The sun., 1919-03-09
EXPORT COMMERCE
GAINING STEADILY
Railroad Traffic Reports Show
Increases Since Armistice
Signing.
OTHER FREIGHT LIGHTER
Passenger Travel All Over
Country Exhibits Consid-
cradle Falling OFF.
OTHER FREIGHT LIGHTER
Epecfai Dsspdich 10 TEE SrN.

cpeCdt DstpdICH 10 NE Sun.
WASHINGTON, March s.--A steady In
crease in American foreign commerce
since the signing of the arrnistice Is in
dicated in railroad trafYic reports issued
by the Railroad Administration. Com
mercial export shipments to New York
as distinguished from Government ship
ments averaged AIS cars day in Febru-
airy. as against 253 a day In January,
1e9 in December and ia in November.
Passenger travel throughout the United
States. however, has become light, and
the general freight movement Is by no
means as large as It was, rejecting the
general business situation. The report
for last week made public to-day shows
the following conditions:
Eastern region--Traffic is rather light.
but many concerns which had reduced
their forces are now augmenting them.
Export freight on hand at New York.
other than Government grain and coal.
equalled 1850 carloads. which includes
little more than 1000 cars of provi-
sions for European Governments and the
Food Administration. The amount of
United States Army and Navy freight
on hand has been reduced TO 1000 car
loads. The shipping day guide covering
shipments from Manhattan Island sta
tons. has been distributed and will be-
come effective March 10. Passenger
traffic continues to show large increases.
Club Cars for New Jersey.
For the Allegheny Region--operatins
conditions are very satisfactory and
traffic is moving freely. The export
grain situation Is good and the vessel
programme indicates a flow OF grain
from the West to the elevators at the
ports. Passenger travel was somewhat
light over the holiday period. although
travel to Atlantic City was exceedingly
heavy. Arrangements have been made
to place several suburban club cars In
service between New York and Plainneld.
The New York Flyer between New York
and Harrisburg will be resstablished
soon by the Philadelphia and Reading.
Pocshontas Region-Coal dumped al
tidewater showed an increase OF seas
tons. but the situation Is unsatisfactory
due to lack of vessels. high vessel rates
and small demand for coal. The total
coal and coke movement for this region
shows an increase OF 1.121 cars over the
previous week. The tonnage OF freight
moving shows no material improvement
and the tonnage for the week showed a
ueCFcdSo OF ll,ooo CARY uHucT tHo Sot
responding week Of last year.
Pig iron sales are slow and deliveries
under advance sales are being delayed
by consumers.
Farmers are enjoying unprecedented
prosperity throughout this region as they
have obtained high market prices for
their products, lands increased in value
and improved facilities for travel have
brought them in closer touch with the
cities and the public.
Falling on In the south.
Southern Region--The general move
ment Of freight Is not as heavy as pre-
ceding weeks and showed a total de-
crease of 11,2ls cars under the corre-
spending week of 1918. The Southern
Pine Association reports an increase in
orders and production for tho week
with a slight decrease in shipments
The Hardwood Lumber Association re-
ports heavy export demand for hard
wood lumber. but great difficulty in Sc
curing bookings.
birmingham reports no Improvement
in the iron and steel market and that
several furnaces have been shut down,
while several moro will probably close
Northwestern Region-There was in
creased activity in the logging and lum-
Der business in northern territory hui
the Pacific coast shows little or no Inn
provement. Some of the cement mills
have opened and the balance will re-
sumo operations in a short time. there
being a large movement in prospect for
public improvements
Central Western Region-The loading
OF freight shows no Improvement there
being decreases in practically all COM
mod!ties except live stock. The total
loading for the week was $4,000 cars
lAss than In thu sarnA nAriod n year aYn