The Delta independent., 1920-07-16
RAILWAY OFFICIAL GIVES
VIEWS ON CAR SHORTAGE

The following address was deliv-
cred by Samuel NJ. Fulton, president
of the Chicago Great Western railroad,
before the Chamber of Commerce of
Kansas City. Mo-. at luncheon on
June 80:
while transportation conditions
are very unsatisfactory. the present
railroad situation is chiefly an after
math of government CONTROL, declared
Samuel NJ. FELTON,. president of the
Chicago Great Western railroad. in an
address before the Chamber OF Com
merce today. Touching upon the coal
shortage. Mr.. FELTON, showed that the
railways transported 39.000.000 more
tons of bituminous coal during the
present year up to June ~ than they
did in the same period of last year.
THE present coal shortage" he
said. is chiefly due to the fact that
the country's coal supplies were enor-
mously depleted by the coal mine
strike last November and December,
and in spite of the increased tonnage
moved by the railways since January
1t has been impossible to affect this
depletion of the supplies"
Referring to the effects of the "out-,
law" strikes upon railroad operation,
Nh, FELTON, said:
II has been alleged that as q result
of these strikes private operation has
broken down." as it was formerly
alleged that 1t had broken down be-
fore government operation was
adopted. In spite of all the adverse
, conditions with which they have had
, to contend, the railways have been
f, moving more freight than they did lost
year. The latest information on this
subject is afforded by reports to the
American Railroad association by a
, large majority Of the railways. They
, show that between March 81 and June
F., 12. In spite, of the strikes. the num-
/ ber of carloads of freight moved by
the roads reporting was S.264.4S5. as
! compared with 7.70S.s27 during the
same weeks of lsat year. an increase
of 555,55S carloads. In the week end
: ed June 12 the number of carloads
4 handled by these roads was $1,000
greater than in the same week of
last year.
Even the strikes. Mr.. FELTON, said.
| were an aftermath of government con.
troll. For several months before the
railways were returned to private op-
GRAFTON the employees were demand.
Ing vast additional advances in
wages. The government refused eth.
er to definitely grant or refuse these
demands. thus greatly aggravating the
dissatisfaction and unrest among the
employees. As the strikes came with.
In less than month after private
operation was resumed, they cannot
fairly be attributed to It.
As a result OF the conditions under
which the railways were returned to
their owners. the problem Of manage
ment, Mr. FELTON, said has been made |
enormously complex and difficult. The
government had followed a policy |
which many people at one time be-
lieved would render It impossible ever
to resume private operation. The OF. |
ficial organizations OF many roads
we're disrupted. The cars Of the va.
rious railways were scattered all over
the country. so that even today they
have upon their own lines only q small
percentage OF their own cars. Not a
single passenger car was bought. Only
as many freight cars and locomotives
were bought as had ordinarily been
scrapped by the railways In . single
year. Repairs Of freight cars were
90 inadeauAtely done that an abnor-
mally large number Of freight cars !
were In had order. The number OF +
rails and ties laid In tho tracks Was
greatly reduced. The net operating