Great Falls tribune. [volume] (Great Falls, Mont.) 1921-current, 1922-07-23

Atohs ~ os O"AS
| can industry is so attuned that events
which disturb its orderly activity leave
a long train of ills. A notable example
is furnished in the prospect, now facing
| the country, of a railroad car shortage
as a result Of the settlement OF the
| great coal strike. Here IS Il case
where the settlement of one grave us
turbance will produce another because
the first disturbance has thrown the
machinery so badly out of gear.
| The coal strike has been in effect
for fourteen weeks. This has meant
that the coal which normally occupies
thousands of cars upon the RAILROADS
is out of the equation temporarily. IN
the latter part of June there were
more Tim 10000 idle coal cars.
When the strike ends, these cars sud
denly will be called back into use.
Since April 1, the date of the be,
ginning of the coal strike. general
business has increased materially.
Despite the retarding effect of the
| strike, American industry has turned
upward and for the past two months
has been forging ahead with rapidlty.
This has meant that there has been
a steadily increasing demand for more
ears for general freight.
Therefore, when the strike ends and
brings a sudden demand for coal cars,
, there will be widespread crowdlng
for railroad freight service OF al,
kinds. The increase in the general
freight traffic with the rush OF coas
traffic piled on top of it will produce a
| situation which, it is feared, Will de-
velop a car shortage.
Were there but these two factors,
~ --- -. r1,>~{ono Would nor
be so great, but a third vital factor
is injected into the situation il the
| coal strike ends. as anticipated. be
tween now and early fall. Beginning
/ early in July. the crops begin to move
| The harvests of wheat and corn. ano'
a little later. of cotton. in addition to
the wide variety of other crops. press
ing for transportation to market or TO
storage. in the normal course OF
events produce a season of sharp De
mand on freight facilities. Should the
strike end in the midst of this season,
the three factors of an increased de-
mand for general freight service. the
| seasonal increase in the demand tor
cars to move the crops. and the sud,
den. sharp demand for coal cars would
I all join to lay upon the railroads a
task of colossal proportions.
Cars May Be AlIocated
The Interstate Commerce commls-
sion is not unmindful Of this and al
! ready has SET on foot an lnvestiga-
| ton of the situation. 1t is gathering
exhaustive data on the supply and
the location of railroad equipment Of
various types and will be prepared, II
necessary. to nut into effect Il sort OF
! rationing system for cars. especially
coal cars. Under this system. a Ger.
, tain number of cars would be assigned
to certain coal mines. On a larger
scale certain sections of the country
would be allotted a given humber OF
cars 10 serve their needs.
The loading of freight cars for a
typical week about the middle of June
totaled S46.OO2 compared with 49,
64J cars shows how increased indus
trial activity is calling for greater
railroad service. The week previous
10 that one had shown loadings of IA
S71 fewer cars. The loadings have
been steadily increasing throughout
the spring and have reached the high
| point for the year. Ioadlngs are o.
! 600 ears in excess of a comparative
period last year.
The n~on-union mines are producing
coal and loading many cars. For the
week ending June 10 they loaded 81
| So4 cars. The figures show over 1SO,-
600 coal cars idle so il will be seen
that the end Of the strike would bring
a sudden demand for more than twice
the number of coal ears that are be-
ing loaded now by non-union mines.
The movement Of freight cars con
| s~titutes a tremendous problem. Cur
! rents Of traffic are seasonal and result
in tangles of the most perplexing sort.
! 1t is a phenomenon of railroad opera