The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1922-11-18
NOT TRUE in KAN.
Railway Age Says Car Shortage
Is Growing Worse.
Kansas Rail Men Say Shippers
Getting More Cars.

! According to quotation which fol-
lows, from the Railway Age, the car
shortage of the country in general, is
more acute than two weeks ago, and is
growing worse.
This condition does not pertain in
the west at least as regards Kansas,
according to the statements of Kansas
railroad men, who assert that shippers
in this state are being more gener-
ously supplied with cars than they
have been at any time during the car
shortage of this season.
Net Shortage, fS2,OS4.
" The Railway Age in it's current issue
calls attention to the fact that as pre-
dicted by it two weeks ago the car
shortage has continued to increase.
1.-THE net car shortage reported on
October Is, 1922" says the Railway
Age, was 152,034; on october %,
161, 940; and on November L it was
IT'S, 200. in spite of the fact that dur
ing the two Immediately preceding
weeks the railroads moved more car
loads of freight than ever before in
the corresponding two weeks of any
year in history. The largest net car
shortage ever reported in any past
year was 46.000.''
Reviewing the history of car short
ages in reply to statement which
has been made in some quarters that
I'VE always have a car shortage with
us. at this time of year." the Railway
Age says:
There was a large car shortage in
1906 and 1907 ct the end of a ten
year period during which the total
freight handled by the railroads had
increased $50 per cent. The railways
were then making and for some years
continued to make great efforts to so
increase their facilities as to remedy
this condition. The result was that in
the eight years from 1908 to 1915, in
elusive, there never was a large car
shortage except in the fall of 1912,
and in six of the eight years there
was no car shortage at all.
"MeantiNle, however, because of re-
strictive regulation, the expansion of
the railways was rapidly declining,
especially after the year 1910. In
consequence, when the great increase
of business came in 1916 there came
a large car shortage which prevailed
not only in the fall of each year, but
which, except in the spring of 1919,
was practically continuous thruout the
five years, 1916 to 1920, inclusive
Because of the decline of business
there was no car shortage in 1921, but
the revival of business in 1922 has
brought much the largest car shortage
ever reported.
Has Political Significance.
1.-THE existing shortage of transport
tation is so great and serious as to
constitute the strongest possible argu-
ment from the standpoint of the pub
lie welfare Tor a fair and constructive
policy of railway regulation.
1.-The sentiment which has been en-
gendered among the farmers by mis-
representations of the transportation
act and of the facts about the railroad
situation was the principal cause of
the recent election from many states,
in the west, of numerous
senators and congressman who advo-
cate a policy of railway regulation
which would be more unfair, restric-
tive and harmful than that which has
been followed in the past. No class
Of people is losing more money now
from inadequacy of transportation
than the farmers -