Evening star., 1920-01-23

The Railroad Administration
Hopes to Meet Demands of
!
{ Next Two Months.

aThe railroad admini.Stra tiou will
make every effort to meet expected
heavy demands for transportation
ril the last day of federal control OF
the roads. Director General Hines as
Serts in statement today to ship
Pers of the United States.
For the week ended January 2. 1929
the number of cars of revenue freight
hoaded show an increase of 1s2.22S
CARS over the same week of 1919. and
an Increase of @16.269 cars over the
same week of 1918. the director gen
eral says.
s''There is promise of even greater
Increase as the winter progresses.
This increased demand is doubtless
due largely TO the fact that re-
suit of the cessation of industrial ac-
tivity following the signing of the
armiStice business was in abeyanCe
in the spring of 1919. as was indicated
by the fact that there were large sur
ptUSeS of ears in all parts of the
United States lying idle during those
months. Business was again inter
ffred with by the abnormal difficult
ties due to the coal strike in Novem
her and December. but since then the
accumulated business has been Ge
manding transportation with rush.
The equipment available. despite the
great use to whichfit has been put s
in practically normal condition at the
present time and has been constantly
improved since the shopmen's strike
In August. 1919. which materially in
terfered with repairs
Increase in Cars.
In the three years preceding federal
control the average number of freight
cars acquired per year (includins
equipment rebuilt at company shops)
was 9I.1JS. and after allowing for re-
tirements the net average addition
was only 1927 cars per year. During
the two years of federal control the
average number of freight cars ac-
Quired per year will be approximate
ly $4,000, and after allowing for re-
tirementS the net average addition
will be not greatly in excess of the
average net additions during the pre-
ceding three years. During these two
years no freight cars could he ac-
CURED in addition to cars ordered
prior thereto. but delivered during
federal control, except total of 100.-
600 freight cars, all of which are in
Guided in the average per year above
stated for the two years of federal
control. The 100000 cars were or
dered in 1918 and represented the
maximum for which material and la
Dor could be obtained in view of the
demands for other war necessities. II
was impractica BILE in this order TO
provide for any additional refrigera-
tor. stock. or fiat cars. and there is an
especially serious shortage in these
classes of equipment. No freight cars
cpuld be ordered in 1919. This was
dale to the clearly understood policy
OF Congress in favor of the early re-
turn of the railroads to private own
efship and because of the resulting
lack of appropriations to be used for
nfw capital expenditures.
ITO make this inadequate amount
Of equipment go as far as possible
tie railroad admit istration has pooled
equipment in order to eQualize the
supply as far as possible and give all
Shippers as equal treatment as pos
stble under the circum stances"
Loading Falls on.
The problem has been intensified
BY the falling off in loading per car
from 1918. when under pressure of the
war very heavy loading was secured.
The loading per loaded freight car
fell from an average of 29.2 tons in
the first eleven months of 1918 to 27.S
TONS for the same period of 1919. or
decrease of 4-S9 per cent. this repre-
sxnting a Joss of more than 105,00e
cars available for loading, This fall
ing off has occurred in spite of con-
ttnued efforts of the railroad admin
istration. assisted by the co-opera
ton of many shippers"
E'NeverthelesS the railroad admins
tta ton proposes to continue to utilize
to the end of federal operation all
the advantages given by unified con-
tfol: it wishes to give shippers this
assurance and to ask their continued
desperation"