The daily dispatch. [volume] (Richmond [Va.]) 1850-1884, 1881-02-22

Readers OF the dispatch have doubtless
gathered from the numerous complaints oi
shippers appearing In it, columns that there
is serious interruption Of freight traffic In
this city. Many charges have been brought
against some OF the railroads. some alleging
that there is an unfair discrimination against
Richmond In favor OF through freigbtS,
others that they have been more jealous In
declaring dividends and raising the value OF
their stock than in the proper equipment OF
their roads, and Others, again, that bad man
agcment is at The bottom OF II all. What.
ever truth there may be in all these charges.
II il certain that our shippers are suffering
greatly from their inabily 10 get transpOrta
ton for their goods; and rhe immense guam
titles Of freight, both through and local,
daily accumulalinQ at The various deT OTIS
adds TO This embarrassment. which has now
almost assumed the shape Of freight block
adc.
In order TO ascertain all the facts In the
case we have interviewed some OF our prn-
cipal shippers ard the officers representing
those lines OF transpOl tl,lon complained OF,
3nd lay the complaints and explanations
in fuii before our readers. The result, II il
fail 10 bring about better understanding
between the railroads and their patrons
land we trust it may not, Will nevertheless
demonstrate that the much-'alked-of bust
ness BOOM j. now no longer speculation,
bat an assured and tangible fact. Business
i proSpcring, and the world OF sensation,
the fruitful field for the ncws.tcnd, grows
correSpondiugv dun
Mr.. Lewis ID. Crenshaw, secretary and
treasurer OF the
HAXALL.CRENSHAw COMPANY,
said that they had been unable 10 get any
ears from the Richmond and Petersburg
road for over a month, and that there was
10 prospect OF getting any so far 9s he
could see. The Danyie road furnished
them one ear Saturday week and one last
saturday. Within the past six weeks they
could have used forty or fifty cars. This
has caused great dissatisfaction among their
customers, whO perhaps, not fully under
standing the situation, were disposed 10
cenSure the milling company for this delay.
Their business over the two roads above
mentioned had suffered considerably in con-
sequence Of ibis state OF things. Mr.. Crcn-
shaw also said thar the company had an or
der from Philadelphia for feed.stuti, TO be
shipped bv the Clyde line, which had been
standing since some time in January, but
up to the present time they had been un-
able TO get it OFF
The next place visited was the office Of
THE SOUTHERN FERTILlZTNG COMPANY.
In answer 10 our question relative to the
existence OF a freight blockade MIR. William
Gillian, in the absence Of Mr.. JOHN Ott,
said, in Lebalf OF the company, that they
/ had been unable 10 get ears on the Peters
burg road for over a week. The Danvile
road furnished them with four saturday and
four yesterday; that within a month or six
weeks back they could have used forty or
| fifty ears over these lines, but bad been un-
able 10 obtain them. Great injury had re.
suled to their trade IN consequence, espe-
cialy in the cotton dlstIicts, where this
stuff was wanted for immediate use. They
| had tried to reach some OF their customers
by shipping stuff to Norfolk Uid the James
River Steamboat Company, but the railroad
| lines leading out from Norfolk and Ports
mouth were in the same condition as the
Richmond roads. Thought that the trouble
was gradually lessenng.
MESSRs. DAVENPORT 4 NORRIS
were next sought. They said that tbey
could use thirty ears on the Danvile road
and ten on the Petersburg road right away
| II they could get them. Their customers
wele complaining heavily, but they were
pOWereSs 10 help them. Thought that the
railroad companies ought to increase their
rolling stock.
We next called on
Mr.. CHARLES l.. TODD,
but he being out, Mr.. j. II. Schooler, his
chief assistant, kindly gave us the informa-
tion sought. He SAID that within the past
| six weeks they hid fallen short forty or fifty
cars OF the number needed by them on the
Danvillc and Petersburg roads. This i'm
| hats ff
bear on the railroad lines by Richmond ship
pcrs for transportation facilities was partly
caused by the large corn crop which was
raised in Virginia lat year. The West could
not at this time compete with Virginia for
the grain trade OF the South. The business
prospects Of Richmond were never brighter.
| There was a marked Improvement in all
branches OF trade, but not 10 the same eX-
tent as in grain.
THE ATLANTIC AND VIRGINIA FERTILIZING
COMPANY
complain that they have been great sufferers
| by this freight embargo; that they have
| immediate Use for one hundred and fifty
cars on the Danvic road and fifty on the
| Petersburg road 10 ill orders already re-
ceiyed, and neatly all OF the stun is intend
cd for cotton-planlerS. Unless they can get
1 "
over until the next season.
Colonel A. s. Buiord, president Of
The RICHMOND AND DANyILLE RAILROAD,
was found at his Office. He stated that he
was well aware Of the numerous complaints
| beiDg made, and he was only too sorry
there should be arjrgrOunds for them.
d" The Richmond and DanvilIe road" said
he, ''is to-day, exec ting the Atlantic, Mis-
sissippi and Ohio railroad. the best
equipped road in the South. We purchased
new engines and several hundred cars du-
ring the past year, and have given large
orders for additional cals. The real
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE
| is the unprecedented spell OF cold weather
| in the southern country, which lasted for
about eighteen weeks. This caused almost
an embargo throughout our southern con-
nectons on account OF impossible country
roads and the inability OF the people then
| to receive consignments OF goods. The
dep0ts along the lines have therefore been
| filed to oyerflowing, and our cars have ac-
tually become storehouses for goods. As
consequence, we have experienced the
greatest difficulty in getting our ears re-
turned with anything like the usual prompt
ness. We have sent out men on the various
lines TO hurry their return, aud in two or
three Instances have furnished a locomotive
with force OF hands TO gather up the cars
20 enable us TO meet the wants OF our pa
Arons."
Reporter do you not think the
GENERAL BUSINESS BOOM
AID the consequent increase in traffic eX-
plains in part tue difficulty"
Colonel Buford eyes: Il l. true there