Mohave County miner and our mineral wealth., 1922-11-24
SHORTAGE OF CARS
 FORCING INDUSTRY
 TO DRIVE 'EN AWAY

WASHINGTON, Nov. 22.-(Spe- cial)-The importance of the drive away to the automobile industry has been emphasized in no uncertain manner during the past several months of freight car shortage. Fig ures recently released by the Ma tional Automobile Chamber of Com-
 merce show that in August the num-
 Der of cars driver away from the fac
 tories reached the highest peak in the history of the industry. In view of this condition, the railways of the country have been again reminded by the car service division of the Ameri- can Railway association that every available automobile car should be sent to the automobile production dis tricts as quickly as possible. The figures released by the national auto- mobile chamber show that in April the carload shipments numbered 31,- 334, while the driveaways totaled 22,- 3S1. In May carload shipments ran 33,416 and driveaways 2s,827. The steadily mounting volume of drive aways is seen in June, when car load ings numbered 34,23O and driveaways 33,s57. In July carloadings were 29,- 116 and driveaways 2S,100. August then came along with 32,563 carload ings and 36,603 driveaways. The
 number of automobiles per carload is usually 3.4 to 4.
 However ,the fact that summer has
 considerable to do with driveaways lessens the importance of these fig ures somewhat, but, nevertheless, it is felt in railway circles that a mild winter will tend to keep the drive aways going in relative volume. The continued absence of snow and bad weather has greatly assisted the fac tories in moving their products by the driveway method, and this may continue throughout the winter if road conditions permit. Herbert Hoover, secretary of commerce, de- clares that railroad managers are do- ing their best to relieve the situation and that all available cars are now practically in use., He states that; the motive power is still below normal. however, in his opinion, the transpor- tation system of the country has not kept pace with the development of American production. Both the coal and railway strikes aggravated the situation, he pointed out, and added further to the congestion.
 It is pointed out in railroad circles that the carriers are bending every effort to render service to the indus tries of the country. The Railway as- sociation states that A,0O3,759 cars were loaded with revenue freight dur ing the week ending October "A. This is the largest number loaded in any week for the past two years. The history of the railroads shows only a peak of 14,780 cars in excess of this number. This high point was reach ed in October, 1920.
 Advices from Detroit declare that approximately 10000 cars per month are being shipped via boat and drive away, compared with 6O,O0O during the early part of 1920, and 75,OOO during the peak of the 1920 conges- tion.
 The industry at Detroit is calling for 300 cars per day to care for it's production, and the supply of cars to meet this runs around 15O cars daily. There are 12 private boats now in op- eration between Detroit and Cleve- and, Buffalo, Chicago, Duluth and 
 Railway equipment shops are now engaged in mighty effort to meet the roads, call for new equipment. Orders for 1,792 new locomotives were