Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1889-10-29
ADDING LAKE CARS.
The Present Famine viii be Relieved
by Navigation Closing.
STIRRING CARELESS SHIPPERS.
The Pennsylvania Company Will Charge 81
Per Day for Cars in Use.
THE LAKE ERIE ROADS FINE SHOWING

Division Freight Agent james P. Orr, OF
the Pennsylvania Company, yesterday sent
out notices to agents and shippers to the
effect that they would refuse to receive ship
ments destined to lake points after Novem-
Der 6. The lakes practically close for navi-
cation on November 10, and railroad officials
in this city will heave sigh of relief when
this occurs. Hundreds of the cars now
used in the lake trade. carving ore, coal,
ETC., will be thrown into other lines. This
will, in a measure, appease the enormous
appetite of heavy shippers for cars. and in
connection with the fact that the railroad
companies will charge demurrage on loaded
cars will break up the equipment famine.
The Pennsylvania Company has also sent
out notices to shippers and others that be-
ginning November they will charge 81 per
day ON all loaded cars after they have been
standing at the disposal of the consignee As
hours.
WILL INCREASE THE RATE.
This company is taking the initiative in
the matter, and will probably be followed
bv the other lines. An official of the COM
pany stated Yesterday that if this did not
have the effect of getting cars unloaded
promptly they would increase the de-
murrage to S. per day. Some years ago
when the company was not quite so hard
pushed for cars as they are now they made
rule charging S. per day, but it was not
strictly enforced. The company would
rather have the cars than the money, and
are determined to break up the practice of
shippers holding them.
In speaking of the matter yesterday to a
DISPATCH reporter, Mr.. Orr said: 1.-The
whole cause of this car shortage is not be-
cause the railroad companies have not got
the equipment, or that business is so heavy.
There is a great quantity of freight moving.
but not nearly as much as people imagine.
We get the cars in on the consignee's siding,
and be takes his time about unloading them.
The demurrage charge of 81 per day will be
strictly enforced against everybody. We
have tried everything in our power to get
these people to unload their property, and if
they do not choose to do it, they will have
to pay for the privilege of OBTAINING them.
DEMAND FOR LAKE CARS.
"There is a great scramble for lake cars
now, as the shippers have only ten days be-
fore we stop receiving shipments. AS an
indication OF the shortage of cars, 1 may
state case where sewer pipe was loaded on
a gondola. The shipper could not get full
boxcar load on the gondola, but in his eager
ness to get car he was willing to pay for a
short carload If we had the cars now, 1
think our coke trade would increase % per
cent"
When the lakes close there will be con-
sequent increase in freight rates. The diff
ference between the rail and lake rate is
about 25 cents per ton. General Freight
Agent F. A. Dean, of the Lake Erie road,
yesterday prepared recapitulated report of
the coal shipments on his road for 1888.
During the wear the comnanv sent west 70
1886 cars. July was the heaviest month,
when 9,78S were sent out. In 1887 the total
number of cars was 81, ,963. This year it is
expected that the number will go above
100000.