The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-10-21
ROADS READY FOR
 CONGRESS FIGHT
Contend Definite Program Of Accomplishment Has Been
 Well Met
By THOMAS l.. ETOKES Leased Wire 1T The Age-Herald.l

NLcaSed Wire TT The AEe-Stcralu.D ,
 WASHING TON. Oct. 2o.-The rail- roads, with tn @reatest record for busin ss this year in their history, have gathered black and white evil dence with which they hope to curry popular favor and stiele efforts of progressives ir congress for re- st-ictive legislation.
 The evidence shows that in nearly every instance the railroads have met the definite program of accomplish ment which railroad executives set last April as being necessary by Oc- tober 1 to handle the increasing de- mands of business, which was just then rising to it's high tide. This program included reduction of the number of cars and locomotives in bad repair. Increase In loadings, freight capacity and mileage. early storing of coal for railroad use, and other measures for greater eff cheney.
 Ready To Meet All.
 The time is now up and with the records complete, the railroads are ready to go before congress and the public.
 They show:
 That the railroads have loaded more cars so far this year than ever 
 with 31.0o0,000 last year.
 That the number of freight cars awaiting repair have been reduced to S.7 per cent. The market set was per cent.
 Tha. the number of locomotives awaiting repair have been reduced to 15.3 per cent, with the aim fixed at 15 per cent
 That the average tons per loaded car had reac, ed 2S.s through Au- gut, T,ith the mark set at 30.
 That the average mils s-per-car- per- day had reached 2S.1 in August. The aim was 30 miles a day. About 7N,000 cars in surplus, not moving, q rigu in, thj estimate, bring ing; down the record.
 That the railroads have stored more coal for their own use than ever before, and have ample fuel stocks.
 Banner Business Recorded.
 "The railroads have done the big gest business of their history, thls year, and are now meeting all re- quirements," M. J. Gormley. chairman of the American Railway associa- tion, stated Friday.
 There is only one dark spot, the congestion of produce cars at termi- Eals, which is not due to the rail- roads, but to marketing conditions. The shipping of produce has been far beyond the demand and consequently produce has piled up at the termi- nals, and refrigerator cars have been held there. for days.
 We have supplied more fruit and produce cars this year than ever be- fore, but instead of improving con- ditions over last year as should have resulted had marketing been proper ly regulated, there has been greater congestion-' ,-.-9
 O O O
 Earnings Pass Guarantee.
 Gormley produced. records showing that cars in nslarge eastern cities have been held in the yards from five to twenty days. waiting to be tnioaded.
 While the record made by the rail- roads may help them, to certain extent it is likely to be viewed in another way by progressives in Con gross who want rates reduced. and are planning to point to the greatly increased revenue as evidence that rate cuts are Justified.
 Eastern and southern roads in the first eight months of this year aver aged ever the 5.75 per cent return on the investment guaranteed them under the transportation act