The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1919-09-17

On account of the fact that the
Fourth of July came on Friday this
year and Of the proportionately small
amount OF work done on the following
day, the falling off In the number of
cars repaired In July as compared with
June is clearly explainable. The num-
Der OF cars repaired per month in May
and June kept fully up to the number
repaired in January. although in May
and June many shops were still work
ing on shorter hours than in January.
Much stress has been laid on the
increase in the percentage of cars
withdrawn for repairs in the recent
months up to and including July. The
fact Is that this increase in the num-
Der OF cars repaired but has been due
to number of complex factors which
have arisen from the conditions re-
sulting from the war, from the excep-
tional pooling OF cars during unified
control, and from questions arising be-
tween the railroad administration and
the railroad corporations. The en-
phasis which has been laid upon the
percentage OF cars withdrawn from
service for repairs Is, therefore, mis-
leading and does not give n correct
idea as to the number OF cars actually
in service. The number OF cars act
ually In service. not including bad or
der cars. increased from 1.9S3,0o0 on
July l. 1917, to 2,065,000 on July ,
1919.
The railroad administration. how
ever. Is not content with it's ability to
point to the fact that transportation
service Is more favorable than IL was
two years ago. On the contrary, ex-
traordinary efforts are being put forth
to secure the greatest possible I'M
provement. Although the number of
cars repaired. the railroad admins.
tration gave instructions on June 20
1919, that all car forces be increased
to the full standard measure Of As
hours per week and that additional
shifts be worked where the additional
employees could be obtained and where
they could be economically used The
showing naturally to be expected from
the putting into effect of these in :
structions was hampered In July by
the Intervention of practically double
holiday and. of course, was tempo
rarfly prevented in August.by the
strikes of large number OF shop EN-
"pioyes' ''r~''|- vac '..-.'- q '"+s'. ''
Conditions having row .heen restored
to normal. II is expected that these In.
strucuons will promptly show a most
favorable result. Further than this.
the railroad administration instructed
on August ID. 1919, that all car forces
be put on basis of 54-hours per
week. II is believed that this instruc-
ton will result in a marked improve
ment, also in the monthly repair Of "A
much greater number OF cars than the
normal number and will steadily in
crease the number OF cars actually
available for service as compared with
preceding years.
In addition to this. the railroad ad-
mintstration Is rapidly getting the
benefit of the service of large num-
Der or new cars constructed during
federal control. but whose introduc-
ton into service was postponed on ac-
count of inability to agree with the
railroad corporations as to the accept
ance OF the cars. This inability has
been overcome. Between August / and
September s, 23,5s4 of these cars have
been put into service, and they are
now coming into service under the
spur Of recent instructions at the rate