Vernon Parish Democrat. (Leesville, La.) 1917-193?, 1920-08-26

THE NEED FOR COOPERATION

NE NEED FOh SU-UPEKAIlUA
Daniel Willard is frequently referred
to as the Jim Hill of the East. Hill.
the Empire Builder, and the greatest
of Western railroad men, MANY wears
ago prophesied that the terminal facil-
tiles in great cities would soon be out
grown, and his warnings have proved
to be correct. Mr.. Willard was a pill
lar of strength to the United States
government when the war made it nee
essary to pool the interests and facil-
tiles of the countrys railroads. There
have perhaps been few railroad men
whose opinions have carried greater
weight than his. His testimony before
the Interstate Commerce Commission
has evoked general approval. 1T is
important. he says, especially in times
of car shortage, that the shippers
should load cars as quickly as it is
economically possible and practicable
after they are received. The shipper
should also furnish prompt and defin-
lite billing instructions, and the instruc-
tons so furnished should take the car
If possible to It's ultimate destination.
Much delay is caused by the practice
OF billing cars subject to order or re-
consignment In transit, and Numerous
other devices that have come about
from time to time. All arrangements
of this kind are in effect a special
privilege aside from the service of
transportation, and in times of car
shortage, such privileges are at the ac-
tual expense of those whose business
is interfered with because Of their in
ability to ship at all. d"
Railroad statistics show that the
average car load on all the railroads
in the United States is only about 70
per cent OF the carrying capacity of
the car, and in addition to that about
81 per cent of the total mileage is
made with empty equipment" says Mr..
Willard. "A great deal can be done
towards getting a more effective use of
cars by increasing the car load, and
this is matter almost entirely within
the control of the shipper, and serious
consideration should be given, among
other things, to the revision of mini
mum car load regulations, to the end
that more effective use be made of all
cars.
1t is of course incumbent upon the
railroads to do everything that is econ
omically possible and practicable at all
times to reduce all delays to a mini
mum. need not at this time discuss
in detail what the railroad can and
ought to do. but am sure if the car
riers and the shippers will all cooper
ate, very great benefit will result there
from. The extent of the benefit may
be indicated somewhat by the fact that
an average increased movement of one
mile per car per day for all of the cars
in the United States, based upon pre-
sent performances, would in effect add
100000 cars to the available equip
ment, and AN average increase of one
ton per each loaded car would also
add in effect $4,000 cars to the avail
able equipment
Mr.. Willard has pointed out the ex-
act method for getting approximately
the service of 10000 cars out of the
present equipment. His suggestion for
cooperation should be adopted in all
parts Of the country, particularly as it
is fact that the shortage of cars is
so great, that it will be months before
it will be possible to secure enough
cars and engines to take care of the
peak-loads.
Z ort,T9ately, under the new tarnspor-
tation act, the Interstate Commerce
Commission is authorized to deal
promptly and effectively with the sit
uation, and in view Of the industrial
handicap. every possible effort Is being
put forth to bring the railroad equip
ment up to the old pre-war standard.