The Carbon advocate. [volume] (Lehighton, Pa.) 1872-1924, 1879-12-06

Very few people outside of the officials Of
the Lehigh Valley Railroad have any idea
Of the amount Of work done at Packerton.
1t is the shipping point for our coal, freight,
ETC., east, over the Lehigh Valley Railroad,
in very busy times, and the amount Of work
done when occasion requires, Is enormous.
The month of November is always busy
month, it being the end Of the Railroad
year, and object Of shippers to get in all
they possibly can, thereby taxing the Road
to lis utmost capacity. The average ton
mage day for the week ending Nov. 29th,
over the Packerton scales, was 1895 tons.
On Friday, the 2Stb, the scale tonnage was
20 800 tons, about $3.50 cars. On Saturday,
goth, 26,27O tons, about 4,T2l cars. This
coal comes from the Hazleton, Beaver
Meadow, Mahanoy and Wyoming regions,
shipped by about so different operators.
All of this coal must come to a stop in the
yard above the scales, there examined by
the car inspector, the shipment looked
over and checked by the Checker" and
properly marked, according to the different
roads to which they may be consigned, and
cut into sections, TO be weighed-each ship.
inent being weighed separately, and no
more than eight cars weighed at one time.
The bills are brought into the scale Office
and the weight attached. From there they
are taken TO the Forwarding Office, where
an exact copy is taken, number of cars,
weight, etc, and then properly way.billed,
As soon as a train is made up the original
manifest is tackled on each shipment by the
"bill tacker." The number Of each car that
passes owes the scale is taken by a ''number
taker" Ia position that very few can fill
ana then checked by the manifest, in order
to see that the manifest calls for the right
number of cars OF course, TO do all this
there must be system, the amount Of work
and correctness af the same is evidence that
all connected are thoroughly drilled.
Frank B. Morris, Esq, is the general for
wardng agent at this point and has under
his direct control only fourteen clerks TO dc
all this work-four in the scale office and
ten in the forwarding office. In the latter
department all that pertains to the for
warding of coal is attended to; way-billing
record Of cars, receipts Of arrival from al
stations along the line, freight bills, mile
age, etc, in fact an immense amount o
work is done under his supervisor. The
men under him are quick and efficient
having been at this business for years,
The despatching of trains, in fact all tina
pertains to the outside work, is under thu
control and direction OF Thomas Harleman
a thoroughly competent and trustworth!
man.
On Friday there were 3,7G2 loaded car
received and 1925 sent out, making q
trains, averaging 1877 cars each. About is,
900 tons of coal also about 200 cars @
freight, besides there was received 2,l7
empty coal cars and ia freight cars. Of
Saturday there was received, loaded, ,S5
coal cars, 2S5 freight empty coal cars, 8,
225, and 56S freight; sent out, $3.50 loade,
coal cars, making 2S trains, averaging IL
cars apiece. and 2S5 freight. All this don
and no delay to the traffic over the road.
AT this point is located the general ca
) shops of the Railroad company, under tn
) supervision of L. r. Brown, master Gu
) builder. All Of the shops along the line ar
; under his control here is to be found som
) of the finest machinery, thorough system
5 competent men, the best of material, n
) better work is done in the county. TIL
shops are now running at their fullest CO
t pacity, employing about $50 men, The mq
chine shops and round house are under tn
control of John McKelvey, thorough Inc
t chanic, who has charge of all the engine
D at this point.
= We feel justified in saying that at no poir
= on the Lehigh Valley Railroad is there
much work done with so little force and e'
4 pense as at this point, and yet to So man
of your readers it is only small static
along this great line. ANON.