The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1920-01-20
RAILROADS NEED
100000 NEW CARS,
SAYS TOWNSHEND
Executives Of Southern Hard
wood Traffic Association in
Annual Convention Discuss
Railroad Statutes.

1T Is conservatiyely estimated that
zoe, ,O00 additional freight cars are now
needed In the country" declared ]. II.
Townshend, secretary manager OF the
Southern Hardwood Traffic association,
In his annual report to the more than
400 members from all parts OF the
country, assembled In seventh annual
convention, which opened at 10 o'clock
Tuesday morning at the Hotel Chlsca
The car situation for the future looks
very black" Mr.. Townshend contin-
ued, only approximately so, 900 cars
having been built by the railroad ad-
ministration."
He stated that no step is being taken
TO build the sorely needed cars and
that mo step will be taken until the
roads are returned to those originally
responsible for their operation"
The car shortage and legislation af-
fecting the operation OF the railroads
OF the country following their return
to private ownership after March were
the principal questions handled in both
the annual report OF MIR. Townshend and
the annual address OF James Il. Stark,
OF James Il. Stark & Co. Inc. Memphis.
the retiring president Mr., Townshend
outlined certain principles" which he
said the Southern Hardwood Traffic
association favored for inclusion in new
railroad legislation and certain other
placed on the statute books" Those
principles include return OF the railroads
to their corporate owners with al
the rights, duties and liabilities exist
ing prior to government control; nc
general consolidation Of railroads Other
than noncompetitive lines, and then
only In case SUCH consultations are In
the public interest" ;" opposition on tht
ground that 1t Is "impracticable and
undesirable" to the plan for dividing
the country into rate, districts as pro.
vided in the Cummins bill; opposition
to compulsory federal incorporation be,
cause unconstitutional and can no
! and should not be required. opposition
to railroad transportation board a.
| unnecessary" and creator Of con
| fliet. or jurisdiction between such {
board and the interstate commerce com
mission, opposition to further contro
| OF the interstate commerce commission
4 over water rates; recommendation tina
a fund be provided by the nationa
! government to lend money for a numbe
OF years to allow transportation com
/ panies to provide. necessary facilities. !.
loppositlo. nto any form of guarante
I 70 De made under any system OF private
ly owned and operated railroads; op
position to any change In the long an
short haul clause Of the present &C
to regulate commerce. opposition I
that section Of the Esch bill whic
give the power to the interstate com
merce commission to prescribe minimum
| rates; recommendation that the 'bi
should provide that the interstate com
merce commission have control over tn
supply, movement and distribution O
cars and locomotives. including the op
GRAFTON OF trains that the interstat
commerce commission shorld have tn
power to prescribe physical track con
1 H. Awk.S -.
and to require the terminals Of any car
rier to be opened up to other carriers.
Il In the conclusion of his discussion G
the car shortage Mr.. Stark as rem
edy recommended the building of car
by the government ito be leased on
per diem basis. which would be a
least self-sustaining, II not profitabl
to the government" Such action woul
be necessary to supply the deficiency
cars. he said, because when the rail
roads are returned TO private owner
ship II will take some time for thei
to refnaDce themselves so that the
can order new equipment" He favore
the building by the government for sue
leasing purposes Of mot less than zoo, OF
cars that could be used when needed.
Such action. he said. would reliev
the car situation earlier than could /
done by the railroad companies then
selves.
AS conditions now stand the pros
pect Is that the car shortage will er
dure for some time and that 1t wi
become more acute next fall, Mr., Star
said.
Mr. Townshend referred to the secul
ing of the limited milling in transit {
Memphis for the manufacture Of rouG
lumber into flooring, ceiling or qtht
small pieces OF lumber, on the basis
the through rate from point of origi
to final destination, plus trans
charge of two cents per 100 pound.
and announced that the association ha
filed complaint with the interstate con
merce commission for extension Of III
| arrangement to include Louisville q
well as Memphis and yarding, reshy
ping. drying, sorting OF lumber as we
as manufacturing, %'on basis of III
through rate plus reasonable trans
charge"
The remarkable growth Of the as
sociation during the past year was RI
ported. It was said that 102 new men
bers had been secured during the yea
Luncheon was served at 1890 o'cloc
Tuesday afternoon and at . o'cioc
the afternoon session opened. The chit
event Of the afternoon session was IN
address of C. II. Markham, president, {
| tho Illinois Central railroad lines !