The Arvada enterprise. (Arvada, Colo.) 1908-1970, 1921-06-09
RAILROADS SHORT 2es,0o0 CARS
OUT OF REPAIR IN FREIGHT
SERVICE.
CAR SHORTAGE IN U. S.
STATISTICS SHOW CONDITIONS
MUST BE REMEDlED IF LINES
HANDLE INCREASED BUSINESS.


Chicago, June with the freight
business of the railways slowly but
ateadily increasing, the Railway Age.
in an editorial in its current issue.
publishes some startling statistics re-
garding the freight car situation
pers of the country are confronted.
it shows that the railways now have
about $4,000 less cars tit for I'M
mediate service than they had =
year ago. and about $4,000 less
cars fit for actual service than they
had when government control was
adopted on Jan. l. 1918.
I'm 1917 there were in service on
the class railways Of the United
States 2.479.50O freight cars. the
largest number owned by the rail-
roads In their history" says the Rail
way Age. Since that time each sue
ceeding year has seen decline in
the number of freight cars. There
were $500 less in service in 1918
than in 1917, and $500 less in 1919
than in 1918. In 1920 there was \
further decrease Of $500 cars. This
decrease in the number of freight
cars Is almost entirely due to the
fact that the cars ordered by the
Railroad Administration In 1913 and
1919 were entirely inadequate to re-
place those retired.
"Of the z.479.6OO freight cars in
service in 1917. only 81 per cent. or
141.30O. were In bad order when the
railroads entered the period of fed-
eral control OH Jan. I. 1918. leaving
2.338.2O0 freight cars In condition
for actual service. On May 1. 1920.
according to the semi-monthly report
OF the car service division, there were
10000 freight cars In bad order out
OF 4 total OF 2.352.OOO cars. leaving
only 2.O42.90O freight cars In service
able condition. At present. there
fore. the class roads have over
295,OOO less cars fit for actual serv-
ice than they had ut the beginning
of government control. Furthermore.
during 1918 the number Of bad order
cars requiring heavy repairs consti-
tuted only so to so per cent out OF
the total number In bad order. and
of those now in bad order. 22S.200.
or "A per cent, are In need of heavy
repairs.
''In 1920 he railways broke I'll rec
Ords for volume of traffic handled,
with about 100000 less ears actually In
condition for service than were avail
able In 1917.
This accomplishment marked the
highest effectiveness ever attained In
the utilization OF freight cars, but II
was attained by the adoption Of some
methods with the permsnency Of
which the shipping public could hard
ly be expected to agree. The rail-
roads are now apparently facing II re-
In March there has been n steady In
crease In car lOadings.
1.-THE present accumulation Of bad
order ears, AS well us the deficiency
In total number Of cars. IL due not on
~ 10 neglect to maintain and replace
cars during government control. but
also to the desperate struggle which
many railways have been making
within recent months 10 keep out Of
bankruptcy. n the country's business
In to he handled. the number Of bad
order cars must he reduced NJ rapidly
as practicable by the railways. hut It
IL II practical imposs'.iIity to provide
n supply Of freight ears when the
years requirements Of the country are
crowded into u few months"