The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-02-07
LOCAL INDUSTRIAL
TIEUP THREATENED
BY BOX CAR ORDER
Petition Congressman for AC-
ton on Ruling Sending the
EmptieS North When Need
Here Is Urgent.


Total paralysis of Memphis indus
tries. and all Industries throughout the
South IS threatened by the drastic or
der of Walker d. Hines. director-gen-
eFai OF railroads, directing that all avail
able boXcar equipment suitable for use
IN handling bulk grain shall be sent
10 inc Northern grain states to pro-
NlQe lor The movement of bulk grain
heid there. The only commodities for
winch local railway officials are au-
thorlzed to supply empty cars being
putk grain, sugar, print paper, wood
pulp and less than carload merchan-
use. Local shippers are appealing to
senator Mcclellan and Congressman
RUPERT Fisher to act in their behalf.
Empty cars delivered to local ship
pers for loading, are being pulled away
empty and sent to Centralia, ILL.,, in
accordance with the director general
order, absolutely draining this terri
Tory OF all boxcar shipping facilities ex-
cept for the preferred commodities, in
spite of the urgent protest Of the ship
pers.
A. II: Egan, chairman of the Menu
phls district operating committee for
the federal railroad administration, said
Saturday that the order of the director
general was being complied with here
10 me letter, and that no empty cars
would be supplied to local shippers for
loading of anything but the preferred
commodities The orders of the fed
eral railroad administration, he said
were specific, and must be complied
with.
The order is virtually complete en-
barge on all shipments at Memphis ex-
cept package merchandise freight. Not
q local industry can obtain an empty
boXcar, no matter how urgent the need
for the shipment may be.
Farmers are crying for fertilizer to
get out their spring paintings, but not
car is available to supply this essen
tial for next years crops
The scarcity Of feedstuffs in local ter
ritory threatens actual suffering If
feeds can. not be moved, but in spite
OF the urgency of the situation, not a
car is available, and the mixed feed
plants here. that have been running
at full capacity and are far behind with
their orders, must close down, If relief
Is not granted, adding to the shortage
of feed that Is already critical
"A Large number of local plants will
have to close down and hundreds of
| men will be thrown out OF employment
IN few days If the order is not mode
| fled local manufacturers and shippers
claim.
The Memphis Merchants exchange
| sent kilograms to Senator X. D. Nickel
lar and Congressman Hubert Fisher
| Saturday. stating that the order will
put Memphis grain dealers and feed
| manufacturers completely out of bust
ness, and that fearful congestion in
| the local yards Is bound to result that
| II will take weeks to cltar. The grain
! growers are not suffering, it Is con
| tended, but the consumers in the South
| will suffer greatly if the order Is car
ried out
| The diverting of cars from this terri
| tory to the grain territory is to ex-
tend over a period of ten days, begin
ming Feb s. The order was being put
| in effect here Saturday and shippers
| were not allowed to load cars that had
| already been placed on their tracks
Even after the day period is over
| it will take weeks to clear. The grain
to their normal service and clear the
congestion in Southern terminals that
will result from the order shippers de-
| clare.
OF all the orders issued during the
| governments operations of the rail
| roads, shippers declare that this is
the most drastic and detrimental to the
| South that has ever been issued.
| j. B. McGinnis. commissioner for the
| merchants exchange. Is now in Wash
| irgton, and a telegram was sent tc
him Saturday acquainting him Of de-
| velopments here and instructing him
| to get in touch with Senator Mcclellan
| and Congressman Fisher at once. Mr.
| McGinnis Is thoroughly familiar witt
| the present shipping conditions anC
| will be in a position to present the
| matter fully if an audience with Mr.
| Hines can be obtained.