The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1917-02-23
Shortaoe Relieved

WASHINGTON, Feb. 90. - Many
empties rolled west at passenger
train speed today from congested rail
road yards Of the east according 10
interstate comcrce commission adj
vices from It's field force of invrsu-
gators. Fair weather and 4 holiday
combined gave the roads the first real
opportunity In more than a week to
exert their maximum energies to re-
lieye the car shortage that has threat
cncd near famine In some sections or
the country.
Officials nf both the railroads and
the commission expressed the convic-
ion tonight that the acute stage of
the shortage had passed and that
steady Improvement In the situation
would continue. At no time. il was
said, had conditions reached the acute
ness Of the tie-up year ago.
Al the same time the number "f
cars involved in the tie-up according TO
reports OF the commission from rir-
tually every road in the country. in
creased by more than One-third in the
Two weeks between January - and
February 10 and on the latter dair
reached the grand total Of 16a.@1i.
The Gas Coal Shortage.
In the absence Of detailed reports $,
the car service commission Of the
American Railways Association was
unable to say defnilely what steps
had been taken TO relieve the shortage
OF gas coal which threatens pos,
sible interruption" Of service of light,
heat and power companies in eighteen
towns and cities in six middle wcsi.
errl states. II was assumed, however.
that the commissions request of yes
tcrday that coal be rushed 10 the
points most needed. was being follow
ed.
The Situation at Chicago.
while causing some concern 10 gov
eminent and railroad officials, was not
regarded here as desperate. Officials
said that similar conditions prevailed
to great extent. at other cities through
out the country. The situation was 4
national one rather than peculiar 10
Chicago, it was said. and while relief
was being afforded TO Chicago as rap
idly us possible, The needs OF other
communities could not be overlooked
Statements that Chicago had been
getting only four or five ears. day
for the shipment east OF wheat Tor
domestic use were met by the cont
mission with the assertion that the re-
cords show that Chicago has been re-
ceiving approximately 200 cars day
and that about one-half Of them were
used for export wheat. Instead OF Te
ducirlg prices. the transportation out
Of the country Of great quantities "
wheat tended to raise the prlce, OIL
, ficiaIs said, and the movement OF cX-
port wheat east could bring no re-
lief 10 sufferers from soaring prices
in eastern cities.
Arording Relief.
Officials thus far have confined th"lr
\
| puriation .narl and arf"rdinE rclef L"
communities threatened with shortage
of fondStuftS and fuel. rather thai,
studying the effect of the shortage anu
congestion IN prices of necessities. -,
far as reports r"lat" to shortages. II
was said both 4: III" Interstate Com
Ucrrc Commission and the Car service
G., mInisSion that there was nowhere III
! the country ri tho present time nm a'-
tual shortage of food or fuel needed f"r
domestic CunSumpli ion.
NO Food Famine.
; Fvcry city in thu east. II was said. SO
far as known has plenty ut food TOT
: immediate" requirements ana riSlhH
prices could not b.. justly attributed 10
shortage. Reserves had l""n almost
wiped out in the case Of -four In Nc"
, England but til" situation there was re-
rurtrd 10 h:V" improved m"HSurahiy.
The 1924 cars involved in the gen
cral tir-up ar" distributed in every sec
zion Of In" country and include all class
50. loaded ard empty. which for reasons
due to congestion. ar" temporarily win"
drawn from transportation service.
The set ION comprised Of the Stat"S
Of West Virginia. Virginia and inc
rurol;nnS have 2.79I cars. AN increase or
Ten percent in three weeks.
Interior points Of greatest congestion
were reported TO h" Chicago. Buffalo
CI"v"lnr,i. cincinnati and Detroit. re,
ports from lhrsc rcnl"rs today, stated
that ,.,uuli"S were being dispatched out
H. lrniuInah lots and tn" situation other
wis" WAS improving.
Critical at Baltimore.
BALTIMORE. Md, Feb "2-CouEcSt-