Evening star., 1922-12-31
Remarkable Railroad Showing at Year End
DisclOses Dawn of an Era of Prosperity

one time was as great as 235,0o0 coal cars, and
this during the summer months, when operat-
ing conditions are at their best
Coal movement during the eight months to
August 81 was thus 974.000 short of the
corresponding movement in 1921. During the
last four months of the year the railways not
only handled the normal heavy fall movement
of coal. but reduced the shortage Of the first
eight months to less than half what it was
September I. Their performance was little
short of remarkable.
If non-revenue coal movement be taken into
account-that is. coal moved by the railways
for their own use-the showing is even better
In the last four months they came close to
making up the whole shortage of the first
eight months.
While still in the throes Of the coal strikes
another industrial disturbance descended
the railways in the shape of .,trike of rail-
way shopmen, the first time any body of rail
way workers have quit work throughout the
whole country. The prime factor underlying
the strike the 10 per cent reduction in
shopmens wages ordered by the Railroad
Labor Board for July 1. On that date the
shopmen generally threw down their tools
with the expressed purpose of hampering rail-
way operation and tying up transportation.
How many actually went out is not
known. but perhaps 100000 out of a possible
100000 employed in the shops According to
the Interstate Commerce Commission. the num-
ber of shopmen at work on July Is was 255,000
less than in the preceding month Throughout
the whole period Of the strike new forces were
being recruiteds and striking employees
drifting back to work. Between July Is and
August Is the number of shopmen increased
10000 and another $4,000 by September IS. On
the latter date. with the railways short only
$4,000 shopmen. informal agreement was
reached. under which the men still out some
lines agreed to return to work. No general
settlement ever made. and the strike is
technically effective today few lines. To
all intents and purposes. however. the strike
ended on September Is. the men accepted the
lower basis of pay, against which they struck
on July l. and in some cases conceded also the
seniority issue that became important after
the first weeks of the strike. That the men
found their venture disastrous is clear. They
lost 500. 100000 in wages and many of them
lost their Jobs permanently.
But the strike brought considerable cost
to the railways well. New forces were re-
cruited and trained at great expense, and their
work could not from the first be fully effec-
tive. Many additional men engaged
extra watchmen and guards There prop
erty losses from riots and from damage to
freight en- route. Last of all. the condition of
the equipment was adversely affected espe-
cially the motive power. This deferred main
tenance is now being made up. the cost Of
which runs into the millions and is a direct
result Of the strike.
X X X *
The passenger business Of 1922 was the
smallest since 1916 A serious slump occurred
in 1921, and a further decline Of 6 per cent in
1922. The decline this year is traceable. in
large degree. to the growing competition from
motor cars both private cars and commercial
busses. That this competition is here stay
seems unquestionable.- yet in spite of it the
railway passenger service has increased dur
ing the past three months.
1t was the freight traffic. however that gave