New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-18
,os7O Cars Lacking by
i rsbruary I and the Num-
her Still Grows
ugoI E BLAME NOT
IN U-BOAT BLOCKADE
r,e;oht Held al Interior
Points One Underly-
ing Cause

ssan increase IN the shortage OF
American railroads, amounting
..,lv Is per cent between January
go February !, 1917, was shown IN
IS made public yesterday by the
,..riean Railway Association. This IS
'.,,e factor in the upset trsnsporta-
ion situation
y. January / the net shortage
s.aagbout the country amounted to
.ss,T cars BY February the short
:. had grown to no less than io9'7'O
-, and the increase was still under
= The association expects to re-
-, within few days figures showing
y. increase Up TO February 10. 1t IS
s.,..s the net shortage at that date
m move 20 have been considerably
!. .,esss Of the February l figures.
mn. 10 various conditions, most OF
x.i,b have operated for many weeks
,,5 have been gaining cumulative
.,,.s the shortage is rapidly approach
irg point where it will break all rec
,,5s for the last ten years.
Nav Exceed 1907 Shortage
a.,ording 70 the figures of the Amer
-. Railway Association, the shortage
:. 10 February ] had not become as
ne as the memorable shortage OF
,s6- when 1851 cars we're needed on
t.bruary 6. There is every probable
h however. that II the present rate
u increase continues for a few more
x,sks the net shortage Will even ex-
s.ed that. D-.,--
1ssociation. bearing out The Tribune's
sgtli,e Of the congestion situation pub
Tsbed Yesterday, seeks TO correct the
General Misrepresentation that the pres
s,t transportation crisis IS a sudden,
sysrniRht result Of abnormal conditions
,,srinitated By the German submarine
SIocksde. The present congestion has
Nan growing slowly, but steadily, since
ast August. Conditions have been
aggravated By the U-boat blockade, but
h Is not an essential, underlying cause
q the trouble.
Il is true. however, that If severe re-
,.rirtiors continue 20 be imposed upon
tbs sailing of freight carrying vessels
for foreign ports. il will tend 70 in
crease the accumulation of products IN
,suded for export. These viii not pile
70 al seaport terminals, however, but
4. the points Of origin, for the accept
spee OF such freight is automatically
barred there by the railroads unless
ths eonsignors can prove they have al
ready obtained space on an outgoing
vessel.
Causes Underlying Congestion
The essential causes underlying the
resent congestion and car shortage are
:.clsrsd by the American Railway As
soeistion to be the following:
I. The large accumulations Of freight
stich consignees are holding in freight
csrs az the Eastern seaboard. If un-
loaded. these cars could have been
started toward places where they are
needed.
2 The severe weather Of January
which made il extremely difficult for
ne railroads 20 expedite the movement
e freight trains, both cast and west
bound
q The large accumulations Of freight
held in ears 20 different congested
points in the interior, thus keeping
thousands Of cars out Of service.
The statement points out that for the
eight and q half years preceding the
eddie Of August. last year, there had
bsen continuous net surplusage OF
ears not in use, except for about one
nonth in 1909. three months in 1912
enc month in 1918 and the month OF