The Pensacola journal. (Pensacola, Fla.) 1898-1985, 1920-06-26
COAL CARS ARE TRANSPORTING
LUXURIES while COUNTRY IS
FACING FOOD and FUEL FAMINE
Sixty Per Cent of Equipment Is
Diverted to Other Uses or
Tied Up BY Congestion.
CONSUMERS WILL PAY
Bituminous Coal Prices TO Mani
pulate and No End to Py-
ramid Is Seen.

Editors Note: Here's the cause ~
the coal famine and profiteering a.
reported for The Journal by special
investigators in this fourth of a series
lof dispatches covering all phases of
the situation)
Especial to The JournaL)
Washington. June 25-Government
OFFICIALS estimate, that the railroads
nave $4,000 coal cars in good renair
But about 5s5.OO0 of them are not de-
livering the goods, for the supply Of
cars to the mines is only 40 per cent
OF normal
That is the big cause OF tho present
isky-rocketing prices or soft coal
threatening. famine this fan and an
added tax of $4,000. .O00. 900 on consum-
ers' pocketboolxs
The so per cent OF the cars that
should be hauling coal. but are not. the
either in use transporting other things
like automobiles and building mater.
ials, or are standing on sidetracks fun
of coal or ore that cannot be unloaded.
Congestion causes that
Most OF the cars that are available
are hauling coal for the railroads
This is a very necessary function.
but II reacts doubly on the public
right now
First-It leaves very few cars IN
meet the need for summer transporta
tion via the Great Lakes to the north
west
Second-It gives few mines. which
the railroads permit TO have cars
wide-open opportunity for proflteer-
ing.
The Black Diamond, coal journal
SAYS editorially:
The only mines able - obt1.n cars
with any degree of regularity are those
furnishing railroad fuel. In many
instances, in sef-defense. mines are
compelled to. accept railroad fbel or
ders TO get cars at all. At n time
when car supply averages little more
than 35 per cent this ere
ates n scarcity of coal for commercial
shipping. The railroads have a mon
opoly on the coal supply"
Saward's Journal. another coal pub
lication, says:
I'VE are now running abOIs 10000
tons of coal a day below 1918 figures.
The assigned car practice
is enabling the railroads TO get their
coal at much below the market price.
at the expense OF other classes OF con-
sumers."
John Moore. president Of rhe Ohio
miners. says:
Tens of thousands of miners are
cu. of work because the railroads re
fuse 20 supply cars TO the mines On an
e ;uitable basis. This IS ,he ,!me ef
year when every miner shoai1 be waris
Ing That is the only way to prevent
suffering next winter
Interstate Commerce Commission
Figures show that when the switcnmen,s
strike began car congestion was 80
900 GERS BY April 25 y hal risen TO
the highest point in American rais-
roading history with 269.Ooc cars tied
up at terminals. junction points and
way sidings BY June { IL was re-
duced to 10000 cars, o.t since then
conditions have been steadily getting
worse again.
Reports from all over the country
show that coal cars are being used
to ship automobiles. Building materials
and machinery. Concerning this the
New York Times, June 8. said:
about 80 per cent of the cars re-
ceived here are open -flatbottom cars.
These can be loaded without extra
expense. The other 10 per cnt are
tooth or drop-bottom cars. These
have TO be floored with lumber (Which
costs s65 per 1000 square feet) and
there is an extra charge Of s25 per
car for flooring them. In addition
to this charge the cars have TO be
protected by water-proofed tarpaulins.
for which a charge of 500 each il
made to the consignee, and when re-
turned in good condition a rebate OF
$50 is allowed. Tarpaulins average
six trips before they are unfit for
further use. Furthermore, the extra
cost of loading is SIS per car over
and above all expenses"
More than a month has passed since
car congestion became acute
The interstate commerce commits
sion has issued various orders. fnclud-
ing the rushing of solid trains OF
empty cars from congested points 10
districts needing them
So far, howsv~r. there hass been
practically no mass breaking Of car
congestion. In the matter OF coal and
grain shipments. matters have gotten
worse and are steadily getting more