Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1919-12-11
Grain men HERE
SCORE RAILROAD
ADMINISTRATION
Say Certain Sections of Coun.
try Have Plenty of Empty
Cars Lying Idle, While
Others Have None.

seathing arraignment of the United
States railroad administration in the
matter of furnishing grain and coal
car equipment at places and times
when most needed.
Past experience" they state, "in
the grain trade has been that when
the railroad wish to furnish equip
ment they can furnish sufficient cars
to practically all of the grain-pro-
ducing territory. Can the railroad
officials explain satisfactorily the
reason for plenty of equipment for
the entire country at one time, while
at another cars disappear and can
not be furnished?
Careful investigation develops the
fact" the statement adds, that GER
tain section of the country have
plenty of empty cars lying idle, while
other sections plead for cars and can
not obtain them. Grain men are
receiving tn Sc reports daily, con-
firming these conditions"
officials Blamed.
Additional allegations are made
III the statement as follows:
I'm talking to conductors, switch
men, brakemen, hremen, engineers,
clerks, and in fact all employees in
general of the railroads, we find
them a good class of men, ready to
do all in their power. to serve the pup
lie. The trouble apparently lies, and
can be traced, to the high-up officials
who do not put forth the proper
orders; at times putting forth con-
hicting orders.
Governor McKe1vie advises that
situation. There is plenty of coal
situation. There are plenty of coal
at the Wyoming mines, but short
age of cars threatens the movement.
Further stating, that the trouble is
in the divided authority reposed
in directors of the various roads,
Wyoming having four different
roads and even suffering from this
condition. The governors state
ment speaks for ITSELF and helps to
verify like conditions in the grain
movement.
"On December 2 certain railroad
officials, representing the subcoal
committee, made the following
statement: There can be no relief
before the first Of the year, even if
miners 60 back to work at once.
Present restrictions will continue
until there is relief. The people of
Omaha must realize now that Oma-
has condition is not only serious
it is critical. At the very best we
have barely enough coal to last US
through Monday next, nor is there
pound in sight
Quote Butler Statement.
Account of certain conflicting
statements of the fuel committee
the city of Omaha ordered an in
vestigation with the idea of finding
out how much coal there really was
available. On December 8 City
Commissioner Butler, directed by
the city commission, investigated
the coal supply and disclosed more
than 1000 cars of coal in certain To-
calities on the Union Pacific Bur-
lington, Missouri Pacific and North
western tracks. Mr.. Butler found
this coal in four distinct localities
on the railroads. With the enormous
trackage in Omaha and Council
Bluffs, you can readily understand
that this does not represent all OF
the coal available on track. This is
not only the condition in Omaha,
but, on careful investigation, we find
the same condition exists at many
junction points.
"The question readily comes to
the public mind: Are we really
short of coal or are we short of coal
. on account of the failure of the rail-
roads to move it, and are these same
railroad officials playing horse with
the country in general, as facts show
they have with the grain trade?
Say Sufficient Coal.
with these facts presented, it
further comes to the public mind
that we have witnessed only so days
of cold weather, and why should we
be thrown into panicky state and
our industries curtailed until the
first of the year, even if the miners
go to work at once? Coal should
not disappear in such a short time,
as generally there is sufficient coal
mined ahead, account of the fact
that everyone knows that winter
approaches once a year.
Further, it seems to be the gen.
eral opinion that it would be poor
business policy to let the same rail-
road officials who have made such a
failure in operating the railroads for
the government, handle the coal sit
uation. Why experiment with men
who have failed to do their duty to
the publics"
Predicts Closing Of