Evening journal. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1888-1932, 1922-07-05
COAL. AND THE RAILROAD srTUATIoN-A
MENACE

ssV,HERE is danger that unless something
/ IL is done soon to increase the production and
transportation OF there will be thrown upon the
railways after the strike is ended burden greater than
they bear" says the Railway Age. The public
should be warned Of the conditions which appar-
emily going to develop the railroads unless the
amount of coal given to them handle speedily is
largely increased"
The Railway Age in an editorial gave
some which indicate discerning Delawareans
that serious congestion traffic and shortage of
cars may this fall winter. Some persons and
publications have expressed the opinion that are I'M
duly alarmed Let us consider the situation in the
light of the latest available facts In the 1920 the
railways handled the largest traffic in their history.
Excepting COAL they recently have been handling
than they did in the corresponding part of the
year 1920
Traffic always increases during the late summer and
early fall months This especially of traf-
nc. The average number of carloads of coal handled
by railways in the September % to De-
cember 49, 1920, was 217,20O. This 1871 more
than the number OF cars coal shipped in the week
ended June TO- 1922 II the railways in the week ended
June TO- 1922. had handled much coal the
amount handled in the fall winter months of 1920.
their total oadngs would have been 95s,1e3 The
largest trac they handled in week in that
ending october To- 1920, and 1O1SS6s carloads OF
this 226e71 COAL leaving 7s1s6S carloads
other traffic II this figure be compared with that for
the of traffic other than coal handled in the
week ended June TO- 1922 It will be found that in this
1stter week the of traffic other than coal
handled was only Ave per less than the amount
other handled the week ended october Is,
1920 the largest in history.
anybody doubt that traffic other than coal is go
ing increase between and October? In 1920,
between the week ended June IL and the week ended
october 15 traffic than increased 52,S9s
loads per At that time the country was
entering period of violent business readjustment and
depression and the increase between June and
October was normally large This year the coun-
try apparently a period of increasing business ac-
tivy. This indicates that the increase in traffic other
than coal between now fall will be than nor
NAL.
The amount OF coal produced and transported during
the first 1921 about sixty million tons less
than the average produced and transported In
the first half of the last FIVE years.
one Of the most ominous features Of the situation is
up the the latest available report the
of coal which had been carried by the railways
Lake Erie ports and thence by the head
of the lake supply the needs of the northwest was
only about three million tons At this time last year
he of coal that had been dumped at the head
II the exceeded eight million If the north
vest 10 sufficient fuel carry It through the
winter there dumped the head OF the lakes
Turing the season of navigation from twent-hve TO
hirty million Of COAL and already the dumpings at
head of the lakes Ave million tons below
nal.
The situation developing demands speedy and con-
tructive action The production OF coal must be
increased The shipments OF all other freight which
AN be accelerated must be accelerated, The railways
must get ready as rapidly practicable deal with
record breaking business The shipping public must
repare operate with the railways by loading cars
eavler and loading and unloading them rapidly as
practicable The railways in way responsible for
he coal strike probable dsagreeabe and costly
ftermath and this instance cooperation with them
all who help solve the problem which will be
resented should be substituted the usual outcry
gainst them,