New-York tribune., 1918-01-30
Another Week of Bad
Weather Increases Car
Congestion
Floods May Make
Difficulties Worse
Washington Plans to Con-
tinue Drastic Measures
to Clear Rails

WASHINGTON, Jan. -. Frcigh.
congestion on Eastern railroads prob.
ably cannot be cleaned up before th,
middle or latter part OF March. rail
road administration officials announced
tonight Sad weather. this week has
provided the eliminating misfortune
on which is based tho conviction that
1t Will take al least six weeks more to
set traffic moving normally through
rail arteries.
Even without the expected ;haw,
which may send rivers flooding above
their banks, officials say, recovery
from the unprecedented period Of biz
zard weather would be slow Floods
would make conditions far worse.
Preparations have been made to :ght
high waters which arc feared through
out the East and which have already
developed in the mountains of Virginia
West Virginia aud Kentucky, with Sc
rious consequences to coal production
and transportation.
Unusual Measures Taken
Because of this situation both the
railroad and fuel administrations are
planning a continuance Of unusual
measures to keep coal moving to con-
sumipg points. 1t was said day that
priority would probably 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
tcaIals and supplies for war manutact-
urcrs arc to proceed under the prefer
cncc given such commodities by Di-
rector General McAdoo's recent order
Hundreds of applications for special
consideration in supply of empty box
cars reached the railroad administra-
ton to-day 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
mcnts, whether shipments light be
specded up.
No General Embargoes Likely
|, is probable that no general embar-
goes VIII be declared by Director Gen
cral McAdoo, although individual rail
roads will be given free hand in refus-
M. to accept shipments whenever local
conditions make this course advisable.
Officials admitted that many of these
local ombargoes probably would be put
into effect during the next two months.
The official embargo now prevailing fo'
three Eastern trunk lines, and through
them affecting nearly the entire East
Will not be lifted for several days.
The railroad administration to- day
decided to modify the drastic demur-
ragc regulations put into effect last
week by restoring the so-callcd average
agreement for cars held for unloading
only, ard by reducing rates. after HI
Two days free time. to So :; day for four
days. So a day for three succeeding
days and SO d day thereafter
New Dcmurrage Terms
BY the average agreement. if a con-
s!gnee unloads a car within a day for
instance, he receives credit for one dav
balance of his free time. and paws de-
murrage only on the aggregate balance
for all cars. An order cmbodying the
new rules probably Will be issued to-
morrow.
Word reached railroad Headquarters
to-day that railroads already had taken
steps to discharge a number OF attor-
ncys maintained in various localities
where the need for them is small. in
compliance with Director General Nc
Adoo's order. Employees listed as "busi-
ness agents" but actually serving as
lobbyists before state legislatures. also
arc among those whose dismissal is
looked for.
Traffic soliciting agents will be
dropped as fast as railroads can ar
range the changes in busne system,
or VIII be transferred to other work.