Evening star., 1920-05-28
BREAK UP FREIGHT
JAM HERE WHEN
CARS CLOG YARDS
Terminal Committee to Clear
Out 700 Which Came by
Error Last Niqht.

washington was threatened with
another serious freight jam today.
Through quick action on the part of
the local terminal committee, Gre
ated by the Interstate Commerce
Commission for such emergencies, the
danger is passed.
BY late this evening the 700 cars
from the south. bound for points north
through Washington, which caused
the congestion last night, are ex-
pected to be cleared from the yards
and on their way.
Committee Proves Worth.
The local terminal committee, not
yet week old. proved today the
benefit which the commission antici-
pated when it named thirty such
committees in the main "gateways''
OF the country's. freight traffic last
Washington committee in the office
OF r. S. Booth. chairman and repre-
sentative of the commission. today a
report Of it's first decisive action was
outlined. This report is said to be
indicative of the steps being taken
throughout the country on the part
freight congestion.
Through an error on the part of some
railroad official. and through viola
tion of orders on the part of certain
shippers. 700 cars from the south. over
the Southern and the Washington and
southern railroads, entered the Poto-
mac yards yesterday. These cars
were destined for northern cities over
the Baltimore and Ohio. Congestion
IN these cities made it impossible to
handle the shipments. They had to be
nelo IN Potonac yards. and their pres
ence threatened to tie up local facili-
ties for handling other freight.
As soon as the cars were reported
in Potomac yards the terminal com
mlttee was notified. E. V. King, rail-
road representative on the committee
visited the yards Immediately and is
sued orders, backed by federal author
lty, Tor clearance of the cars
Mr.. King Reroutes.
instead OF sending them over routes
specified in bills of lading, Mr.. King.
who also is chairman of the car service
committee appointed by the railroads
TO act in conjunction with the terminal
rerouted the cars over
most available lines. This evening. il
was stated, will find Potomac wards
cleared of the cars and the terminal
committee ready to act in the next
George H. Cushing. representative
VI me shippers on the terminal COM
mlttee, told The Star today that
some trouble had been experienced
with certain Washington merchants
IN making them unload their cars.
one OF the first things we attempt
ed to do" he said, was to get the
local freight yards clear of all un-
loaded cars. We found about forty
cars, all told. which had been stand
ing unloaded from twelve to four
teen days. Instead of getting after
the merchants individually we asked
the Merchants and Manufacturers
Association to handle the problem for
us. This organization has promised
that the situation will be looked
INTO Immediately. and we have reason
to believe that all these cars will be
unioaded within day or two"
Committee Meeting Called.
While the terminal committees
throughout the country are working
on their problems. a meeting of the
member roads officials of the Asso-
citation of Railway Executives has
been called for this afternoon. Plans
of distributing the s25,ooo.ooo loan
approved by the Interstate Commerce
Commission out of the 100000. 900 re-
volving fund. and which will be used
In the purchase of equipment, will be
discussed. The discussion will be in
the way of preparation for the hear
ing before members of the Interstate
Commission tomorrow on
the most equitable plan for dividing
the $25,000.000 loan among the rail-
roads. The special revolving fund
of the association, which
has been drawing up data on the sub
ject, probably will present it's recon-
mendations to the officials this after
noon.