El Paso herald. (El Paso, Tex.) 1901-1931, 1917-11-01
SYSTEM OF EXPEDITED FREIGHTS
TO RELIEVE MONEY STRINGENCY
r. r.

7HE whole country is feeling the effects Of money
stringency indirectly traCeable TO the war although
the not directly responsible for it. 1t Is largely
The railroads are undoubtedly doing their best to
everything delivered into their hands, troops camp ma
era supplies army and navy ordinary passengers
and ordinary freight and they trying do 1t all with
resources barely adequate for ordinary passengers and
freight The result has been that commercial freight has
been badly delayed and is still being delayed Freight cars
seemingly be secured in sufficient numbers greatly
relieve the situation, which is partly Of Tackage
vast number Of manufacturing and mercantile establish
mentS are unable 70 regulate their supplies OF raw semi
finished and marketable materials Their money and the
banks money tied up for long periods Of time in supplies
moving slowly OF not at all
This condition has existed long time Manufacturers
and merchants many have sought avoid the diff
ues thus created by purchasing in much larger than
binary quantities and in laying up stocks even double the
amount usually carried For instance, where $4,000 has
been required to stock store 100000 has been expended
The call upon the bank has thus been doubled. Multiply
this operation by thousands and the Of money tied
up in stock which not moving has become great that
The financial strain is readily apparent.
Great capital is also tied up in materials ordered and
awaiting shipment Months required for shipment
where weeks formerly sufioed leading financial review
estimates the amount Of money involved excess stocks
principally in transit at about s1,0o0,OoO0OO The COM
Of the country TO be maintained needs to cleared
IN order that stocks may move to the and the
money released.
There are about 100000 freight cars in service and the
total daily movement before the about
niles It has been increased somewhat since war came but
Tar from enough to prevent the oogged condition which has
contributed 70 the ughtness OF the money market.
partial relief for the cogged condition might be found
by dividing freight into two classes expedited and ordinary
in Europe The expedited freight would include perish
ables eights Of high value and materials highly essential
70 industries It would faster and would be subject
70 an increased rate perhaps considerably higher than
that for ordinary freight An expedited freight system
would be available to those businessmen who would pre-
fer to pay higher freight tariff for quick delivery rather
than suffer the present penalty Of paying interest on
productive money over long period Ordinary freight
would be available for those whose requirements were not
immediate and preferred to benefit BY the lower rate
The railroads give expedited service now to some
phabes for instance cantaloupes from the Imperial
valley eastward and silk from Pacific ports to east
err manufactures might be greatly extended but there
would have to be check upon 1t to prevent railroads and
business interests from taking advantage Of the expedited
service in such way to put too great DELAY on or
binary freight and thus force the use Of the expedited
freight at the higher rate This indeed would put the
whole transportation problem back where It IS now TIE
only difference being that the railroads would receive
greatly increased revenues
If plan for expedited freight service under the PROPER
restraints were backed by railroads business interests
alike It IS certain that the interstate commerce commission
would grant the higher rates necessary for such service and
the benefits Of its adoption would be very considerable in
facilitating the movement Of the most needed goods and
the consequent release Of large sums Of money which in
turn, would relieve the financial stringencv