The Farmington times. (Farmington, St. Francois County, Mo.) 1905-1926, 1918-09-06

3 per cent in the tonnage and a de-
crease of 7 per cent in the cars used
The number of tons per car in July,
this year, is 302 as against 25.7 tons
in the same period lastyear. The in
crease of Is per cent, if it were gen.
eral throughout the country, would be
equivalent of an addition of about 432,-
900 cars to the freight car equipment
of the railroads.
Although the Government has rec
emily ordered 100000 new freight cars
adm about 1000 engines have been I'M
der order for long time, to provide
for the expected increase of rtaffic,
they cannot be turned out in day and
while waiting for them the present
capacity Of motive power and rolling
stock is being scientifically increased
not only by increasing the car load
and train load, but by sending the
shortest and least resistant routes
without regard to caprice of shipper.
Moreover, proiroity has been given to
orders for the large numbers of loc-
omotives for General Pershing for mil
itary operations in France and the loo
omotive works have been prevented
from promptly delivering the engines
ordered for the railroads.
| In several cases the distance that
freight in transit between wo impor-
ant cities formerly travelled has been
shortened by from 200 to 500 miles and
in one instance recently some 1899
cars were carrying freight between
two western cities were within a per-
iod of sixty days re-routed so as to
effect a saving Of 1876 miles in the mil
cage travelled by each car. This was
the equivalent of 1,754,644 car miles.
which at six cents a car mile means
saving of $105,27S.
AS to the alleged movement of
freight by motor truck it can only be
said that the Government is moving
regular freight and passenger trains
promptly, Notwithstanding the extra
tax imposed on its facilities by a
troop movement now averaging 1,100,-
600 per month, that there is no
freight congestion or delay, that the
cars supplied to the coal mines are now
in excess of the daily loading and that
if shippers arc sending their goods in
unusual quantities by motor truck,
which is not provablc and doubtful,
their action is on the result of lack of
railway transportation.
In fact, the Railroad Administered
ion has of late been urging merchants
10 take advantage of the present car
rying ability of the railroads to stock
up their winter needs when weather
conditions make train operations more
difficult.
Of the other items of the indict-
ment of government operation of the
railroads referred to it Mr.. Price re-
marks:
l. That the advance in the cost of
transportation is less than the advance
in wages and the price of almost every
other commodity that society requires.
2. That through bills of lading for
export cannot be issued because the
Government has prcempted the ocean
room and there is no assurance that the
goods can be forwarded upon arrival
at the seaboard.
3. That as competition between the
railroads. no longer exists there is
no occasion for competitive solicitors
and ticket Offices and that their aban-
donment will save the railroads about
100000 annually.
q. That the Government is not au-
thorized TO extend credit TO the con
signce for the freight they owe when
the goods are delivered, and that it
cannot extend it's legal authority.
5. That new and simplified clas-
sification and rate book has been pre-
pared and will be effective and avail
able as soon as the shippers them
selves approve it.
6. That continuance of the pack
age car service would have involved
a wasteful use of facilities that are
needed for the winning of the war,
and
7. That if shippers were allowed
to select the route by which their
freight would be carried, the efficic
ncy and economy that are shown to
have been secured by re-routing could
not have been obtained.
To this categorical relation of the
greviences alledged by complaintants
whose attitude reminds one of the
couplet which runs
"The good old times
All times are good when DID,"
and suggests that they are to be class
ed with the chronic reactionaries and
opponents of progress, can only add
that two months close study of what
has been and may be done under a un-
flied management toward increasing
the servicable efficiency of the Amer
ictn railroads convinces me that the
wisdom of the Presidents action in
taking over the Transportation of he
country will be cumulatively demon
strated as the years roll by.-W. G.
McAdoo.
In the mean time the British keep
on fighting and not saying much about