Free trader-journal and Ottawa fair dealer. (Ottawa, Ill.) 1920-1927, 1920-09-11

rouDdhouse every day because of the
number Of men who were quitting.
There is The labor phase of the sit
uution. There is little question but
that il is big factor in efficiency OF
operation, but whether or not the
roads should recognize the men who
so suddenly tied up the country last
spring. and il so. how they can be in
duccd 10 do IT, is another question
that the l. A. 4. has on it's hands
The old timers say that tho new men
will desert wholesale the first cold
day this winter
The Railroad Viewpoint.
To secure the condensed viewpoint
of the railroad executives, | visited
samuel O. Dunn. who as editor of
Railway Age and several other pa.
pers for railroad executives, is pretty
thoroughly acquainted with them and
their views. He sailed right into the
matter by saying: I'm mighty glad
that the farmers are interested in the
situation tor ii means that they will
help us out of the difficulty. Further
more. it will spur the heads OF the
roads TO do their very best. for they
will realize that they must serve the
country well or the most influential
group of voters will be in favor OF
government control
THE figures as issued by the T. A.
a need further study | am glad that
they are going 10 find ont all they can
about inability Of the roads to handle |
all OF the freight that Is offered TO !
them. | have suggested to the Off !
Cials OF the Illinois railways that they /.
90 to Thompson ana cooperate with /
him in a study Of the records OF the !
ears observed to find out if they were /
IN the hands of the roads or in the I
hands of shippers when observed II .
is quite probable that these cars were |
waiting 10 be unlOaded. or were held !
for shipper tn load Under the de- /
rules il is possible for a ship !
per 10 hold a car as much as Il hours
without paying any charges. and ii /
he is pushed for time, he will gladly |
pay charges for several days more.
Then the car may be held for a ship
ment going our and the same condi-
ions for demurrage exist.
The figures may be interpreted 10
mean almost anything For example
here might have been insufficient To-
'omotiyes 10 move the trains or in
sufficient main tracks or switches 10
handle the cars believe that it is
argely a matter of insufficient equip
nent"
/ suggested to Dunn that the
equipment wasn't any less than a few
ears ago when conditions were much
better than at present
Great increase in Business.
THAT is all very true. but you must
lot overlook the great increase in
BUSINESS that is being offered to the
Dads The total freight business has
h0wn an increase of Is per cent over
9l5 in the amount of freight handled
md | am sure that this figure will be
o per cent this year. With this in
'rease there has been almost no in
,rease in euipment There has been
great deal more coal moved The
automobile traffic has gone up 400
,er cent. The steel Industry is requir-
ng more cars, and so it goes all
Town the line
The roads realize that they cannot
meet the Immediately pressing condi-
ions and demands by increasing their
equipment. for il will take a long
line to provide the new equipment
md other facilities required. They
eel that they can help the trouble by
making more efficient use Of their
equipment. and TO bring this about
lave established an advisory commit
ee made up of operating executives
f the various roads. They have es-
certain standards and be-
ieye that attainment Of these will
olive much Of the trouble
THE most important OF these is
heir effort to have freight cars aver
ge 30 miles a day. In 1915 the cars
lOved an average OF 269 miles a
lay, which is the best record ever
Last year the figure was
} miles and it was up to 231a miles
n March. Following the switchmen's
trike the average dropped to 90
lileS day, For June the roads av-
ragged over % miles. A mile a day
oesn't sound very big, but there are
100000 cars and mile a day means