The West Virginian. [volume] (Fairmont, W. Va.) 1914-1974, 1917-01-18

November 9TH. During the second
period in November, from the Sth to
the 14th inclusive when every mine
in the region was short of labor on
account of the excitement in conneo.
ton with the national election, the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad placed
SO many cars at the mines in this reg.
ion that we were unable to load a
great many OF them the same day they
were placed thus enabling the B. &
o. to charge this region with cars
from which we received no benefit.
Rule II OF Coal Car Distribution Rules
permits them to do this, this rule
reading as follows: I'm case a ship
per fails to load cars which he has or.
dered and which have been placed in
time for loading, all cars left over
empty or partly loaded cars are con-
stdered part of equipment available
the following day"
Illustrating; II a mine is rated 500
tons day and orders and receives his
full rating but due to an accident III
the mine or shortage OF labor on that
particular day he loads only Z cars
and has three left over, he Is charged
with a full run that day and is again
charged on the following day with the
three cars left over. Thus he is
technically charged with 10 cars while
he actually receives only 10 cars. This
rule materially assisted the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad in wiping out the
shortage OF 904 50-ton cars and at the
close OF business November 14th the
records show we were over 1875 5Gt
ton cars. At the close of business
November 21st new shortage Of 1894
50'ton cars confronted us which grew
to 1851 50.ton cars at the close of
business the following period, Noyem-
Der Both. During the first period In
December this shortage was reduced
to 35l'6 50'top cars and grew to '514.S
50.ton cars for the period Of December
9Th 10 18th inclusive and was further
increased during the third period IN
December to 532.3 Bottom cars. The
last period In December, dating from
the 22nd to the 30th inclusive, which
includes the Christmas holiday when
we were again short OF labor, the
Baltimore and Ohio again invokes the
aid OF Rule il aud succeeds In wiping
out the shortage Of 532,3 50.ton cars
and creating an apparent average OF
1859 50,ton cars.
In analyEing the figures given Ia
the foregoing the student will notice
the Monongah division always runs
short during every period except the
first one In each moath and any other
period that hsppeus to have a holt.
day occur IN II, Why 70 this? In the
first place, as well as IN all Industrial
eentsfs, II 10 Q well,knewn fact that
practically ell the mines In this region
are short Of labor during the hFst per.
ied IN each month due 20 The miners
laying off day or tive 70 shop IN the
stores 10 ciaFksbusg, Fsifpont and
Grafton, Then again. everybody who
is In any way familiar with labor Is
aware OF the fact that the toreigner
must have az least three or four days
to fittingiy celebrate Christmas. To
tho members OF this association II
seems to>be quite Q conineidenee when
the Baltimore and Ohio railroad, DUR
ing periods when celebrations OF this
nature occur and by the assistance OF
Rule II in connection with run Of
cara IN excess OF our loading capacity
during holiday periods, wipes ont q
legitimate shortage without giving us
the benefit OF the cars and then pro-
ceeds 10 create another shortage and
--,----- = 'he operation Of technical