The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-09-05
LOADED
IDLEONRR TRACKS.
transportation Officials I'm
able to Secure Co-opera-
ton From Shippers.

Nearly 50 loaded freight cars chat
were delivered by one railroad to local
concerns in August had not been IN
loaded by the consignees Friday morn
ing. some Of these cars were delivered
on Aug. "a,
These 50 cars have stood on the
warehouse tracks ready for unloading
for from five 10 10 days, with no ap-
parent effort, IL is said, on the part
of the receivers Of the freight to I'M
load the cars and return them to serv-
ice, although the freight service agents
OF the railroad has called on the repre-
sentatives Of the concerns repeatedly
and urged h seriousness Of the pres
ent car shortage and the Importance Of
getting the cars back In service as soon
as possible. This one railroad has de-
livered to shippers over 100 freight cars
that have stood over IS hours with
out being unloaded.
Other local railroads are facing a
similar situation, and II IL estimated
that for all the lines entering Menu
phis between $50 and 800 loaded cars
have stood idle on local switches for
an average OF five days waiting for the
ic~onsignees to unload them.
Cessation Of this wAsteRge OF cars
on the part Of h shippers would prac.
tically relieve the local shortage OF
cars, II the consiEnees would unload
the mwithin As hours after delivery
and return them to the railroads for
service at once, railroad officials claim.
Local shippers are not responding to
the plea Of the federal railroad admin-
i~stration for heavy loading as 1t was
hoped that they would, according to
traffic officials, but are using two and
three cars to haul loads that could be
shipped In one
Some Of the concerns which have
made the greatest complaints about the
car shortages are said TO be the worst
offenders about holding cars delivered
TO them, both loaded and unloaded.
Since the railroad administration has
advised the traffic officials that no
additional equipment can be diverted
from other sections to the southwestern
regions, and that the only solution OF
the local car shortage In TO make the
most effective use OF the equipment
now on hand, the railroad officials pro-
pose to make every effort TO enlist the
cooperation Of Memphis shippers In
saving all shipping tonnage possible.
To that end r. {. johnson, chairman
Of n OF the local sub.committees for
the federal railroad administration, has
called q meeting Of all the freight serv-
ice agents and traffic officials repre-
senting all lines entering Memphis, for
Tuesday at 1890 o'clock, for the pur-
pose Of organizing q new committee to
deal with the situation.
New Committee Forming.
1t Is proposed to divide the shipping
districts Of the city into zones, and 70
assign a committee Of freight traffic
men representing all lines 10 zach
zone, to keep in touch with the ship
pers that are not observing the recon.
mendatlonH Of the railroad administra-
tion In regard TO heavy loading and
prompt handling Of cars delivered to
them.
While the committee will have no
authority to inforoe the recommended
tons OF the government, II Is believed
that public sentiment will support the
committee In dealing with the chronic
offenders,
The committee may also appeal to
the Chamber Of Commerce for its CO.
operation In putting into effect the
measures for the conservation OF rail-
way equipment, since IL Is a matter
that vitality effects the general welfare
and prosperity Of the city,
With careful use OF the shipping
available, railway Officials believe that
the heavy movement OF freight expected
this fall and winter can be handled
without any undue loss and inconven-
fence TO the shipping public.
Tho same wasteage Of cars found ut
Memphis Ia found all over the United
States, II Is said, and by concerted ef-
fort thousands OF cars may be soved to
carry additional tonnage that will other
wise be tied up for weeks waiting for
cars.