The Birmingham age-herald., 1922-10-01
LCUTE COAL SHORTAGE FACED UNLESS CAR SUPPL ' IMPROVES, DECLARES YERKES IN REVIEW

spected by the commissions inspec- tor increased from S.41 per cent in January. 1929. to 11.S5 per cent In August, 1929. These figures arc in addition to tho number of bad order cars reported by the railroads them selves and whose reports at this tlme indicate that over 15 per cent of the total freight cars of the country arc bad order
 Motive Power
 Inspection of locomotives by the commission developed that In June, 4S per cent of tho locomotives in- spected (6,5sT out Of 70.000) were de- fectlve, during July 60 per cent of those inspected were found defective and in Auguat ri per cent. It was the opinion of the commission's rep reSentatiyes that normal motive power conditions could not be re- stored inside of year, even with full mechanical department forces. which forces are still badly sub normal on great majority of rail- roads.
 Depleted shop Forces
 With particular reference to the coal situation during the coal miners' strike April to August, inclusive. 90 per cent of the tonnage pro- duced came from the large non-union fields of Alabama, Kentucky, West Virginia and Virginia, and while cars from other coal carrying roads than the, ones carrying those non union states were supplied in considerable quantity, the cars belonging to the originating carriers in those stasos were widely scattered. Probably 36 AV nn rnadu will be found in bad order, and with de- plsted shop forces in the main wall able for repairs.
 Repair eg Cars
 -Some of the carriers realizing this condition are having repairs made by outside shops to the extent that ca paoity for outside work is available; {; others Ars not having repair ear work dono by outside agencies and consequently will not reduce their number of bad order cars as quickly as those carriers utilizing outside agencies as well as their own.
 Notwithstanding service order NO. zS of the interstate commerce com mission, which specifically instruots on-origtnating coal roads to return coal ear equipment promptly many of Ruch roads are not returning equipment to the coal fields and are utilixing them for other purposes and are apparently ignoring the in- struction of the commission.
 Holding On To Cars
 '-rho originating coal roads In practically every case are holding on to all coal cara in their possession and are not respecting ownership, and not returning the cars to the home roads
 The average coal cRr supply in tho Alabama field for the past 10 days after dsducung privately owned oars, special type equipment assigned to furnace operations and cars spe- officially placed for railroad fuel loading. will not average above 26 per cent, and this 2S per cent Is the number of cars available for loading at mines to the general public.
 Acute Shortage Fear
 ~Tt can he readily seen from
 the above, that there will he aR
 acute shortage of ceni fin the
 very near future if transportation
 is not promptly afforded coal
 minSs.
 There is no shortage of coal at the minea, no shortage of labor, and no other condition except the lack of transportation that Is now interior Ing or will interfere with the public getting full and dependable sup ply of coal
 The federal fuel distributor, the interstate oommerce commission. tho American Railway association and the individual carriers arc undoubt- edly making every reasonable effort to overcome the existing situation. but in view of the bad order condi- ton of cars and locomotives, fol- lowing the shopmen's strike, the out look for the winter for improved transportation Is anything but rosy"