Evening star., 1941-10-03

plus, less 2,552 reported as needed
for immediate use, or a net of 5.l92,
Mr.. Dowd added the following COM
ments on his survey:
Certain owners reported 2343
cars as not being suitable for pc
troleum products. All owners con-
tacted replied to our telegram.
Owners Of less than 25 cars, other
than the United States Army and
Navy, who own 658 cars, did not
receive the inquiry. but operate
total of only 1907 cars. The grand
be in service is l50,403
Future Surpluses Indicated.
1T should be stated that one of
the largest tank car leasing COM
panies reported based on previous
reasonable service performances We
expect 1000 or 5000 cars to be avail
able in next 80 to so days In our
recapitulation above we have con-
sidered this particular owner as
having no surplus cars at the pres
ent time In all other cases where
owners stated that they had no sur
plus now, but expected TO have SUR
plus cars at a later date, we have
listed as no surplus as our survey
was made with relation to car supply
as of the date of our telegram.
AS to cars reported short, from
information reaching this commit
tee it Is believed that the great ma
jority of these 1852 cars are re-
quired for emergency movement of
petroleum and its products into
District l. as two companies report
ed shortage of 2,l00 cars.
In submitting the attached re-
port the committee does so calling
attention to the fact that the figures
submitted by tank car owners cover
the surplus cars not in use as of
September 7, 1941, which we believe
is the proper way to find out the
number of idle or surplus cars as
of the date of the check.
The committee has not attempted
to check or know II cars considered
as being in service or use are being
used as efficiently as they should or
can be. With the increased need
and demand for more cars, no doubt
there can be some additional cars
made available by more efficient
use OF tank cars generally, but the
committee Is not in a position to
know or estimate what additional
cars may be made available in the
future as a result of the railroads
giving more prompt movement Of
tank cars both loaded and empty,
spotting or picking up cars more
promptly or of consignees unload
ing same in less time because Of the
need for more cars"
TwO-Day Loading Figure.
The railroad check-up filed by Mr..
Pelley yesterday, as of last Saturday,
covered hundreds of loading points
in AZ States and the District of Co
lumbia. 1t gave the exact number
of tank cars on hand at each place,
the average daily shipments at each
point during the previous five days,
and the surplus in excess of two
days loading requirements. In
other words, this tabulation, which
resulted in the estimate of 23,595
surplus cars, was based on the theory
that two days of loading require
ments is an ample margin to de-
duct from cars on hand in arriving
at surplus, and makes allowances
for the probability that cars will be
coming in as others go out.
For example, Mr. Pelley's report
showed 1879 cars on hand at Mobile,
Ala. and the average daily ship
ments there, ST. Deducting 134
(twice the daily average shipping
requirement. from the 1879, left 65
cars reported as surplus at that
point.
Mr.. Ickes also placed in the record
another letter, written September
II by w. Alton Jones, chairman of
the Transportation Committee for
this area, in forwarding Mr.. Dowd's
inventory Of 5,!a2 available cars.
Comments on Estimates.
Mr.. Jones made some comments
on the higher railroad estimates. He
wrote, in part:
Cd You will note that there is
wide discrepancy between this fac
tual inventory of cars and state
ments which have appeared in the
press recently, which has left the
impression that there are 10000 idle
tank cars now standing ready to be
placed in service for the transporta-
tim Of oi1 tn DiStrict (the Atlantic
Coast area), which has felt most
acutely the effects of the diversion
of tanker transportation to the
shuttle service. In submitting the
subcommittee report, we wish to
call your attention to the fact that
the inventory of surplus cars, which
they have made, does not indicate
the exact location of the surplus
equipment. 1t Is assumed that the