El Nuevo mexicano., 1919-10-16
TRYING
TO MEET DEMANDS
DIRECTOR HINES ISSUES STATE
MENT SHOWING DIFFICULTIES
PRESENTED BN BIG CROPS AND
SHORTAGE or EQUIPMENT.

MENI SnQWiNN DIFFICULTIES
PRESENTED BN BIG CROPS AND
SHORTAGE or EQUIPMENT.
Walker D. Hines. director general
of the railroads, today authorized the
Following statements
The railroads of TIE country arc
now doing 4 heavier business for this
season Of the year than was ever done
lby the railroads IN normal years, and
practically as heavy business as was
done at this season In 1918, which ex-
tceeded all previous records They
have more cars in actual service, after
excluding cars held out Of the service
for repairs. than IN 1917 or 1918.
While the bad order situation was
greatly embarrassed by the extensive
strikes among the shops In August, the
percentage OF bad order cars iR now
rapidly improving, showing an in
crease 0f b2,a6e oars ia service avail
able before August 16 to October 4.
Twelve thousand and one hundred ten
lof this increase were added In the
week ending October 4
While the freight business Is prac-
itloaHy as heavy at this time of the
year the railroad administration in
performing the business is unable to
take advantage Of many exceedingly
Important aids which 1t was abs to
utilize last year. One of these Is a
scarcity OF coal which last year cont
PEELED consumers to take their coal
from nearby mines and thereby in
creased greatly the effective rate OF
coal transportation. This advantage
hQA 44onf F4AnAnra rtIt I1Ranw 1nnuA4at
because business was heavier last
winter.
Another Is that last year there was
much heavier loading OF many import
ant commodities than Il has peer pos
sible to secure this year, and the re-
suit is the uneyening OF these condi-
fions. More cars have been used for
the same amount Of traffic than were
used last year.
There are various other important
respects in which traffic was con-
trolled In the interest of the war last
year so as TO get the maximum re.
suits out of the railroads, and with the
Of peace conditions and the
resulting insistence Of public senti-
ment upon relief from war time stress.
these advantages have been lost. The
fact that there is still a shortage in
railroad transportation is due to the
condition that the amount of business
offered Is far in xcess of the trans
portation facilities of the country.
This always has been true in this
in times of heavy business
and in autumn. except last year, when
the matter could be and was con
with an iron hand with a view
solely to war necessity. At the same
time, railroad facilities have not been
expanded to the extent required In the
public interest even prior to the war.
Railroad facilities can not equal the
during the war. The addition
new facilities Ia restricted by the
scarcity Of material and labor.
Since the war 1t has been impOs-
iibie to carry out any extensive pro
tram for e~nlargfng OF railroad capital
,ecause OF the uncertainty Of the
status OF the railroads. The railroad
administration was not provided with
he money, therefore could not orig
credit and carry out any such
The railroad companies, in
Jew Of the uncertainty, were unwill
to provide the money, the result
leIng that the railroad facilities of the
lpuntry are decidedly below what the
rattle demands. Nevertheless, the
maximum traffic Is being handed, and
his Ii being done with less shortage
i transportation than manifested
Gself In the war period.
Particular attention Is being passed
v the railroad administration in fur
necessary equipment for the
transportation of coal and grain. 1t
las decided early in September that
il order to meet the coal requirements
{ the country it would be necessary
or the railroads to move a minimum
( IL, 000,0 900 tons OF bituminous coal
week. For the week ending Sep
10, IA, 400, 600 tons we're trans
orted. For the week ending Septem-
or 20, 10, 24s, 900 tons were transport,
d, and Tor the week ending Sentem-
or IN! the railroads estimate that ap-
fortunately 11,575,000 tons we're han
led. tK
Conditions have developed which
iade It necessary to handle the wheat
tuation in an emergency way. The
tuation has been complicated also by
lie fact that many Of the elevators are
III, and IL has been impracticable
!, move additional wheat to points
here the elevators we're full, be
luse to do so would cause large num-
srs of railroad cars to be filled with
ain which could not be disposed OF
destination. and this would result
practically taking such cars out Of
and using them FOR storage,
id depfiying the public generally Of
RS badly needed to carry on bust
ass on every sort.
The railroad administration is fol-
wing this matter vigorously In con
with the grain corporation,
the director general will consider
e matter personally at a meeting Of
terested railroad officers, represen-
tives OF the grain corporation and
hers, which win be held this week.
j to the situation in Texas, where
neat conditions are particular acute.
10 estimate OF the crop is approxi-
ately $4,000, 900 bushels larger than
year, and here there is q scarcity
local storage facilities. arrange
ants have been made through the
ain corporation for the sending Of
aitional CARGO vessels to Galveston
d arrangements have already been
AIDE for increasing the number Of
s1t. far nns1noda NJ WhAaf Info Gal.