Evening star., 1922-09-25
RAILROAD SURPLUS
EQUIPMENT GONE
Revived Industry, Bumper
Crops, Need for Coal De-
| pIetes Car Supply.
LOCOMOTIVES A PROBLEM
Available Engines Estimated at 81
Per Cent-Many Embargoes
May Come.
By the Associated Press.

By the Associated Press.
NEW YORK. September 2o.-The
railroads have exhausted their surplus
freight cars for the first time since
November. 1920. owing to increased in
dustrial activity throughout the coun-
try, the Association Of Railway Execu-
tives has announced.
The increase In the movement OF
crops, fuel and other commodities al
ways brings heavier demand for
freight cars in the fall. a statement
said. so that the present situation Is
considered seasonable and normal.
The prospect Of car shortage was
not referred to by the executives.
ION September 8. there were 43. 1853
surplus freight cars, 27.2S7 fewer than
on August 81" the statement said. At
the same time there were requests from
shippers for 67.S99 cars. which could
not be compiled with Just at that time.
This was 1929 cars more than on Au-
gust 81.
Coal Car Surplus Cut.
Surplus coal cars numbered 1859
on September 8, a reduction Of 1881
since August 81, while untitled orders
for cars on that date tOtaled 1854 cars.
Surplus box cars totaled 2.1S7 cars.
while untitled orders for cars on Sep
tember 8 totaled 39.032.
while the accumulation Of surplus
freight cars began in November. 1920
S. 1921. when there We're 507.427 cars
Since then there has been steady de-
crease, which has been more pronounced
since April. this year, when loading OF
revenue freight began to increase
Many Locomotives Retired.
The demand upon the carriers to
haul bumper crops combined with the
tered attention also on the depleted
motive power equipment of the roads
which has been affected by the shop
mems strike. The associations
last report placed the number of To-
comotives unfit for servic3 at more
then large number of locomotives
has been retired for repairs. some
railroad officials admitted today. esti-
mating that approximately half of the
roads motive power is unavailable for
use in the present emergency.
The need for more locomotives to
move the congestion of freight on
nearly every railroad in the coun-
try is giving greater concern to rail
officials, it was said. than the pos
sibility of car shortage.
With more motive power available
officials said they could easily secure
a turnover of freight and coal cars
that would tend to nullify the car
shortage. or at least prevent 1t from
assuming large proportions.
Other EmbnrEoes Seen.
1t was predicted that other eastern
roads would have to follow the course
of the Lackawanna and Lehigh Valley
railroads and place embargoes on
western freight before the end of the
week
The movement of all freight would
be sacrificed by the carriers. it was
said. for the problem of moving an
thracite. but that the task they faced
of providing enough cars to keep the
mines open would stretch their equip
ment and resources to the limit.
The number of cars loaded in rail-
roads of the country. but not moved
to destination, officials said, was the
largest in the history of the carriers
and this condition might tend to carry
the car shortage over a long period.