The producers news. [volume] (Plentywood, Mont.) 1918-1937, 1918-10-04
weeks ending July 27, 10, and cor
responding 4 weeks previous year.

Cars. Tonnags
l9lo--.---.---.-...-.- .100,228 3,O23, 2O1
l9Ii -------. .----.--------107,158 2,752,76t
These figures show an increase OF
3 per cent in the tonnage and de
crease of per cent in the cars used
The number of tons per car in July
this year, is 30.2 as against 25.7 tons
In the same period last year. The
increase Of Is per cent, if it were
general throughout the country
would be the equivalent of an addi-
ton of about $4,000 cars to the
freight car equipment of the rail
roads.
Although the Government has re-
Gently ordered 100000 new freight
cars and about 1000 engines have
been under order for long time, To
provide for the expected increase In
the traffic, they cannot be turned out
in a day and while waiting for them
the present capacity of motive power
and rolling stock is being scientifcal-
ly increased, not only by increasing
the car load and train load, but by
| sending the traffic over the shortest
and least resistant routes without re-
gard to the caprice of the shipper.
Moreover, priority has been given to
orders for the large number of loco
motives required by General Perish
ing for military operations in France
and the locomotive WORKS have been
thereby prevented from delivering
promptly the engines ordered for the
railroads.
In several cases the distance that
freight in transit between the two
important cities formerly Travelled
has been shortened by from 200 to
500 miles and in one instance recent
ly some 5000 cars carrying freight
between two western cities were
within a period of sixty days re-
routed so as to effect saving of
1875 miles in the mileage travelled by
each car. This was the equivalent
of 1,754,644 car miles, which at six
cents car mile means a saving Of
$1O5,728.
AS to the alleged movement Of
freight by motor trucks it can only
be said that the Government is NOV
ing regular freight and passenger
trains promptly, Notwithstanding the
extra tax imposed on it's facilities by
a troop movement now averaging L.
100000 men 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 load
ings and that if shippers are send
ing their goods in unusual quantities
by motor truck, which is not provable
and is doubtful, their action is not
the result of lack of railway trans
portation.
In fact, the Railroad Administra-
ton has of late been urging merch-
ants to take advantage of the pres
ent carrying ability of the railways
to stock up against their winters
needs when weather conditions make
train operation more difficult.
Of the other items in the indict-
ment of government operation of the
railways referred to it Mr.. Price re-.
marks:
1. That the advance in the cost of
transportation is less than the adj
vance in wages and the price of al
most every other commodity that So
ciety requires.
2. That through bills of lading for
export cannot be issued because the
Government has preempted the ocean
room and there is no assurance that
the goods can be forwarded upon ar
rival at the seaboard.
3. That as competition between
the railroads no longer exists there
is no occasion for competitive solici-
tors and ticket offices and that thei-
abandonment will save the railroads
about S23,0OO,OOO annually.
4. That the Government is not
to extend credit to con-
signees for the freight they owe when
the goods are delivered, and that it
cannot exceed it's legal authority.
5. That a 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
z. That if shippers were allowed
to select routes by which their freight
would be carried, the efficiency and
economy that are shown to have been