Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1919-09-09
RAILROADS TOLD
HOW TO HANDLE
\ COAL SHIPMENT
Fuei Situation is Becoming Acute
and Regional Director Issues
instructions.

The commercial fuel situation,
due largely to conditions not I'M
der the control Of the railroad ad-
ministration, is becoming acute,
and the demands on the transpor-
tation facilities for the movement
Of fuel during the next three or
four months will be extremely
heavy.
To secure definite results every
detail concerned with the move
Efent of coal and the cars neces-
sary for its transportation must
receive the personal and constant
attention of every officer in the
transportation and traffic depart
ments of each railroad.
General instructions are at the
present time in existence in regard
to all of these subjects and this is
to reiterate the Importance in the
handling of this problem. These
ARE, according to R. H. Ashton, re
gional director:
l. Preferencing the repairing Of
open-top cars requiring light re-
pairs.
2. Putting into service light ca
pacity Open-top cars and ballast
and construction cars for the pur-
pose of handling road-making ma
terials, thereby releasing other
cars for the handling of coal.
B. The picking up daily of emp
ty cars, both at large terminals
and at all outlying stations, and
the movement daily in regular
trains to the mines or to informed
late terminals; and the movement
out OF those terminals with the
minimum of delay. In order to ex-
pedite the movement of empties eff
feet the consolidation, so far as is
practicable, of these cars into solid
trains that will not require switch
ing enroute.
=. 4. The same action regarding the
picking up of loads at the mines;
movement through terminal yards
to final destination and the prompt
placement at point of unloading,
together with immediate notifica-
ton to consignee of such place
ment
5. Prohibition of loading with
miscellaneous company material of
any gondolas needed for coal ser
vice, and the confinement of such
miscellaneous loading to flats or
closed cars.
s. Prohibition of the use of gon-
dolas fit for coal loading at cinder
pits.
7. The checking of car detention
by consignees and the impressing
upon them of the necessity for alb
solutely unloading every car of
coal on the day it is placed and
the establishment of record
showing any failure on their part
to accomplish this; as we'll as the
utilization of every means within
your power to bring about prompt
unloading.
8. The policing of car loading to
secure the greatest practicable lad
ing per car.
8. Where accumulation of cars
for industries in excess of their
ability to unload promptly occurs,
report the facts Immediately with
recommendations to this office as
to whether embargoes should be
placed, or by the use of such other
practicable means as may be advis-
Y5le, secure the re- ease of the cars
and prevent further accumulation;
also the proper supervision of the
handling Of company fuel so as to
restrict the holding of company
fuel in cars to a minimum.
10. Utilization for the next 60 !
days of all of your field men. in
Guiding demurrage inspectors, trav-
cling traffic agents, division agents, |
etc, to expedite the T,
of fuel and the cars nee
essary for it's movement.
IL. Where delays to coal cars /
occur due to reconsignment report |
he facts to this Office at once /
While this is largely out of the I
railroads control. I think we can /
Use IL as a basis to secure more !
prompt action and a minimizing of |
le.lay.
Mr.. Ashton says:
tit is my suggestion that every
edleral manager, in addition to re-
te rating and supplementing these
call a meeting of ev-
,ryi officer on his railroad having |
o do with the movement of coal, !
II luse of coal cars; impress upon |
helm the importance of seeing that !
hese results are accomplished, |
md indicate to them that we shall /
depend upon them to in every way
t Emulate the production and trans
,ortation of fuel by eliminating
" cry single moment of delay in
he movement of both empty and
oa4ded coal cars, as we'll as delays