Evening journal., 1922-12-27
PAST RECORDS BROKEN BY RAILWAYS IN HAND
LING FREIGHT


ssTF forecast could safely be based facts
Il regarding previous developments" says the RAIL
way Age "the following two predictions msy be safely
upon recent statistics regarding tn. movement
Of freight
First. the railways will be offered and will handle
more freight in 1923 than in previous In his
tory unless prevented by another railroad strike
Secondly demand for railroad transportation will IN
1928 exceed the OF It that be furnished by
a larger margin than in any previous year"
The Railway Age declares that when the present
weather came with its consequent slow
Ing down OF operation the railways had just succeeded
in breaking almost every kind of record made in
the handling OF freight.
spite OF the strik. OF mop employees and other
dihcultles" It points out the railways within recent
months have made the following records:
a. They moved freight in November than in
any previous November In history and thus far have
broken all records for December In the four weeks
ended December 2 which correspond roughly with
the month OF November the number OF carloads OF
freight moved $4,000 more than in 1918 $3.50
more than in 1919. 221 600 more than in 1890 and
10000 more than in l921 Inthe week ended Decsm-
they s1s75 more carloads than in the same
week OF any previous year
a. The weeks ended November IS terminated a
period OF ton consecutive weeks every which
the railways moved more than 95O,Oo0 carloads OF
freight This is the first time In history that they
moved this many carloads for than ssysn
tive weeks.
%. The amount OF freight moved In November and
December has greatly exceeded ell previous records
that 1t has made the total carloads handled IN the six
teen weeks ended on December larger than the
amount moved in the corresponding sixteen weeks
OF other year To stats this smother way
the total number Of carloads OF fresht since the
coal mines began to open late in August is 15s1H
srsater than in 1870, the previous record year.
-. In thiryfour out OF thirty-hvs weeks ended
December the railways moved carloads Of mile
oesnsous freight than they did in the weeks
of any previous year Transportation experts regard
the amount Of miscellaneous freight shipped
given period the best indication OF what general
business activity and the total OF freight bust
offered 10 the railways in the months Immediately
head will be- II the oadngs OF miscellaneous freight
during the last nine months any criterion the rail-
roads will he called to handl. record breaking
business for months to come
IS The railways Monday. December II. loaded
IS Sss with btuminous coal This Is the largest
number OF loaded with btuminous coal In
one day
&C. During six consecutive weeks the total car
shortage reported eroesded the largest shortage
sver reported in any single week any previous year
rhe largest net shortage reported befors
september I, 1920 when Il 14s.OTO In tbs
x weeks ended November 2s tn. net car shortage
Was eAS lftf@9s went a. nlgn as lI0bZ5
ars. on November 80 the net shortage was 12s1s1.
This figure represents substantial reduction but
hows that in spite OF the fact that the railways
eoent weeks have broken all records with respect
he number OF cars loaded and moved this time Of
ear the nadequaoy Of still
,recedented."
wimingtonions doubt will feel that the lesson the
foregoing facts to the railways Is that next
,ears business win break all records and that
hey should put forth every effort to secure greater
Utilization Of the existing facilities and to improve and
nlarge their facilities rapidly possible.
The moral for the shippers is that first they should
hip all the freight they practcable ard
hat secondly they should cooperate with the railways
n Increasing the efficiency with which existing trans
'ortaon facilities used by loading cars to their
maximum cspaey. by loading them ding them
promptly possible and by delaying them in case of
econsiEnment as little possible.
The moral for law makers and regulating commits
Ions that they should help the railways in every rea
enable TO Increase the net earned by hen
n order that they may be able to raise the large
mounts OF new capital which be invested if the
apaey OF the railways is to be increased anywhere
ear dn proportion TO the demands that will be made
pon them by industry and commerce."