Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-10-21
CAR SHORTAGE
ISBLAMED ON
U. S. CONTROL
Milwaukee M anager Says
Roads Have Been Hindered
By Regulation.

tS6hAoNAph
fairs of the railroads has been an APP
preciable factor in conditions leading
up to the shortage of wheat cars this
fall, it was asserted in Great Falls Fri
day Afternoon by Macy Nicholson,
general manager of the Milwaukee rail-
way. The official said that the rail
roads have been hampered because of,
their inability to run their own affairs
and that the roads long have foreseen
that a derth Of equipment would re-
suit on any year that would bring an
extra demand for carrying accommo-
dations.
THE car shortage is something
which every railroad man in the coun-
try has foreseen," said Nicholson. ut
was clear that just such a situation
az the present would be our problem
whenever a big crop in this country
came in. The railroads have been so
hampered in not being allowed to con-
duct their own business that they have
been able to do little more than pur-
chase new cars to replace those which
have gone out of commission through
wear and tear.
Getting New Cars
"Hampered by whom? BY the gov
eminent, which has imposed so many
restrictions that the roads have had
to spend about $1.10 on every dollar
they have earned. But we are getting
new cars as rapidly as possible. OF
the 1900 which were ordered some
time ago, all designated for territory
west Of the Missouri river, 700 have
been delivered to date. We are getting
the others at the rate of about 20
a day now, and they all are coming
into this part of the country for grain
hauling"
Accompanying Nicholson were =
party of Milwaukee officials compris-
ing J. J.. Brown of Seattle, superinten-
dent of transportation; r. J.. Middle
TON of Seattle, assistant chief engineer;
r. II. Barrett of Butte, assistant gen
eral manager; II. NJ. Gillick Of Lewis
town, superintendent of the Northern
Montana division; Ed Murray Of Miles
City, district engineer. and III. II.
Wahoske of Great Falls, division
freight and passenger agent. The party
was Joined here by Sam Stephenson,
president of the First National bank
Of Great Falls, who made the trip Fri
day afternoon to Choteau. The party
returned from Choteau during the
evening and will leave for main line
noints out Of Harlowton this morning.
Nicholson stated that the trip is being
made only for the purpose Of inspect
ing that portion of the system under
his jurisdiction.
The road is loaded down with bust
ness this fall" he sad. There are 10
orders for every available car" he
continued.
You must understand that the ter
ritory south of the Ohio river and west
of the Indiana Illinois line, which com
nrises about three fourths Of the
United States, is called upon to furnish
the big bulk of the produce which is
consumed in the remaining quarter
north of the Ohio and east of the In
diana Illinois line. This puts a CON
siderable strain on the railroads OF the
country Mt the time the crops must
be moved. ! am speaking, of curse,
for all the railroads and not merely
the Milwaukee system.
Speaking of the recent strike. he
asserted that the Milwaukee was run
ming now 100 ner cent normal in shop
forces and had been for some time.
I'm fact he declared. I'VE never
were badly crippled. You will recall
that the Milwaukee was among the
first to arrange individual settlements
with the shop craftsmen who were
out. All our old men came back to
NuTh, II We hu' h"N
Was Formerly Here
Nicholson expressed great satisfac-
ton at being in Great Falls and spoke
reminiscentIy of the very pleasant con-
nections he had made when here as Q
railroad official for four years several
years ago. As the wind came up sud
denly and whirled around the Mil
waukee station with a violence which
nearly sent a half dozen official head
gears into the Missouri, Nicholson re.
marked that "this seems natural, al
right"
Regarding new construction, hi
stated that there was none contem,
plated at the present time. He asserted
that nothing would be done for thu
present on the proposed Blackfoot
branch, and that some time mus
elapse before any new building o.
branches would be feasible.
Interest was evinced concerning thu
well which the California Oil conpan!
is drilling In section 30-26-6 west
which is about seven miles to the wes
of Agawam. Nothing Of definite valu,
is known as yet concerning this field
but the railroad is naturally concerned
In territory which may develop into OF
producing ground.