The Brattleboro daily reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1913-1955, 1917-02-16

Lines.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 16-The chief
railroads of the country took summary
action yesterday to relieve the short
age Of freight ears and the traffic con
gestion at eastern seaports against ap-
preaching an acute stage because Of
the curtailment of transatlantic sail
ings by Germany s new submarine
campaign. representatives of 80 roads
at meeting attended by interstate
commerce commission officials reached
2 gentlemen S agreement for a new
and drastic campaign of relief, includ-
ing the following measures
Adoption of regulations tantamount
Of a virtual embargo on all export
shipments through eastern ports I'M
I'll part of the vast accumulation al
ready awaiting steamships can be
cleared away
Liberal use of s'an intelligent en-
barge on all domestic eastbound ship
merits. Such an embargo, already eff
factive on some roads may be extend
ed.
A policy of separating empty from
loaded cars IN the congested yards ana
sending the empties back with others
released by unloading to western lines
Ia solid trains, ahead Of all other traf
lie except passenger trains.
Eastern roads agreed to give in al.
dition an empty car to their western
connections for every loaded car re-
! eeived. Export traffic through the
East will remain virtually at stand
stin during the period Of adjustment
and ast-bound domestic traffic will bC
greatly curtailed if the plans work
out. The amount Of freight for ex
port has increased greatly at eastern
/ ports because Of the great decrease
IN steamship sailings since the sev
crance Of diplomatic relations witt
Germany, the congestion at some east
ern yards, it was said, having become
so serious, that it is extremel; diff
ticult to move anything. One road i
reported TO have every track crowd
81 and i'll addition ears loaded Will
export wheat standing on 81 barge
in New York harbor. Every easter
grain elevator is said to be overflow
|AIg,, and in additions there are 1000
/ coo bushels OF export wheat in Min
lneapolis which have been awaitin
transportation east for more than tw
months
In New England the railroad me
say there is threatened shortage 0
grain. while the flour supply Of Pitts
burg, Philadelphia, New York and Ne'
England cities is none too large 4
Yesterdays meeting it was decided t
move two trainloads Of 50 ears eac
east from Minneapolis daily, one lade
with wheat for New England, the oil
or carrying flour 70 New England an
the three cities named Represent;
tivcs OF Minneapolis milling interes
: voiced protest at the long delay
moving export wheat eastward, bl
when informed of the extraordinaI
efforts contemplated by the roads
prevent an actual shortage Of foo
stuffs in eastern cities, they withdre
their objections and promised 70 I
operate III meeting domestic needs.
The two daily trainloads Of whe
o and flour are to be given the rig
Of way over all other traffic, exec
: passenger business. Railroad otficia
c believe the plan will succeed in aver
L ing any foodstuffs shortage in caste
! cities The embargo against ca:
/ hound shipments, il was said, will II
! apply to foodstutfs for domestic Ii
] which will be expedited as much
:, possible. The roads also will mo
q coal promptly to eastern cities and
any points where a shortage thre;
: ems, directing their first energies
z keeping the lines open for coal a
wood
/ As fast as sailing ocean steam,
diminish the accumulation of freig
awaiting export at eastern ports. I
| railroads will let down the bars of I
embargo permitting the shipment, I
for ton, Of supplies to replace til,
III ~