The Washington times., 1922-07-26
D. {. TOR(JN.
AUTO TRAIN.
IN STRIKE.
Business Men Will Pool Re-
sources to Keep Supply
Lines Out.

Pooling of the motor transpor-
tation of Washington merchants,
and organization of truck trains
between this city and outside
points Of supply will be consid-
cred by a special committee to be
appointed this week by Gen. An
ton Stephan, president of the
Merchants and Manufacturers As
sociation. L
To Keep Fuel Lines Open.
Determined that Washington mer.
chants shall not suffer from either
the railroad or coal strikes. the
association Is planning immediate
organization Of means to keep fuel
and other supply lines open.
This committee is not going to
be a large one, but II is going to
be exceedingly active and will be
backed by every merchant In the
CITY," Charles ]. Columbus, secre-
tary Of the association. said today.
THE duty of the committee will
be to supply coal and transporta-
ton for Washington merchants.
We are not going to wait until we
begin to suffer from the present
situation before we act. Everv Ie-
source Of the association is gCing
to be bent toward preventing hard
ship here"
The committee, 1t is under stood,
will begin an immediate Survey to
locate. every available motor truck.
automobile, power boat, and air
plane in or near the District and
Will then undertake immediate or
Ganization of supply trains upon
which the interests Of the District
depend.
District Not to Suffer.
I'VE don't expect that any rea.
dents of this city will suffer, even
in case the strikes are prolonged un-
til winter" Mr.. Columbus declared.
"Of course merchants who lad to
go long distances for small guam
titles Of goods would lose money
o nthe motor-truck haul. But by
a pooling OF interests full loads and
even full truck trains from distant
cities could haul goods very ef-
ftciently and economically.
"All OF the largest merchant houses
and manufacturing concerns In the
In our association. and we feel conf
dent that there will be no impairment
to their business or the well-being of
any Washingtonian.
For instance, every jewelry house
in the city Is represented. Their
needs would not be for extensive
transportation, but for fuel. Thus
they would Jointly stand the cost OF
securing and hauling coal to this cit''
in event of prolonged railway
tie.up.
"On the other hand, the dry goods
houses would be in need of transpor.
tation facilities, and. through this as.
sociation. thev would organize truck
trains directly to their centers OF
supply.
Each tvDe of concern in the city
will hand together in a similar fash.
ion. and THROUGH the emergency com.
"oitten, an accurate determination ~
'he fun, and tra ransportation moods will
he made and estimates secured Of the
nrecise amount Of TRANSPORTATION IA.
| c'lities needed from each Of the sur.
nlv centers for business houses Of all
classes"
Names Not Announced.
Names ~ the members of the
emerEencv committee will not he an.
nounced until each member has sig.
nified his willingness and ah'litv n
serve during the Deriod o' crisis
General Stenhan declares that an.
pointment Of the committee will hn
given 'ha deepest considera ton 81
that thnre can he no possibility of
! failure m securing an effective org
anzia ton.
Authority for the appointment ri
the committee was granted the
president at a special meeting Of the
association yesterday afternoon, al
which II was declared that "the wei
fare Of industry in Washington, the
National Capital, is jeopardized by
the pending situation with respect tc
railway transportation and fuel"