of
M cshsr tranc except passenger
trains.
Eastern roads agree to give an ad-
ditional empty car to their Western
connections for every loaded car re-
csived. ,r
Export trafiic through the East will
remain virtually at q standstir during
the period Of adjustment and east
bound domestic traffic will be greatly
curtailed n the plans work out. The
amount Of freight for export has in
creased greatly at Eastern ports be-
cauas Of the great decrease in steam
chip sailings since the severance of
diplomatic relations with Germany.
the congestion at some Eastern yards.
It. was said. having become SO Sc
rious that II IL extremely dificult to
move anything. One road Is report
"a - have, every track crowded and
i1raAdition cars loaded with export
,Vbost standing on % barees in New
"A ssss Dv9sy zastssn :upsAn
IA = 5SZi2 q g IS s J SvspiiSwins 4it
~ n ADDITION there are 1900. 900
!. NuAhtos o. export. wheat in Mipneap.
olis which has been waiting trans
ptrtation to the East for more than
two months. ~
In New England. railroad men said.
there IN q threatening shortage of
grain. while the flour supply of Pitts
bursh. Philadelphia. New York and
New England cities is none too large.
At todays meeting It was decided to
move two train loads Of SO cars each
from Minneapolis daily. one laden
with wheat for New England. the
other carrying flour to New England
and the three cities named.
The two daily trainloads of wheat
and nour are to be given the right
OF way over all other traffic except
passenger business. Railroad officials
believe the plan will succeed in avert
ing any foodstuffs shortage in Eastern
csties The embargo applying agains'
sastbound shipments. II was said. will
not apply 10 foodstuns for domestic
uss. which will be expedited as much
ss possible. The roads also will move
coal promptly to Eastern cities and
to any points where a shortage threat
ems. directing their first energies to
keeping the lines open for coal and
food.
AZ fast as sailing ocean steamers
diminish the accumulation of freight
awaiting export at Eastern ports the
railroads will let down the bars on the
embargo. permitting the shipment.
ton for ton. OF supplies to replace
those taken away. In this manner.
IL is thought. the old accumulation
Gan be disposed Of and fresh shipment
can be disposed of and fresh ship
'ments will await their turn.
Finding the empties in crowded
yards, making them into trains and
dispatching them westward on fast
freight schedules Is task which some
omlcials regard as almost herculean,
though necessary II adequate relief
is to DO obtained. Some OF the roads,
u 10 understood. have offered to place