Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1922-09-19
Settlement of Coal and Rail
Strikes Gives Powerful I'M
petus to All Industry in
Country
BY HARDEN COLFAX
(Leased Wire Service to The Journai.)
DOWNRIGHT. 1927

(Leased Wire Service to The Journal.)
Copyright, 1921
WASHINGTON, Sept. 16.-All
records of business activity in the
United States, including our war
time prosperity at its height, bids
fair to be excelled within the next
six weeks, in the light of facts pre-
scented by the American Railway as
ISOLATION as to the volume Of the
country's business at the present
time and it's rapid expansion within
the past fortnight.
The movement Of freight over the
country's carriers is swiftly draw
ing to a new high figure. Settle
ment of the coal and rail strikes has
given this movement the most pow
erful impetus it has received since
the beginning Of the business de-
preston nearly two years ago. A
surplus Of 100000 freight cars or
more a few months ago has been
wiped out within the past thirty
days. A shortage Of motive power
and Observation-Disclosures ample
to care for industry at normal-ap-
pears In unmistakable outline in the
immediate future.
Everything the railroads haul has
been dumped into cars and hauled
away-except for here and there a
commodity of seasonal demand
within the past two weeks in great
er volume than at any time within
a year. During the week ending
September 2, latest period for which
figures are available, more than
$4,000 car loads of freight rolled
over the rails. That figure regis
tered new. high mark for 1922. It
was 91.5 per cent of the biggest
weeks work the American railroads
ever performed, back in October Of
last year.
Volume Swelling
Most remarkable, perhaps, Of all
the contributing factors to this show
ing, is the fact that volume was
attained befors the bituminous coal
mines of the country had got under
full steam and while the anthracite
mines were still idle. During that
week the bftuminous mines loaded
about 1000 cars. Since then the
figure has increased. 1t will go to
100000 cars, or more, if equipment
can be furnished the mines.
The anthracite mines, which con-
tributed nothing whatever to the
freight loadings of that week, are
turning out at the present time
about $4,000 cars Of coal a week.
They will speed up to 10000 cars.
If those demands are satisfied and
the loading of other commodities
simply holds it's own, freight cars
can reasonably be expected to total
1 ,025,O00 cars within the next two
weeks. The highest figure ever
reached in the past was 1,018,539
cars.
According to the American Rail-
way Associations figures, however,
the loadings of other commodities
will not stand still, but will increase.
During the five weeks ending with
September 2, Notwithstanding the
twin strikes. loadings of commodi-
ties other than coal increased sew
enteen and one-half per cent over
the loadings of the same period a
year previous.
Tremendous Possibilities
The only limit, apparently, to the
magnitude of the industrial revival
which has come so suddenly to the
country is the ability Of the railroads
to furnish equipment to take care
of it. Already the building trades
are experiencing much difficulty in
getting cars enough to haul THEN
supplies and other industries are
beginning to experience the sltua-
ton which, with the building trades,
! is becoming acute.
Figures made public by the at
| torney general at Chicago this week
show that thirty per cent of the rail
roads locomotives are estimated by
! the I. G.. G. to be defective.
The coal industry is experiencing
car shortage in certain fields. In
other fields, according to reports to
| w lllO SI4OA ISS50 oPPSS~I~
| to be more Of motive power, reports
stating that loads have accumulated
on the tracks, waiting to be hauled
away. The extent of the revival OF
the coal trade depends wholly on
the railroads ability to furnish equip
ment.
Tens of thousands Of new cars
and several new locomotives are be
ing built at the present time for
the chief roads, to meet this situa'
ton. The I. G. G. is called on
every week to authorize the issuance
| of securities to buy more equip
ment. During the first eight months
of the present year, the money spent
in that fashion has been about three
times the sum spent that way dur
| ing the whole of 1921.
The railroads figures OF car load
ings furnish what is regarded as ar
infallible measure Of the ebb and
flow Of industrial activity. They in
dictate now that the tide is on the