New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1920-05-23
Roads i'm All Parts of the
Country Begin Process
of Untahgling Under
Pressure of [. C.. G..
1000 Cars Moved
In New York Port
Traffic Conditions Not Ex-
pected to Become Nor
NAL for Many Weeks

WASHINGTON. May 22.-The edge
apparently has been broken off the ma
tion-widc freight jam through joint eff
forts of the railroads, the. Interstate
Commerce Commission and shippers.
Advices tonight from the principal
congested sections showed slight and
continued decline in the number of
loaded cars awaiting movement, while
reports to the American Railroad As
sociation indicated a general public
awakening to the need of thorough CO.
operation if the blockade was to be
lifted. This. with drastic steps taken
by the government in ordering COM
plete disregard of the usual routing
rules and the swift exchange of equip
ment, was counted on as "starter."
Despite tn1s more hopeful view of
the situation, however, officers of the
assoc iation and railroad men said the
great bulk of freight tied up over the
country had suffered only few dents
and that roads were so badly showed
under that it would take weeks, perhaps
months, to get back to normal.
Expected action by the Interstate
commerce Commission with respect to
suggestions of the roads for warding
off continued offering of all classes
of freight was not Forthcoming. The
to place country wide embargo and
is opposed to some extent to the use
OF prlorltics until it can ascertain the
effects Of measures already taken.
Railroad officials here announced
last night that the freight congestion
at the local terminals was being un-
tangled in accordance with the orders
of the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion. 1t vas stated that the yards in
the vicinity of New York were cleared
Of more than 1000 cars within the last
two days.
The best showing so far is being
hide by the Pennsylvania Railroad,
which reported that it sent out 800
empty box cars and 400 loaded cars
yesterday and expects to move 10000
more in twenty days. In addition, room
was made for 1000 cars of pcrishables,
which arrived at the terminals of this
line airing the day. The Pennsyl-
vania managers say that proportionate
progress was being made on other lines
in the port.
Robert f. Parsons, general manager
VI tIeN 1Ilc NdllTOdd, declared Lhat ap-
nrcclable benefits of the Federal pro-
gram would not be felt for some time.
THE carrying out Of the plan of the
Interstate Commerce Commission he
said, "will have the effect of moving
only essential commodities at first. It
will enable the railroads to collect un-
loaded cars from shippers and move
them to points where they are needed
badly. Under the existing system a
concern receiving a shipment has the
privilege of holding the cars at its sid
ings for reloading.
Automobile Industry Hit
Automobile manufacturers will feel
the priority regulations the most, as
their product will probably be placed
at the top of the list of luxuries.
They use thousands of specially de-
signed cars which now will be released
for more essential cargoes."
In the untangling process going for
ward in the Jersey yards, 100 cars of
fertilizer were found for which Long
Island farmers had been waiting for
weeks. Many potato crops were planted
without it. More than 100 cars of seed
potatoes were also found.
More detailed and closer scrutiny of
local transportation problems will be-
Continued on page four