Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-17
THE LUMBER FREIGHT QUESTION
Letter of the Washington Lumber Ex-
change to President Mayer.

The following is the letter in full which the
Committee appointed at the meeting of the
Lumber exchange last Saturday night sub
mitted to the president of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad company:
WASHINGTON, ID. c., Dec. 16, 1882
Chas. Mayer, esq, president Baltimore and
Ohio railroad
DEAR SIR: committee of the Washington
lumber exchange appointed for the purpose OF
addressing you on the subject OF the freight
blockade at this point sent you communl-
cation December 8 and stated therein,
in a conservative way, a portion OF the
grievances suffered by the lumber trade here.
and asked you to indicate to them what meas
ures Of relief if any, it was proposed by your
road to extend
Said committee offered, on the part of the
lumber dealers, whatever cooperation was IN
their power in order to enable your company
to provide necessary room and facilities Tor the
proper conduct of your business here.
For some reason, best known to yourself, you
have seen fit to ignore this letter, as no reply
has been received.
We now beg to address ourselves to your con-
sideration again with view TO placing our
selves and your company in proper light be-
fore the pubic of Washington.
We charge against the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad company absolute incompetency in the
to the bulk traffic to this city.
We charge utter indifference to the needs of
this community in the matter of facilities for
unloading freight.
We're the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
paralleled by another line you would be speed
lily convinced of the suicidal policy OF such out
rageous treatment by sudden and complete
loss of business.
As it is we must content ourselves with the
withdrawal from your line and shipment by
Others of such freights comes from points
where the route is optional with Us.
Our attention Is called today to circular
issued by your road compelling the prepay
ment OF freight on all shipments of lumber.
wood, hay and straw.
To say nothing of the legality of q rule re-
Quirlng payment for n service before 1t Is per-
formed. we beg to inquire of yOr If you think
that the compulsory patrons of your road will
be pleased with this enforced loan for period
that may be extended at your pleasure or con-
yenienceI
With sufficient yard room and shifting facili-
ties you would have no difficulty In enforcing
proper regulations for the prompt unloading
of cars, but with no system room to
promptly and properly handle, shift and put
cars into position, We do not think that even
compulsory prepayment of freight will prove
a sufficient panacea to your very apparent de-
fciencies in present facilities and manage
ment.
We beg to inquire further if this new edct
as to prepayment of lumber freights applies to
other points, or is the national capital alone
singled out for this distinguishing
mark of favor. Tha shortcomings of the
Baltimore and Ohio railroad have been borne
by the merchants of this city with DIN abiding
trust and untiring patience and submission under
impOsitions that would and should have aroused
less fOrbearlng community to overt acts
OF protest that would have brought reforma-
ton or at least energetic endeavor to bet
ter a condition of affairs That is simply para
lying IN Its effect and that should have been
foreseen and prevented by wise and willing
railroad management.
The large and swlftly-increasing trade of this
city demands proper consideration from the
chartered common carriers who have rights of
way within the city limits and this cOnsidera-
ton must have IN 1t an element of public ser
vice aside from mere question of profit and div
ldends to the companies.
81 your company shows willingness to help
Us We are ready and anxious to assist YOU. but
better service must be given to business that
has outgroWn your provisions for its accommo-
datlon- Yours respectfully,
W. A. WIMsATT,
III. L. BISCoE,
L. W. SMITH,
SAMUEL Ross,
Committee WASN'T lumber exchange.
BALTIMORE DOESN'T PREPAY FREIGHT
Several days ago Mr.. Wimsatt telegraphed
TO the freight agent at Clarksburg,
W. Va, asking if the rule as to the prepayment
Of freight applied to shipments of freight to
Baltimore.
The following 5 the reply:
prepayment is not required on Baltimore
shipments, the same condition OF affairs not ex-
listing here as at Washington i'll the differ
ence OF unloading freight. but We would not
hesitate to make the same rule apply here il
consignees would not unload their freight
promptly, and did In the case Of hay and
potatoes a short time ago."