Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1917-02-07
SPROULE IS
DOING BEST He CAN
That Is Substance Of Reply
Made to Railroad Commits
sioner Miller

A communication to the Oregon Pub
lie Service commission from President
Sproule of the Southern Pacific system
says that G. +. Richardson, superinten-
dent of transportation for the railroad,
will soon arrive in Oregon to take care
Of the car distribution problem that is
threatening to kill and cripple many
Oregon industries.
The letter was sent to Commissioner
Miller, who recently wrote to President
Sproule, asking that action be taken to
help relieve the situation. The letter
states that Mr.. Richardson win work
with Assistant General Manager Dyer
to meet the suggestions of the commits
sion.
The communication to Commissioner
Miller states:
cit has been our effort to supply
Oregon to the limit of our lawful abil-
ty from cars available. Unfortunate
ly it is problem far beyond Oregon or
the Southern Pacific; but if plan is
devised to give us back our cars the
problem will be largely solved.
,"The new cars we ordered for 1916
delivery and which were far behind
time because of difficulty in obtaining
materials, have been absorbed in the
business. 1t is impossible to obtain de-
livery of any further ears except at
some remote and indefinite date. We
have therefore undertaken to build the
cars ourselves of wooden construction
with steel silts to sustain the burden
and carry the draft gear, and already
the question is actively before us of
how to get the lumber for prompt con
struction. We are doing this mainly
so that soon as the car is built it win
be turned into the hands OF the shipper
to load Our greatest interest is to
provide ears. We cannot earn freight
charges from shipments unmovcd
"Our car distribution bureau in Port
land is in charge Of man who has al
ways been effective. In fact the good
work already done by him was the reas-
on for his selection, together with his
personal knowledge of the shippers
wants because of the line Of his prev
ious experience. You know from the
hearings Of the commission how diff
cult it is to reconcile the wants OF the
conflicting interests among the ship
pers themselves.
''Indeed we would welcome the as
sgnment by the commission Of a compe-
tent member Of its staff to share the
office of the ear distributor and collab-
crate with them for a period satisfaet
cry to the commission for the purpose
of determining in what respects our ear
distribution as between shippers can be
improved.
I'VE wish to meet the views of the
commission that no charge of dis
elimination Any basis of distribu-
tended by the company and where the
shippers themselves hold such differ
ent views as to what constitutes dis.
elimination. ANY basis Of distribgu-
tion between shippers that is satis-
factory to the commission would be
accepted by this company, assuming
Of course that with respect to inter
state business it would not be in con
flict with the ruling Of the inter
state commerce commission. In say
ing this please understand we have
no desire TO shift the burden nor do
we expect to shirk any responsibility.
The suggestion is in the interest Of
wiser distribution if that can be
had. In this connection would say
that the cutting capacity Of mills
served has been supplied by the Lum-
bermen's association and cars DIS
tributed accordingly.
"The plain fact is that the eondi-
tions in this nation are reflected in
Oregon and California. The railroads
have grappled with the subject as a
united body through the American
Railway association. They have tried
to work eo-operatvely and the inrer-
state commerce commission has sought
to aid the roads in this but the compn-
cations because Of varying conditions
throughout the nation make il hard
problem.
with respect 10 points on branch
lines or the points more remote now
being given a large proportion of ears