New-York tribune., 1919-10-13
Prev { ar Rail
Traffic Records
Are Smashed
With More Cars in Service
Than i'll 1913, Facilities
Are Strained to Handle
Business, Hines Declares

Business being handled BY the rail
roads OF the country now is heavier
than ever before at this season in nor
NAL years, statement issued by
Walker d. Hines, Director General Of
Railroads, announces. 1t is suhsian-
TALLY as heavy as the business done in
the corresponding season last year,
which exceeded all previous records.
The railroads, according 20 the state
ment, have more cars in actual service
than in 1917 or 1918. While the bad
order car situation was greatly cnlbar-
rassed b. the extensive strikes among
shopmen in August, tie percentage OF
bad order cars is now rapidly improv-
.ng
There was an increase Of 52,s5G cars
IN scrviceable condition between Au-
gust Is and October a. and 12.11O OF
this increase were added in the one
week ending October 4.
"While the freight business" tie
statement continues, "is practically as
heavy as at this time last year. the
railroad administration in performing
that business is unavoidnblv deprived
OF many exceedingly important ads
which it was able to utilize last year
One OF these is the zoning Of coal
which last year compelled consumers
70 take their coal from nearby mines
and thereby greatly increased the eff
ticiency Of coal Transportation. This
advantage has necessarily beer lost. be-
cause the coal coming was terminated
last winter.
More Cars Must Be Used
Another is that last year there was
much heavier loading Of many i'm
portant commodities than it has been
possible to procure this year. ana the
result is that under existing conditions
more cars have to be used for the same
amount Of traffic than were used last
year. There are various other impor-
tant respects in which traffic was con-
trolled in the interest of the war last
year, SO as to get the maximum results
out of rail transportation, and with the
return of peace conditions and the re-
sulting inastance of public sentiment
upon release from wartime restric-
tions these advantages have been lost.
The fact that there is still shortage
in rail transpc rtation is due to the CON
dition that the amount of business
offering is FAR in excess of the trans
portaton facilities of the country. This
has always been true in this country in
times of heavy business in the autumn
months except last year. when the mat
ter could be and was controlled with an
iron hand, with a view solely to war
necessities.
"At the same time railroad facilities
have not expanded to the extent re-
Quired in the public interest Even
prior to the war railroad facilities were
not equal to the demands. During the
war the addition Of new facilities was
greatly restricted by scarcity of ma
terial and labor S,rce then it has been
impossible to enter upon or carry out
any extensive programme for enlarge
ment of railroad capacity because of
the uncertainty as to the status of the
railroads. The railroad admin istration
was not provided with the money, and
out any such programme. The railroad
companies. in view of the uncertainty,
were unwilling TO provide the money.
Below What Traffic Demands
"The result is that the railroad
facilities of the country are decid edly
below what the traffic demands Never
theless the maximum traffic is being
handled and this is being done with
less shortage Of transportation than
manifested itself at times in the pre-
war period. Particular attention is
being paid by the railroad administra-
tion to the furnishing of necessary
equipment for the transportation oi
coal and of grain. 1t was decided
early in September that in order to
meet the coal requirements ot the
country it would be necessary for the
railroads to move Il minimum of
100000 tons of bituminous coal q
week. For the week ended Septem Der
| H. II 046 900 tons were trauenortod
For the week ended Septembe 90
II 24s, 600 tons we're transported, and
for the week ended September 27, She
railroad administration estimates that
approximately lI,575, GOO tons were
transported.
"Conditions have developed VIII ch
have made it necessary to handle the
wheat situation in an emergency way
This situation has been complicated
! by the fact that many of the elevators
! are full and 1t has been impracticable