New-York tribune., 1918-01-24
Many Loaded Trains Re-
ported Stalled in
Great Drifts
Terminals Tied Up
Westbound Traffic Shows a
Decided Improvement, Ac-
cording to Reports

1he freight situation in the Eastern
railway district yesterday still showed
the effects of the snowstorm. All east
bound freight was seriously affected,
while westbound traffic, which has been
lighter by comparison right along, dis
played further tendency toward cas-
ing up.
The explanation given by railroad
men was that they have the westbound
traffic in hand. 1t is the eastbound
trains that arc straying, getting lost in
the blizzard and stalled in snowdrifts.
All the cdicts and orders Of traffic mas
ters cannot clarity the situation so long
as the weather man refuses to CO.
operate.
The West Virginia mountain range
became almost an impossible barrier
yesterday, according to reports received
IN the office of Assistant Director Cen
eral of Railroads A. II. Smith. Below
zero weather, heavy snow, with wind
enough to pile up drifts faster than the
snow ploughs could scatter them. tied
up trains by tho score.
May Send Freight to PHILADELPHIA
Mr. Smith left yesterday for Phila.
dclphla to confer with railroad officials
tnerc. 1t was reported that he had
unoer consideration sending a greater
proportion of export freight to Phila-
oeIphla. pennsylvania business inter
for such move. 1t was explained that
diversion of export freight from New,
YORK might expedite freight transfe E
and sallings, relieving the harbor con-
gcstion here. VIII
Ihe reports on the result of last
Mondays blunders in keeping ware
houscmen and merchants in ignorance
or the Tact that they could open their
places OF business to receive freight
were compiled yesterday from all the
rallroads with New York terminals.
me 1uel administration forgot to ad-
wise the business men that they could
best serve their country by clearing
away freight unloaded at terminals. AS
a result. the unloading at greater New
YORK terminals on Monday was about
4O per cent of normal
Many Cars Stalled
The net damage done by the blizzard
aside from delaying freight, was ex-
pressed in yesterdays figures on cars
stalled along the Eastern railway dis
trict. There were 57,299 loaded, east
bound cars rs held up, showing an in
crease of 273, as compared with the dav
before. The eastbound empties num-
bcred 8,422, an increase of 1,112 in
twenty-four hours. The number of
stranded, loaded westbound cars was
3s s.022, decrease in twenty-four hours
OF 4,oS9, while stalled westbound emp
ties numbered 27,O77, a decrease of
1883.
Reports of blocked switches. engine
turn tables and dislocatcd freight wards
poured into the office of Pitt p. Hand
the official publicity director of the
Eastern district. Frozen streams and
tanks caused Il cut off on water supply
for engines, and electric power was
paralysed in many sections For the
first time in history, it was said, coal
dock plants had to be heated in Nor
folk, Va. Late in the day it was re-
ported that three coal trains, origin
ally destined for the East, had been d.
verted to Toledo, O.
Freight movement in Chicago was re-
ported much improved. There is a
heavy movement of castbound live
stock in that region.
President Underwood of the Erie
yesterday addressed an appeal to all his
employees not to lessen their efforts at
this stare