Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1917-06-12
TREMENDOUS SHORTAGE
OF CARS IS PREDICTED
Commissioner Gambler, Back
From Washington, Tells of
Difficulties Ahead
A tremendous shortage Of freight and

tremendous shortage OF freight and
passenger cars confronts the country as
a result of the war said c. Murphey Cam
dler, chairman of the Georgia railroad
commission, Monday morning, following
his return from Washington, D. c.,
where he conferred with railway eX-
perts of the national board of defense
I'VE are going to have a time of 1t
this fall moving cotton and other
crops" he declared, land the howls
raised now are nothing compared to
what complaints will be then. Let US
prepare by simplifying the transporta-
ton problem in every way we can"
He said he himself was unaware Of
the seriousness Of the situation until
he went to Washington, and he appealed
to every individual, manufacturer and
shipper to aid in meeting the shortage
I'm a little WHILE" he continued, "the
roads will begin filing petitions to cur
tail their service, and I ask the people
OF the state to leave this problem to
the railroad commission. We aren't 60
ing TO allow the railroads to discon-
tinue any trains where such a step can
be avoided. But II might as well be
made plain at once that the railroad re-
sources of our country are going to be
tested to the limit, and every necessary
ment must be taken"
He said that between 10000 and $4,000
freight cars will be withdrawn from
. the public service and devoted to ship
ment of supplies for the government,
and that n great number of passenger
cars will be put to military use.
He stressed the fact that America is
now in the midst of the greatest war
the world has ever known, and that
within a short while the seriousness of
the situation will come home to every
individual.
Throughout his interview Chairman
Gambler made the plea that every bust
ness firm help to lessen the transporta-
ton demands-not for the purpose of
helping the railroads, but as a patriotic
measure TO aid the government in win
ming the war.
IT went to Washington" he said, 30
attend a meeting Of the executive COM
mittee of the National Association of
Railway Commissioners. held for the
purpose of preparing a program for the
convention of commissioners in October.
HELP THE GOVERNMENT.
The committee took up the question
of what assistance the state railroad
commissioners can give the government
in the impending transportation crisis,
and in the course of this discussion we
held a conference with a committee Of
railway experts who are acting under
the national board of defense.
The seriousness of the situation was
then made plain to us. We have got to
conserve in every way we can freight
and passenger equipment, and coal
When the government begins to
transport the 100000 new troops 1t will
raise; it's national guard contingents and
it's seasoned troops on their way to the
ports, every passenger car will be needed
that can be ralIed together.
Freight cars could be used in the
transportation of our boys. but for one
I'm opposed to hauling them about in
box cars as the Russians do their
troops.
"A considerable movement is going
on now, though nothing is being said
about II. And within a short while the
work on the cantonments will begin.
There will be thirty-two Of these, and
It will take 5000 to 1000 carloads OF
material for each one.
when completed these cantonments
will be cities of 10000 to 10000 pOpula-
tion each, and to meet the needs of
these military communities about sew
enty-five carloads of supplies will be re-
quired every day at every camp; in
other words, something like a total of
2 800 cars a day. These cars will be in
service ten TO fifteen days each. AL
together 10000 to $4,000 freight cars
will be withdrawn from public service
and put to military use.