Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-12-02
THE FREIGHT BLOCKADE.
The Lumber Men Want to know What
the Diniculty Il.

The reported action Of the Pennsylysnia
railroad company in refusing to handle heavy
freight consigned to this city brought together
. large number Of local lumber dealers last
Saturday night The object Of the meeting
was to prepare memorial to be sent to the
railroad company asking what its intentions
were Another meeting will be held this even
ing in the Office of Barber & Ross, when the
memorial will be prepared and committee ap-
pointed to take it to the company.
Mr.. ROSS VIEWS.
Mr.. Samuel Ross Of the firm of Barber 4
Ross of this city told STAR reporter that the
blockade was assuming alarming proportions;
that it was impossible for dealers in this city to
get their freight, and that building was at a
standstill for the reason that no material could
be obtained He said that he was Of the i'm
preston that the attitude of the railroad COM
pany IL taken as measure of retaliation in
consequence Of the war carried on against the
company by citizens of South Washington, or
else the Pennsylvania railroad company was
interested In securing the worlds fair for New
York and was trying to show that Washington
had not the means for handling large amount
of freight.
Mr.. JOHNSON LOOKING FOR HIS FREIGHT.
Mr.. E. Kurtz johnson was found in consulta-
ton with Supt. McKeever Of the Baltimore and
Potomac railroad company. He said to star
reporter that he had been looking after some
freight which was consigned to him in Septem-
Der, which thus IA he had been unable to get
He said further that he thought the attitude OF
the railroad company was unwarranted and
hoped the meeting which takes place tonight
would accomplish some good, as the situation
at present embarrasses business to a large ex-
tent
WHAT THE RAILRoAD MEN SAY.
Superintendent McKeever said that the situa-
ton was better than it had been for long
time. He said that he attributed the blockade,
in the first place, to the large increase in the
freight handled and the want of proper facili-
ties in this city to unload it. He said even
now his company had cars blocked up outside
of the city unable to come in.
MIR. J. q. Searles, the division freight agent
OF the Baltimore and Potomac railroad COM
pany for this section of the country, was Of the
opinion, SO ne told STAR reporter this morn,
ing, that the situation was better than it had
been for some time. He said that the difficulty
was undoubtedly due, in the first place, to the
increase in the amount Of freight and the want
Of proper facilities in this city for unloading
the same. He said further that it was fact
that the railroad company had issued orders to
their agents all over the country not to take
any heavy freight for this city; but that this
action was based upon the fact that they al
ready were over-crowded and could not de-
liver that which they had on hand. Regarding
the statement that the Pennsylvania railroad
company were holding freight for the purpose
OF influencing legislation regarding the right
OF way into the city, he said he considered that
all foolishness; that the railroad company was
losing money every day, decreasing their rev.
enues, and that it was hardly reasonable to
think that they would lose so much money for
the accomplishment of SO little good.
Mr.. J. w. Chesley, the freight agent Of the
B. and o. r. r., said that his railroad was fast
getting into shape, and with the exception of q
few cars consigned in October that they were
up to date. He said he hoped the blockade
would be over in little while,