San Antonio light. [volume] (San Antonio, Tex.) 1911-1993, 1923-03-11
.SPECTER Of A I,
/. CAR SHORTAGE
CASTS SHADE
Industries Of Nation, N.
Booming, Seriously !
Affected. |
CANNOT FILL ORDEll
Carriers Exert Every Eff
but Cannot Meet !
Demands. Il
CANNOT FILL ORDE.
BY HARDEN COLFAN


Copyright. by The San Antonio LII
Washington, ID. c., March TO-
specrer of coming car shortage
large dimensions is casting its sha.
over the building construction be
the automobile boom, the coal in:
try, the lumber industry and the &C
try's iron and steel plants, accord
to advices received at Washington
week from governmental and prij
agencies in many sections of the W
ed States. !,
In the building trades, apprel
sion of car shortage is one of
chief themes under discussion Il!
days by trade organizations. !.
building season really opens early
April and contractors are figuring
the greatest difficulty in Obtain
rolling stock to meet their dema
Last year the coal strike placed
the open top equipment in the C
try at the disposal of the buils
trades; this year the coal indu
will require at least 125,000
weekly, according to calculations b;
on geological survey figures. Al
loaded car requires an averages
seventeen days to make round q
the coal demand will tie up ne
100000 open top cars, most of W
were utilized last year in hau
building materials.
Orders Piled High.
Building construction, with or
piled UP far in excess of those
last year, faces a car supply of at
two-thirds of what it received
ago. The resultant pinch is regal
as likely to slow down activity,
sibly to the point where last ye
banner totals will stand as the
ord. With an ample supply of
the building boom would surpass
springs figures handsomely. Rep
show that more than 0,O00,OO
new business was contemplated
January. This is more than IN,
the volume Of actual building
April.
Lumber manufacturers are TepS
ed as extremely nervous and ap:
hensive with respect to the car sig
ton. Orders on their books
much in excess of output and pr
are soaring.
In the automobile industry n
cars were sold, according TO sta
ties gathered by automotive industI
during the first two months of
than were sold in the first til
months Of 1922. The factories i
never experienced such busy y
ter. Within the past ten days, hb
ever, several factories have had
slow down to half time because
inability on the part of railroads 81
ing them to bring the needed n
plies.
No Relief i'm Sight.
Leading automobile manufactu
fear that the situation will bee
worse and that the factories will b
to turn away valuable business
profits because they can't get
materials fast enough TO suit {
customers. The chances are reg;
ed rs excellent for the greatest z
AVIAN movement out of Detroit
year ever witnessed. Delays in did
cries of automobiles may apprcI
the situation which occurred in
spring of 1920.
Iron and steel plants, according
reports to the Department of CE
merce. are working close to capad
The demand for coal is Stacker
somewhat with the approach of
coal year, April /, when contr;
are made for the ensuing tw
months. Indications are. howek
that the coal industry will incrd
its activities after April l meas,
bly,, as compared with the averag,
previous years.
The railroads themselves report
increased number of cars short,
more than 1000 during the last "
of which there is a complete reed
At the present time the Ilcrf'
stands at about 10000 cars, IS
surplus cars. in sections where q
are not needed at the moment,
setting this figure to the extent
about 10000 cars.
From now on, however, railroad
ecutives believe that the shortage
increase. The carriers are doing
possible to meet demands, but neitI
their motive power nor their rol
stock is adequate. Orders for 1
cars and locomotives continue.
they will not be. completed in time
meet the present emergency. Emil.
goes in many cases are being put L
effect by the roads as an expedi{
but these are regarded a tempor
makeshifts adopted only to get
breathing spell and in no wise
culated to meet the situaf
squarely,
Loadings Of commodities cont
at a record rate for the season,
American Railway Association
ports. Car loadings for the vi
ending February "a increased nj
than 1900 cars over the proceed
week and exceeded by 100000
number Of loadings during the co l
spending week last year The I'd
for the week is given at 100000 G..
Demand for money is increas
and higher interest rates appear
prospect.