Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-16
THE FREIGHT BLOCKADE.
Lumber Dealers Who Protest Against
the Action OF the Baltimore and Ohio.

Alta meeting OF the lumber exchange a.
Barber Ross Office saturday night Mr.. b
II. Willet of the firm of willet a Libbey pre-
siding, Mr.. wimsatt, chairman Of the COM
mittee appointed TO address the railroad Of
hclals in reference to the freight blockade, re-
ported that reply had been received from the
Pennsylvania company. but that the Baltimore
and Ohio company had not replied
NO LUMBER'sHPPED UNLESS PREPAID.
Mr.. wimsatt in this connection read . con-
munication addressed 10 his firm, johnson q
Wimsatt, on the 9Th instant from Clarksburg.
WA, saying: I'VE have notice here from our
railroad agent saying that the Baltimore aud
ohlo railroad company will not receive any
freight Tor your place unless the freight is pre-
me at once"
Mr.. Wimsatt stated that as soon a. he re-
celyed TINS letter he Enclosed IL 20 the general
freight agent of the Baltimore and Ohio in
Baltimore, and within a short time received .
as follows:
Il have your favor OF the 9th instant inclosius
letter from Mr.. A q. Griffin. which is herewith
! returned 1 inclose you a copy OF circular
which was issued. allowing the resumption OF
| shipments of lumber and other freight 20
Washington. by which you will see that pre-
payment OF freight is required on lumber.
This WAS considered necessary because adyan-
tage was taken by some commission men in
Washington who left the cars standing too
long, but under the new arrangement of pre-
payment of freight. il the cars are not unloaded
promptly we send the lumber 20 store or dis
| pose OF II so as to release our cars"
The circular inclosed was issued from the
| general freight agents Office at Baltimore, adj
dressed 10 agents and connections" and was
| as follows: Circular No. 81 (series of 1881,
November !, 1883. prohibiting shipments of hay,
straw, lumber, fire wood, fire brick and paving
blocks TO Washington, DC, will be withdrawn
| on the completion of business Monday, Decem-
1 Der 2, 1889. On and after December g. 1859,
| shipments of the above description of freight
Will be again taken by this company for WASH
lngton, DC. All shipments of hay, straw, lum-
Der and fire wood must be prepaid. Acknowl-
edge receipt OF this circular on inclosed FORM"
DISSEMINATING AGAINST WASHINGTON.
The reading of the circular called out con-
siderable criticism of the action Of the rail-
road company. Mr.. Thos. w. Smith read .
letter sent TO him from Strasburg Va inform
ing him that the writer had car Of cedar posts
which he desired to ship to him, but was COM
| PEELED to send IL TO Baltimore. as the agent
positively refused to bill il TO Washington. Mr..
| Nimsatt said he was informed that the Ric h
| mond, Fredericksburg and Potomac road are
sending goods to Baltimore practically free Of
| charge.
Mr.. Smith said il seemed as IL the Baltimore
and Ohio railroad was determined TO make the
people of Washington so to Baltimore for their
| market
The committee, consisting Of Messrs. VIM
satt Biscoe, Ross and Smith. were instructed
TO prepare and send letter to the Baltimore
and Ohio officials
Mr.. Wimsatt read a draft of a letter he had
prepared for this purpose and it met with APP
| proval In substance 1t informed the company
that unless better provisions were made for
the accommodation of its freight that the
shippers and consgners would be forced to
select another route. although they might be
compelled to pay higher rates.