The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-07-07
GRIPPING Of BIG
DIXIE INDUSTRIES
SEEN IN ORDERS
Calling in of Open Top Cars
for Coal May Compel Some
Plants to Shut Down, Ex-
pert Asserts.

Gripping Of several industries. halt
Ing OF highway construction work and
general backset to the lumber industry
In Memphis territory is threatened as
result OF the priority order OF the
interstate commerce commission IN
calling in all open top cars for exclu-
sive transportation of coal Efforts OF
chambers of commerce, manufacturing
interests to have the order modified
have failed, The only chance hinges on
hearing In Washington Thursday.
Originally the order went into effect
for 80 days. That 1t may be prolonged
beyond this time is freely predicted.
II such is the case 1t may cause yir-
concerns by placing an additional bur-
den on conditions which now are caus-
ing severe scarcity OF cars.
As first construed in Memphis the
materials It now develops that lin-
ber, cement, sand, building materials,
sewer pipe and all commodities shipped
in open cars fall under the ban.
Calls It Terrible.
"a terrible situation for industries
and road builders is created by the
priority order" says j. s. Davant, chair
man Of the Memphis freight bureau.
1T will put out of business all con-
Logging Industries are hard hit as Il
viii take from them virtually all OF
their shipping facilities.
For lumbermen the order means
severe curtailment but slight loop
hole is found in that box cars may be
used to certain extent, However. for
the log man. those industries needing
building materials road contractors en-
ploying large forces of men, issuance
OF such drastic rule by the inter-
state commerce commission almost win
mean destruction.
Thirty days is a long period and II
an extension is made there is no way
| of forecasting what will happen"
w. NJ; Soloman, chairman of the.
| transportation division of the Chamber
injure business to considerable ex-
tent and will curtail production in
many lines.
Secretary Hayiey, of the Chamber OF
Commerce, Wednesday admitted that It
would prove a hardship on Industries
in the Memphis section.
! A. G. Boughton, manager OF the st.
Louis office of the Manufacturers Rec
ord, who arrived in Memphis Wednes-
day. registering at Hotel Gayoso. when
declared the matter was serious and
! threatening any number OF industries
| throughout the South.
Raps U. s. Plan.
Mr.. Boughton was especially severe
in his arraignment of the interstate
commerce commission In assuming such
authority. He freely admitted the
coal shortage and situations created
during the past few years In the North,
but added that II was not fair. In his
opinion and that Of men he had talked
with, to put forth sucn a drastic order
and curtail industry.
In speaking. Of priority rulings. Mr.
Boughton said that during war IL was
necessary, but TO delegate such wide
authority to small body Of men in
these days OF upbuilding and recoifs
struction was ruinous. He cited many
examples OF manufacturers that now
rolling stock has handicapped them In
the past. The new order cuts off all
chances of attempting TO catch up with
the demand. With Mississippi. Louis
lana, Tennessee, Arkansas and other
Southern states in the midst OF a con-
structive highway program, lack OF ma
terials will prove very serious de-
Shutting off OF lumber will mean de-
| lay in building OF homes, he said. He
/ went further 10 show where In 1910
there were 110 families living In every
| 100 homes, In 1914, Just prior to the
| war. statistics showed 115 families to
every 100 homes. Today there are III
| families.
TO care for this increase and to bring
averages back to the 1910 level, Il win
| require the erection or 5000 900 homes
| In the United States in the next five
| years, he asserts. This means an av-
erage OF 500 homes in every town in
| the country, he said. Figures given 40
| other elements entering into the des-
| truction of property. Thus, he said, the
priority order comes at time when II
| will work the most injury.