Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-05-22
SEES NEED OF
QUICK WORK ON
CAR SHORTAGE
Indiana Public Service Body
Seeks Way to Avert Closing
of Utilities.
AFTER FACTS FIRST

Drastic action must be taken i'm
mediately to relieve the acute coal
car shortage in Indiana, members of
the public service commission agreed
today when they held 4 conference
to devise means by which 10 over
ZONE the situation.
Invitations were sent to representative
coal operators and the superintendents
6 the coal carrying railroads in the
state, asking them TO attend a confer
ence with the commission next Monday
to learn just how serious the shortage is
and how best to aver q closing Of public
utilities.
I've want to get all available informa-
ton on the situation so far as diverting
Of coal cars. production of coal and the
plight Of public utilities are concerned -
said Chairman E. I. Lewis Of the COM
mission.
There is more or less loosely gathered
Information and we want a solid basis
on which TO work"
COMMISSION CAN'T
HANDLE SITUATION.
The commission is powerless to cope
with the coal car shortage and it has ap-
pealed repeatedly TO the interstate COM
merce commission at Washington. asking
It for relief.
The members were awaiting word from
their last request to the interstate com
merce commission
Two of the big Calumet region indus
tries are at the point of closing, the com
mission has been informed.
The Illinois Central railroad announced
that its freighthouse would be closed TO
outbound less than carload shipments
Monday and Tuesday.
It was explained that this is necessary
because Of the congestion Of freight.
Indiana mines have only 30 per cent
OF the necessary cars for the transporta-
ton of coal, according to figures OBJ
tained by the commission.
This percentage is much lower than
st any time during the war or any previ-
Gus period.
Only about 20 per cent Of the neces-
sary number Of cars are available for
local shippers. according to F. y. Rey-
nolds. superintendent Of the indianapolis
terminal division of the Big -Four rail-
road
In accordance with action taken By
the Indianapolis Association Of Credit
Men, the associations general secretary.
c. Holmes, has sent to Edgar
Z. Clark, chairman Of the interstate
ter in favor of allowing an increase in
freight rates;
A freight rate that is too low for the
railroad is too low for the shipper"
CITES NECESSITY OF
ADDITIONAL CARS.
we have been fully advised by repre-
sentatives Of the carriers that there is
now pending before your commission
a proceeding involving an increase in the
freight rates IN TIE eastern territory IN
der Section 15-A OF the interstate com
merce act as amended by the transporta-
tion act Of 1920.
We have been apprised Of the present
financial difficulty Of the railroads; of
the physical condition of their proper
ties and equipment, and their needs in
the direction of additional cars and ex-
tensive facilities
I'VE are in favor of allowing carriers
an increase in freight rates sufficient to
produce a fair return on a liberal aggre-
gate valuation Of their property, and we
beg leave TO respectfully urge upon your
commission that prompt action be taken
to afford immediate relief from the pres
enc intolerable situation