New-York tribune., 1918-01-23
Fuel Holidays More Than
Offset Bad Effects
Of Storm
Weather a Big Factor
Smith Says a Few Mild
DAYS Would End Traffic
Congestion


frost, and all the other obstacles, the
railroads are gaining slowly, but sure
ly, IL their work of clearing congestcd
traffic and getting back toward nor
NAL. The shutdown of business, with
its accompanying embargo on ship
mcnts, is offsetting the bad effects Of
the storm-~and bit more.
These are the facts that may be
CLEANED from long columns of figures,
comparing freight car tie-ups day by
day for three weeks. Despite dis
couraging weather. reports from nearly
all parts of the Eastern railway dis
trict, shortage of labor and absence
Of cooperation, it was reported from
the Office of A. II. Smitb, Assistant Di-
rector General of Railways, that few
mild days would sec the whole remain
ing stagnant mass of freight cars
moved into the fresh streams of COM
merce.
Jersey Points Less Clogged
Nearly all the railroads with Jersey
to Mr.. Smith the progress of "clean-up
week" showing fewer stalled cars,
freight movement easing up and more
coal dumped at tidewater.
Six railroads serving New York City
reported on the total numbers of cars
stalled along their systems the week
ended Monday, January q, as compared
with the week ended January Ii. The
roads that reported were the New York
Central, Lehigh Valley, Erie. Lacka
wanna, Jersey Central and Pcnnsyl-
vania.
The total number stalled the week
ended January II was 1900. and the
that the railroads had cleared away g.
400 cars, now added to the freight
equipment of the Eastern Railway Dis
trict.
n. y. Ccntrals Report
Pitt p. Hand, advertising manager
for the New York Central, reported cars
moving along the railroads of the East
ern district above normal this and last
week, as follows:
Jan u Jan. ii
Eastbound loads ... 61,716 64,40l
Eastbound empty ...... 1910 6,S67
Wcstbound empty ...... 29,960 2S,09S
Traffic Somewhat Easier
These figures show an easing up of
eastbound freight, while ther is a small
increase of westbound loads. The
movement of westbound emptics was
not looked upon as especially proms-
thaugh all bars have been let down of
late as to shutting empties back and
forth across the country to meet an
emergency situation. The necessity
for moving the grain crops Of the Mid
die West is so urgent that empties are
shot back from the Eastern scaboard
with the least possible loss of time.
II there is time to load cars with nee
essaries for the Middle West, so much
the better
In its report to the Director Gen
eral of Railways the Lackawanna
stated that it was cleaning up it's
tracks, and could even accept little
more pier business, except for the di-
seaport delivery from roads that could
not handle this business
The Lehigh Valley reported that
there had been no congestion along
its lines before cleanup week opened,
and there was little this week. The
road had 1,747 loaded cars at it's
Jersey terminals last week, and this
number had been reduced to 1,41S
cars.
Pennsylvania Better OF
The Pennsylvania reported that
there had been considerable reduction
in accumulated traffic. Of 1,121 cars
stored on the Philadelphia division,
all but 27O had been cleared away.
The road reported that unloading at
New York terminals showed Z per
cent increa5e over last week.
The New York Central had tied up
at its various terminals on January
-, 9,176 cars of freight. Last Satur-
day, January 10. 8,758 cars remained,
showing a reduction of ais. The road
has carried enormous shipments Of
food
The Now Haven reported having cut
the number Of its stalled cars from
622 on January ~, to 426 on January
l9. The Jersey Central stated that it
had no accumulation of eastbound
freight, and that it was taking al! the
westbound freight offered There was
nc congestion along its lines whatso-
ever, the report stated, and the road
has now only 26G loaded cars waiting
track delivery. the lowest in two or
three years. On January 1S, the day
Dr. Gariield's order went into effect.
this road delivered 329 cars, as
against Eli on the Friday previous.
The Erie cut down its number of un-