Evening journal., 1918-04-24
Railroads CAN'T K|IGEEP
Pace with TRAFFIC
Eastern Seaboard Points
Show Congestion Almost
= Tie-Up
SAY CARS ARE
NOT UNLOADED

PHILADELPHIA. Pa, April al.--with
ae war machinery Of the country be
seared up steadily to throw troops
s4a supplies into France in 80 unprs-
,edeaied stream. the railroads are fail
Ing 70 keep pace with the govern
ments program in handling the trafilo
imposed upon them.
This applies particularly to the east
seaboard points--New YORK. Phila.
lphia. Baltimore and Norfolk and
milar cities. where. according TO au-
loritativs information. the surplus OF
supplies Is rapidly congesting the yards
and forcing a general tie-up Of the rail
feeders.
There is not city on the Atlantic
0ast that Is not emhargoed 70 some
Hnt. Philadelphia has a general en-
o on virtually everything but per
lble freight, foodstufis. coal and &
trictsd list OF commodities regarded
munition products"
The average distance loaded train
owes is onc-third less than IL was in
ois. BY heavier loading Of cars the
arrying capacity has been increased
lrtually 25 per cent In the last two
years. but the inability Of the roads 90
get their cars working cn account OF
their being tied up IN congested cities
Is reducing the efficiency OF the roads
II Is pointed out that the plan now
being given consideration by Director
General McAdoo 10 present the roads
with 100 900 cars at a cost estimated
IN the Vicinity OF S30000000 syill fan
far short Of putting the lines on their
feet unless these cars can get through
the congested areas OF the East
The blame for this drop IN efiiciency
the railroads place directly on the
shoulders Of freight consignees Failure
70 unload cars promptly IS the prime
reason for the Gripping o. the roads,
IN the opinion OF executives OF al lines.
-Up-Week," a nationwide In
stitution last December. resulted, the
carriers admitted at that time, in clear
Ing the lines to a point where they were
able 70 operate almost on normal sohed-
ule. The same condition followed the
shutting down Of the roads In Janu-
airy to aid In the coal situation. Since
that time conditions have gone steadily
backward, according to trafle reports,
until now, New York Is being kept
open for transseas shipments only by
the most expert use Of the embargo
privilege. while others are struggling
to keep their ports active IN any meas
ure.
The situation here. ofncials OF the
Pennsylvania and Reading asserted yes
terday Is serious and threatens 10 be-
come critical unless freight Is unloaded
with more speed. What amounts TO an
alright embargo has been levied by
both roads This embargo waa placed
as far back as April 1 by the Pennsyl-
wants and within a week involved the
Reading. when shippers unable 10 use
the Pennsylvania threw their freight
on the Reading, the only other entry
from western points.
The extent to which dilatory con-
signees are contributing to the freight
congestion here was summed UP Ia the
same statement By both roads
"If consignees win be patriotic and
unload shipments as soon as ne cars
arrive the facilities here sre ample TO
take care OF the trafnc"
The Pennsylvania yesterday morning
had a total Of 9is9 cars In Philadelphia
a surplus Of more than 100 per cent
over the normal number Of cars stored
here. Normally this road has 1000 to
&5O0 cars waiting unloading. Some Of
these cars, it Is said. have been here
a matter Of weeks. The aggregate In
oludes it72 cars for export.
The Reading has surplus OF approx
lmately so per cent, or 5000 cars, COM
saffn
ing's export quota Is said to be insig-
fifcant
In both Instances the freight repre-
scented In these totals Is for local con-
sumption. Compared with the normal
condition, It is alluded to as Significant
Of the responsibility Of the consignee,
especially since It Is pointed out as the
'hang over" after g three-weeks' ems
barge, during which time the roads
have refused 10 permit more freight to
enter and clutter up the city.
According to statistics, the Pennsyl-
vania has better facilities for handling
freight in Philadelphia than any other
city on It's whole system This road
has 500 miles OF track In the city and a
botal Of sixty-siX freight stations. The
merchants along Delaware avenue are
charged with a large proportion OF cars
nnloaded.
Although the autud movement Of
cars has been slowed up TO q marked
degree by the existence OF so many con-
gested areas. which keeps down the
average in computing the car mileage
IMPORTANT strides have been made in
he matter Of heavy loading
For the month OF February It is 8
after Of record cars were loaded an
erage OF one and one-hah tons heav-
er than in February, 1917. In other
words, the average load In February
lor all cars on the system east Of Pitts
,urg was thirty-three and one-hali
ions, compared with thlrty-t,vo tons iE
February, 1917. TO a greater exten
was the gain registered in December
In that month it was shown the load
Ing average i've and one-half tons morD
han Ii December. 1916. The numbe
nf cars saved by heavier loading II
February was 1891. and IN December
% SOP over the same month Of 1916