Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1920-02-11
CAR SHORTAGE
BLOW TOLOCAL
AUTO PLANTS
Manufacturers Will Make Di-
rect Demand to Wash
ington officials.
DETROIT GETS FAvORs?

- The car shortage in Indianapolis
and in other manufacturing cities in
central Indiana has become so acute
that several local automobile manu-
facturers are planning to go to Wash
ington to make a direct demand for
relief upon high officials Of the rail
road administration.
It is intimated that the feeling is cur
rent among local manufacturers that De-
troit is being given preference over In
dianapolis in the allotment Of automo-
bile cars by Chicago railroad officials.
The storm of the past week along the
Atlantic coast has been responsible for
a further complication of an already
delicate situation, local traffic men say.
The vast quantity Of freight handled
through the mammoth eastern terminals
means a chaotic congestion If any con-
ditions interfere to check or hamper
quick unloading of cars at these points.
RAILROADS FAIL
TO GET EQUIPMENT.
Failure Of the railroads to obtain any
badly needed equipment is another lac
tor that traffic men declare Is a contri-
buting force to the presentc ar shortage.
The tremendous volume of business to
be handled now exceeds the railroads
equipment, 1t is said.
"The cart is pushing the horse" Ed
ward ]. Getttngs, traffic manager at the
Cole Motor Company, declared. ''The
automobile manufacturers are up against
a real problem in finding cars to ship
their autos in. I wouldn't want to say
positively that Detroit is being given
preference over Indianapolis in the mat
ter of car allotment. There may be con
dttions entering into car distribution TINT
am not familiar with but it is q Ger
tainty that at Chicago cars coming of
!. the roads leading into there are being dl-
verted in large numbers to Detroit"
Mr.. Gettings says that there may be a
possibility that the indianapolis territory
is supposed to get its cars from some
other source, but If that is so the source
is impoverished, for one thing is certain,
this city is getting cars IN small numbers.
DECLARES LOCAL
SITUATION SERIOUS.
D. M Smith, traffic manager at the Ma
tionaI Motor Company. says that the sit
nation here regarding cars is serious and
that although the matter has been taken
VI al Washington with the Indiana sena-
tors and congressman no relief has been
noticeable.
at appears to me as though Indian
apolis were being Disseminated against
in the matter Of car allotment and De-
troit was being given the preference.
Mr.. Smith said, "but whatever the cause
there is one dead sure certainty every
automobile factory in Indianapolis is
short Of cars. The storm in the east
has had a lot to do with the present
vr-4kJ str 4rrhA
entng out Of the tangle the roads have
gotten in east of Buffalo that the situa-
tion here will clear some'
, Mr.. Smith says that the railroads are
sll short of rolling stock to carry on
their immense increase in volume Of traf-
fc and until provisions are made for this
shortage it will be a hand-to-mouth prop
osltion for all shippers.
H. F. Adams, assistant traffic man
ager at Nordyke & Marmon Co, says
that their main difficulty is in getting
cars to ship their finished product The
matter Of raw materials, or incoming
freight, while not up to normal, is not as
serious as the problem Of getting finished
cars to dealers.
GETTING WORSE
INSTEAD OF BETTER.
THE situation is getting worse in
stead Of better" Mr.. Adams declared.
The railroads have not kept pace with
the rapid growth Of the automobile In
dustries in providing cars for loading
autos in. We are up against it and
every day opens another battle with
the railroads for cars. We can make rea-
s6nable reservations for shipments of
raw materials by buying in large guam
titles, but the matter Of getting finished
automobile into dealers hands is an
other problem. Don't ask me the solu-
tion, don't know and don't think any
body else does. More cars Is the only
solution I know Of"
J. W. Coneys, superintendent Of the
Pennsylvania lines here, admits the car
shortage is severe, but says the rail
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