Evening journal., 1918-01-30
END OF FREIGHT
TIE-UP IS delayed
No Hope of R return OF
Normal Conditions
Until Spring
FLOODS NOW BALK
RAILROAD PLANS

WASHINGTON, Jan. 30.-Freight con
gestion on eastern railroads probably
cannot be cleaned up before the middle
or latter part Of March, railroad adj
ministration officials have announced.
Bad weather this week has provided
the eliminating misfortune, on which
is based the conviction that It viii
take at least six weeks to set traflo
moving normally through rail arteries.
Even without the expected thaw,
which may send rivers above their
banks, officials say recovery from the
unprecedented period Of . blizzard
weather Will be slow. Floods would
make conditions far worse. Prepare
lions have been made to fight high
waters which are feared throughout
The East. and which have already de-
veloped in the mountains Of virginia.
West Virginia and Kentucky. with seri-
Gus consequences to coal production
and transportation.
Because Of this situation, both the
railroad and fuel administrations are
planning continuance Of unusual
measures 90 keep coal moving 10 con
Stunning points. II was said that prl-
GRITTY probably would continue TO be
given fuel for many weeks and that
general freight would have TO take its
chances In moving Food will have
similar preference, and necessary ma
terials and SUPPLIES for war monufao-
lures are to proceed under the prefer
ence given such commodities by Direc-
tor General McAdoos recent order.
Hundreds Of applications for special
consideration In supply Of empty box
cars reached the railroad administra-
ton yesterday and were referred TO the
War or Navy Department, which Will
determine finally whether certain ship
ments deserve preferential treatment
These petitions ordinarily should 20
TO one Of the three regional directors.
who In many cases can determine with
out consulting Government depart
ments whether shipments might be
speeded up
II Is probable that no general en-
bargOes viii be declared by Director
General NlcAdoo. although individual
railroads will be given free hand in
refusing TO accept shipments whenever
local conditions make this course adj
visablo. officials admitted that many
OF these local emhargocs probably
would be put into effect during the
next two months. The official embargo
now prevailing for three eastern trunk
lines. and through them affecting near
ly the entire east, will not be lifted
for several days.
The railroad administration yester-
day decided 30 modify the drastic de-
murrage regulations put into effect last
week by restoring the s0-called average
agreement for cars held for unloading
only, and by reducing rates after the
two days free time 10 SO day for
four days, Sc a day FOR three succeed
Ing days and $40 a day thereafter BY
the average agreement. n a consigneo
unloads a car within "a day. for in
stance, he receives credit for one day
balance Of his free time and pays de-
murrage only on the aggregate balance
for all cars An order embodylng the
new rules probably will be issued to-
morrow
Word reached ranroad headquarters
that railroads already have taken steps
TO discharge a number of attorneys
in various localities where
the need for them is small, IN com
pliance with Director General McAdoo's
order. Employees listed as business
agents" but actually serl ing as lobby
lists before State Legislatures arso are
among those whose dismissal is looked
for. Trafilc-soliciting agents viii be
dropped as fast as railroads can ar
range the changes in business system,
or viii be transferred 10 other work.