Americus times-recorder. [volume] (Americus, Ga.) 1891-current, 1917-07-15
TO MEET AN EMERGENCY.


manufacturing interests of the United
States perform their functions in
this time of national crisis, nor how
great quantities of munitions, supplies
and war materials of all kinds are
provided, if the facilities for transpor-
tation are insufficient to deliver them
at the proper destination.
Tons Of food products, ammunition
and supplies of all kinds are useless
except they can be turned over i'm
Imediately at the points where they are
most needed. To do this immense
numbers of cars are necessary and
the railroads Of the country are put
ting forth superhuman efforts to util-
lie to the best advantage every unit of
their rolling stock.
The ordinary traffic must be handl-
"a efficiently and in addition, enormous
movements of war materials and troops
must be taken care of without the loss
og a single hours time How to solve
the problem in the face of a normal
shortage of rolling stock is the ques-
ton that is vexing the railroad offic-
ials in every corner of the land today.
Heroic methods are being put into
operation to cope with the situation
and included in the program which is
destined to bring about a solution of
the problem is an appeal by the rail
roads, backed by the federal govern
ment. to shippers and buyers through
out the country.
Economy in the use of car space is
being preached from the housetops
The practice of loading freight cars to
only fractional part of their capac-
| ity is being denounced in no uncertain
terms and every effort is being made
to place the system of car loading on a
more efficient basis.
Wholesalers and manufacturers are
urged to substitute tri-weekly and
lsemi-weekly service for day service in
the dispatch of products to patrons,
this change necessitating an alteration
Of the system of buying practised by
many retailers and jobbers. Instead
OF buying enough for only one days
distribution. the retailers are being i'm
Jportuned to lay in stock that will
make semi-weekly or tri-weekly ser
vice possible.
The loading of bulk products to the
capacity of cars is an item in the eff
ficency program that will bring graf
flying results in the way of releasing
cars for use in transporting troops and
materials for the government
The melon growers of South Georgia
are being urged to load their melons
FIVE tiers deep in cars. thus increasing
the load one fifth and making it pos
sible to use one fifth less cars for the
new movement of the entire crop. 1t is
pointed out that no damage to the mel
ons results from packing five tiers
deep and the consignees in the north
ern and eastern markets are willing
to pay for the crop according to the
number of melons in each car, rather
than on the old basis of a stated price
per carload"
The railroads of South Georgia de-
clare 5000 cars will be needed tt
move the melon crop this year and a
saving Of 20 per cent of these cars by
more efficient loading means / 200 cars
released for service elsewhere.
Saving freight cars at this time is
not only important from the stand
point of efficiency, but also as a patri-
otto measure, for every car released
from ordinary commercial transporta-
hion means an added carload of mater
ial to be used in the struggle against
German militarism.