Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-09-17

mission has sought to control the stu
alton somewhat in the following way:
THE normal ownership by a rail-
road of freight cars is regarded as 100
per cent. If at the close of any day
given railroad has upon it's lines a
sufficient number of cars to equal that
100 per cent such railroad has no right
! to ask other railroads to furnish it
with additional cars for use upon its
lines and (as often happens) if a par
ticular railroad has upon its lines any
number of cars already loaded and
either moving over its lines to a des-
tination within the state or over it's
lines to a destination outside the state,
this number of cars is counted in max
ing up the above named 100 per cent
And so it happens that each railroad
company in Maine and each railroad
company throughout the country has a
critical shortage of cars and is unable
to supply its customers with the de-
sired equipment.
COMMITTEES representing various
railway associations, representing rail-
way departments of the federal gov
eminent. and various Public Utilities
Commissions have sought WAYS to re-
lieve this situation. 1t is the duty of
each railroad to do all that it can to
serve all of its customers and no I'M
reasonable favoritism should be
shown. OF course it is true that the
necessities of certain customers. manu-
featuring and distributing certain lines
of goods like food products. news print.
lumber and materials for the building
OF SHIPS. and the manufacture of
goods used or to be used for war pur-
poses should receive first considera-
lon, out at the same time other ship
pers should be treated as fairly as
possible and as before stated no unrea-
sonable faVorItlSm shown. 1t is ex-
pected that the railroad will put forth
every effort to supply their customers
10 as full an extent as the circum-
stances and decencies of the situation
warrant. 1t is also expected that
Shippers and consignees will an
preciate the existing conditions and
will not be unreasonable or foo i'm
patient if their full needs are not
promptly met.
But in order to partly relieve the
eAls'lhS situation shippers and con-
siehees must do their part as well as
Tue railroads., and federal committees
ana pubic utilities commissions have
outlined certain things which can be
done
10 lllustrate-the capacity of all
cars is approximately 40 tons. Tn TO
recent period the average load nor
car has been under 16 tons. resultine
IN use by shippers Of ONLY about AZ
per cent of the total capacity of avail
able cars, An increase of , tons On
each loaded car would be equivalent
TO adding over 100000 cars to the MN
7 Der available for public use in tbis
country. 1t is therefore sueeestod
mat all shippers load each car to tho
.uli maximum carrying capacity and
ny SO dolng such car will do from %
70 D" per cent more business.
by loading to this maximum DELAYS
can be minimized and at transfer
points where much of the DELAY now
occure cars may be loaded to the
maximum capacity if two or more
Shippers will join in putting their
commodity in the same car instead NJ
sending such car out only half loaded
And If such loading to the MAXIMUM,
Is carefully carried out empty cars in
other shipments or will he available
ELSEWHERE for shipments into the
State of Maine
cars should he unloaded moro
promptly regardless of free time. If
edch skipper takes his full two DAYS
"here ne could unload in one he is de-
priNlns some other shipper from the
use or that car for twenty-four hours
rms Commission is cooperating in
every possible way with the railroads
IN an EFFORT to see that each shipper
receives as soon as possible sufficient
equipment to supply his needs. but each
shipper must also do his part along the
lihes aoove suggested and must realize
mat the present situation is abnormal
ana TO certain degree one for which
neither the railroads or particular
Shippers are in any way responsible
Cooperation upon the part of every
nooF is necessary and at the present
time patience is indeed a virtue"