Richmond times-dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1914-current, 1922-09-04
RAILROADS FACE TASK
IN NEXT THREE MONTHS
Big Increase Ahead. in Addi-
ton TO the Regular Freight
Movement.
MAXIMUM COAL, SHIPMENTS
Industrial. Agricultural. Financial
hnd Commercial Conditions In tho
United states Arc Regarded IN
Highly Encouraging.
by Walter u. nrn,,n

Written for the United News
NEW YORK, Sept. 3.-Notw.th-
standing the indications that we are
entering upon secondary period OF
ihHat"n. we can look forward to
1878 as year OF sound business re-
covcry There IRE many underlying
factors which are absolutely sound.
and such Imitation as there may be
VIII be only temporary In character
There is. for example. tremendous
amount Of construction work still in
arrears. and particularly with the
railroads. The equipment companies
are already being called upon 10
furnish new cars calling for a large
supply of steel. Many OF the ear
ricrs are already In the market for
large supplies Of rails, while tho
amount Of bridge and station build
ing awaiting attention Is consider
ahic. Provided the railroads can &C
'pmpiish tho necessary financing.
there Is enough steel mills busy for
months to come
As to the railroads themselves.
thcH are entering upon the last
quarter ~ the year facing a task
"ountercd in war times Then III.
government took hold. sweep; aside
all restrictions and got down 30 the
mere business Of transportation AS
result of that arbitrary operation
the roads have found themselves with
maximum OF bad order equipment
which thc business depression gave
Them an opportunity 10 set aside un-
Ill there was the beginning of re.
l.
nicely enough until the shipments
strike gave IL further setback Now
comes the business recovery Incrcas-
ing the regular freight movement to
which Is added very heavy crop
movement.
Maximum Cont Movement.
All OF TINS would he IA difficult
enough problem of itself. but IL is
further complicated ~ the necessity
Tor making provision for maximum
coal movement by priorltics and by
all sorts Of government regulations
Ra!lroad managers. for the ensuing
three months at least. must come
very near 10 qualify ss supermcn.
y curious situation has developed
IN regard To the proposed merger of
'he MldNa!e RepuOlic. Inland Steel
companies The Federal Trade Com
mission has decided 10 enter a com
i''''''' ''' ~ BIpHll'1 tnu' the mtI-
ger Is an unfair method OF compc-
Triton In violation OF section & OF the
Federal Trade Commission act IN.
new combination would control hut
I - per cent OF The steel OUTPUT OF
the country. while the Supreme
Court has already decided that the
united states Steel Corporation,
which controls - per cent OF tn.
:iee! business 81 the country. Ia not
n monopoly. How the smaller cor
porat!on can he considered a com
hination in restrain, Of trade. when
the larger ono is not. only n ha.r.
Sn!ttinS government official can de-
termine. The Interested parties viii
nave thirty days in which to hle AN
ans ""r. but II vii! require action by
the Federal courts 10 make any
veto effective. 1t has been clearly
demonstrated that the combination
would d" In favor Of the consumer,
hut that does not weigh agaius,
nhrro" Interpretation OF later
law.
Cotton Crop Prospects.
RaVaecs Of the boil wecvil. ,x-
IRENE drought in the Southern sec
loh OF IA" belt. and abnormal rains
IN tue Southeastern section. have
brought about serious deteriora.
li"n IN the cotton crop prospects dur
ING The month 81 August. nccessi.
tatns revision OF the crop csti-
mate Of approximately 500. 900 bales
as compared with last months csti-