New-York tribune., 1920-05-13
Appeals From All Sections
Pour Into Washington
Departments for Relief:
235,OOO Cars Tied Up
Demands for Coal
Attended to First
Lack of Labor and Motive
PowerThreatens to Shut
Down Many Industries

WASHINGTON, May II (By The
Associated Prcss,.-Congestion of
freight in the principal railroad ter
minals, probably the worst since the
hard winter of 1917, is beginning to
be felt in business and commerce all
over the country
Appeals for relief pouring into
Washington to the Intcrstate> Com
merce Commission, the Railroad Ad-
ministration and to Congress picture
the big railroad gatcways choked
with thousands Of loaded freight
cars unable to move because of
shortage of men and motive power.
Although the situation had been
showing local effects for the last
two weeks, it now is being shown in
its nationwide aspects.
The appeals for relief coming TO
Washington contain predictions that
unless the jam is broken it will be re-
hected more than ever in decreased
production, slowing down OF industry
and probably a tremendous labor turn
over.
$4,000 Cars at functions
Latest reports compiled here by the
committee on car service Of the
American Railroad Association. whose
principal duty is to sec that cars arc
supplied to sections IN greatest need
Of them and to keep them moving,
show $4,000 cars tied up or delayed
at functions, with no labor to transfer
them. On April 1G the total number
OF cars tied UP was 28s,O00. Much of
this was attributed by railroad peo-
Pile to the recent strike.
There ls pressing need to-day for
82.41l cars to take care of the most
urgent demands, railroad men declare
although they say this shows a reduc-
tion of approximately 10000 over
April reports.
Illuminating the Imperative demand
for coal, the car service committee was
advised that there was no coal at
Saginaw. Mich, for the Saginaw Gas
Works, and orders were immediately
issued to get coal there in a hurry.
Other cities sent similar appeals.
Sees Improvement
The most serious conditions prevail
at the gateways. blocked as seldom be-
fore with thousands of cars, mostly
loaded with coal and foodstutfs.
After spending half Of the day at the
telephone, W. C.. Kendall. head of the
car service committee. announced to-
night that while the situation was bad
: was not nearly so acute as ten days
ago.
There is more noise more Of a con-
ccntrated kick he said, but the ac-
tual tieup is less. There is an i'm
proNcment. Last weeks figures in
tons"
The big clamor. Mr.. Kendall said, is
for coal. Commercial stocks have been
depleted. and with The railroad sur
plus exhausted the roads had to con-
iiscate it. Now they are trying TO fill
the gaps.
Tie-tp Forced by Strike
All reports show that the tie-up was
forced to head by the recent railroad
strike. not yet ended. according to rail
way officials At the :imc of the "un-
authorized" walk-out of trainmea aud
switchmen tAe roads We're swnmptd
with business. Trying 10 meet this with
depleted equipment. and with industries
running at full tilt, the strike, the rail
road men asserted. was like the straw
that broke the camel's back.
No figures are available at Fedora
ton of Labor headquarters as to the
actual number OF employees still on
strike. Representatives of the train
mems brotherhood said they had no
estimates, although they stated that
$4,000 union members who went on
strike were dismissed Many OF these
have gone back, but the number is
said to be far below normal. Railroad
men say the forces were Inadequate at
the time of the walk out and that high
Continued on neat pasc>