Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1919-10-14
More Cars, In Actual Service
Than In. n.1917
or 1918
FOR COAL AND GRAIN
Conditions Haye Developed Which
Have Made it Necessary to Handle
Wheat Situation in an Emergency


G. C. Buddfn, division superintemd.
ent Of the Southern Railway today
received the following Telegram from
Walker D. Hines, Director General Of
Railroads, Washington, D. C.
"The Railroads of the country are
now doing a heavier business for ths
present season of the year than was
ever done in the history of the Rail
roads in normal yeans and practical
ly as heavy business as was done at
this season. in 1918, which exceeded
all previous years.
"They have more cars in actual Sc,
vice after excluding cars held out Of
service Tor repairs than in 1917 or
1918. While the bad order car situa-
tion was greatly embarrassed by tho
extensive strikes among shop men in
August, the percentage of bad order
cars is iN;t rapidly improving. There
was ar increase of 52,456 cars il
serviceabEe condition between /, Aug
usit 18th and October 9TH, 12,l10 of
this increase We're added the one week
ending October 4th.
"While the. freight business is prac-
ticalEy as heavy as this time last year
the Railroad Administration in pre-
forning tiiat business IS mlavoidedly
deprived cf many exceedingly i'm
pontant aids which it was able to
utilize taIIt year, one of these is the
zoning of coal which last year com
PEELED consumers to take their coal
from nearby mines and thereby
greatly increased the efficiency cf
coal transportation. This advantage
has necessarily been lost because the
coal zoning was terminated last win
ter. Another is that ait least there
Was much heavier loading of MANY
important. colemdities that it has
been possible DO secure this year,
RESULT is that under existing condi-
tions, more cars have to be used for
the same aru9,yit of traffic Ehan were
used last year,, !,
There are various other important
respects in which traffic was control
led in the intelest Of the war last year
so as to get THE maximum results out
of rail transportation and with re-
turn Of peace conditions and the re-
suatiMg ipsistence. .sof, public sentiment
upon release. from war time restric-
tions, these advantages have. been lost
The fact that $here is still short
age in rail transportation is due to
the condition that the amount of bus
ness offering lis far in excess of the
transportation facilities of. the ;aoun-
try. This: has always been true in
this country in times of heavy bust
ness m the Autumn months except
last year when the matter could be
and was controlled with am iron han:
with a view SOLELY to war, at the
same tiTIe Rail'oad facilities have
not expanded to the extent required il
the public interest. Even prior to The
wan, Railroad facilities were no
equal to the demands during the war
the addition of new facilities wa;
greatly restricted by scarcity of mia
teriial and labor. Since the war it ha:
been impossible to enter upon 0
CARRY out any extensive program fo.
enlargement of railroad capacity be
cause of the uncertainty as to tn
status of the Railroad. The Ralh-oa1
administration. was not proy-ide'
with the money and therefore cou!
not originate or carry out any sue
program. The Raiiroad Companies j
view. of the uncertainty were unwil
ing to provide the money, the resul
is that the railroad facilities of; tn
country are decidedly below what tn
traffic demands, nevertheless, tn
maximum traffic is being handled an
with less shortage of tnansportat&o
than manifested itself at times in th
pre-war period.
Particular attention is being pal
by the Railroad Administration i
the furnishing of necessary equip
nfent for the transportation of co;
and Of grain. It was decided early
September that in order to meet til
ccal requirements of the country,
would be necessary fer the Railroad
to move minimum of 11,0O0,O OK
tons of hlunlnons coal week. T,