Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1920-07-11
S0UTH'S INDUSTRY I
M|ENACED RESULT
OF CAR SHORTAGE
Many Plants Receiving
but Is Per Cent of Ser
vice Required.
STEEL SHUTDOWN FEARED !
FROM LACK OF TRANSPORT
Score of Witnesses Declare
Situation May Halt Further
Manufacture.
WILLARD MORE OPTIMISTIC
Declares Close Cooperation Be-
teen Shippers and Railroads
VIII Avert Disaster. Il
STEEL SHUTDOWN FEARED /
FROM LACK OF TRANSPORT
WILLARD MORE OPTIMISTIC
Declares Close Cooperation Be-
teen Shippers and Railroads
Will Avert Disaster. 81
rBv Associated pre,,1


WASHINGTON, July 10-RaIIroad
car shortage was described as mar
ucn!arly serious In the South by wit
hesses who appeared at today's hear
ing OIL the Interstate Commerce Com
mission on the order requiring rail-
roads to give preference to coal mines
IN the assignment OF opcn-top cars
supporting the claims of Southern .
witnesses. representatives of more
than score of steel men informed
the commission that n shutdown of
the steel industry was imminent un-
Tess better car service was afforded.
beilef that any general suspension
would be avertcd. however, was ex-
pressed by Daniel Willard. chairman
OF the advisory committee OF the rail-
way executives.
Industries in Georgia were said by
c. +. Cotterill, of Atlanta. represents
ing the Georgia Manufacturers As
ISOLATION. to be receiving not moro
than 10 per cent OF the required num-
Der OF cars. Mr.. Cotterill further
declared that unless improved car
service was afforded soon many fami-
lies throughout the South would SUI 5
fer through the suspension of work.
While Southern railroads. Mr.. Cot
tersll said, were better supplied with
cars than the Northern carriers. tho
excess OF the Southern roads had been
diverted to the North.
Has but Half or Its Own Cars.
The Louisville and Nashville, said
Mr.. Cotterill, had only one-half OF
It's cars on It's lines MIR. Willard
challenged this assertion. saying that
10 4
| about &c per cent Of its cars In it's
own custody. Mr.. Willard added that
arrangements had been made to in
crease the Louisville and Nashville
car supply.
The steel mills are blocked with
products. many closed and others will
be before July 20 unless some relief
can he had" declared j. +. Townsend.
spokesman for the steel men, who
explained that $4,000 cars would be
required to move 100000 tons of
steel products which are piled up
| awaiting shipment.
Willard Is More Hopeful.
MT. Willard conceded that practi-
cally all space available for storing
steel was in use. but predicted that
the mills .can be kept going by the
Si'pptiS anu ZIG loSdl elk SGINiGo
committees cooperating In the daily
assignment OF available cars.
Il believe there will not be any
general shutdown OF industry" de-
clared Mr.. Willard, in this connec-
ton. "Thc situation. l believe. will
not get any worse. and believe we
can make it better"
Mr.. Townsend and Mr.. willard
appearing at the closing session oc
the commissions hearing on possible
modification of it's order requiring
preference to be given coal mines
east of the Mississippi, In tho assigns
ment OF opcn-top cars. No indica-
ton OF the commissions probable acI
!. lion was given at adjournment
Chairman Clark announcing that the
question would be taken under add
viSemcnt. stH
Unable to Plense All.
Addressing the shippers. the chair
man declared the committee realized
the utter impossibility" of pleasing
all of them. but he urged that they
follow the suggestion OF Mr.. willard
to attempt solution OF car service
through cooperation between them
aus INC EuilEOtu
such cooperation. Mr.. willard had
predicted that half the troublo'
could be eliminated.
By the shippers and tho railroads.
acting through local car service CONS
mittces. Mr.. Willard expected it
would not be necessary to prevent all
movement OF building materials and
that materials could be moved for
hiErhVV1V rannirS u1oinf npIf /.
construction of essential connecting
roadlinks. Such transportation. ho
anticipated. could be hand on tho
return OF the open top equipment To
the mines. s
There has been no harmonizinS
effort tetween,th carriers and ships
pcrs 20 set the best out OF tho situat
tion." declared Mr.. willard. adding
that the forthcoming WACO award
was expected to bring Improvement
In ;he transportation situation. With
laho- difficulties ended, Mr.. willard
asserted the "roads will move as
much as in the past-1917, 1918 or
1919" d
Would Extend Priority Order.
Extension OF the commission order !
for thirty days beyond July 81, les
original expiration date, was favored
by Mr.. Willard. while the steel msd
a. the hearing did not commit thom4
selves. hut asked the order be So ms
ts-prcted as to permit them 10 res
ceive part OF the open top coupe
mcn:.
Other witnesses in their tcstimcnS
pointed to the necessity Of rushing
coal to Northern Michigan. YIsconsss
sin. Minnesota, North and souths ,pae4s33
.(contipued, On Second Peso 5s n Z,