Evening star., 1922-07-28
; RAILROADS BAN +.
ORDINARY FREIGHT
TO SPEED UP COAL
Only Foodstuff, Live Stock
and Fuel Shipments to
Be Accepted.
LINES SERVE NOTICE
UNDER EMERGENCY RULE
Norfolk & Western, c. & o. and
L. & N. Act to Boost Flow
From Non Union Pits.

BY the Associated Press.
Three coal-carrying railroads, the
Norfolk and Western. Chesapeake
and Ohio and. Louisville and Nash
vile, have declared embargoes over
any freight except foodstuffs, live
stock and fuel. The actions were
taken under the Interstate Commerce
Commission declaration of an emer-
gency which authorized roads en-
barrassed by the shopmen's strike to
show preference and establish pri-
ority In transportation.
The object of the embargoes is to
conserve all the equipment and ia
cilities of the three carriers for the
transportation of coal. The roads
serve the non-union bituminous min
ing areas south of the Ohio river,
which have furnished most of the
country's coal output since April 1,
when the miners struck in all the
unionized fields, and officials have de-
clared that the tie-up on their lines
indicated railroad unions were work
ing with the miners to stop production
of soft coal All three had been car
coal until the shopmen went out. after
which their tonnage was Immediately
cut in half.
Expect Modification Later.
The Louisville and Nashville lines
serve Kentucky coal fields. which have
been the principal source of coal sup
ply since the strike for Chicago and
other middle west points. The OBJ
structions to the movement of coal
over this system placed by the rail
strike were considered largely re-
sponsible for a runaway coal market
Immediately created in that terri
tory.
It was believed that the first result
crease coal shipments from the nom
union territory.
Arrangements of the roads notified
the Commerce Commission that they
would modify the embargo orders as
rapidly as conditions permitted. and
freight for movement as they were
able to transport 1t without inter-
fering with the coal fiow.
In railroad circles here today 1t
was asserted that the last three days
had seen a heavy resumption of work
the strike of the shop craftsmen. The
figures, furnished the Interstate
Commerce Commission under seal of
confidence, were not given out, but
1t was declared that more men had
been employed In the three days for
shop work than in the previous fifteen
days.
More Men In Shops.
The result was said by road officials
to be fair working conditions in all
the trunk system shops. The CONSOLE
dated figures reported by all roads, 1t
was claimed. showed that more men
had been put at work in shops each
successive day that the strike has
run.
Developments here in the coal strike
situation in the last twenty four
hours Included the statement of Of
ficials Of the National Coal Associa-
ton that they had been authorized by
Alfred NJ. Ogle, president Of that or
ganization, to deny any report that a
meeting of operators of the central
competitive field" was in prospect to
consider a settlement. In the matter
of coal supply and distribution. rail-
road reports showed a substantial in
crease in coal loading at the mines
last Monday, as compared with days
Of the preceding week, while several
promises of cooperation were re-
ceived by Secretary Hoover from state
governors in response to his tele-
grams asking the organization of
state emergency control committees.
Action by the Senate labor commit
tee on the Borah bill, proposing ap-
pointment of federal commission to
study the coal industry, was being
held in allegiance today pending an
expression from President Harding of
his views on the proposed legislation.