Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1889-11-01
FREIGHT DOES NOT COME.
Merchants and Others Complain of
Railroad Delays.

FREIGHT DOES NOT COME.
Merchants and Others Complain of
| Railroad Delays.
COAL AND OTHER coNNoprT1Hs oRpEAED 4
MONTH AGO NOT pKLrvERED rrT-A aRNERAL
| oRowL AND A SERIOUS SITUATION WHAT
SHIPPERS AND RAILROAD MEN SAT.
| Are the railroad companies making dis
elimination against Washington in handling
freight or are the facilities in this city in
adequate to the demand upon them?
whatever the reason Is the fact remains that
shippers are having the greatest difficulty in
getting hold of their freight. This inability to
obtain their shipments extends to . certain
degree to ali manner Of merchandise, but ID
more noticeable in the coal and Wholesale
grocery shipmenta Coal, on account Of its
greal bulk and tonnage, would naturally be the
first to feel any tightening in the
freight delivery, but the growl il
widespread and non-delivery has extended far
beyond the coal dealers. Much of the trouble
is probably due to the throwing aside Of the
freight traffic during the conclave, but mer-
chants here are Of the opinion that with ordi-
nary diligence the ends could have been caught
| up by this time that traffic could proceed
with its usual regularity.
WHAT SHIPPERS SAY.
STAR reporter in talks with many Of the
largest shippers of the city found that there
was a unanimous complaint as to the slow de-
Livery Of their freight and of their utter in
| ability to get goous shipped even as long ago as
the first part OF September.
As before stated, the coal dealers are espe-
ciaily unfortunate, little or no coal being re-
ceived, and the few that are coming in
being mainly loaded with coal shipped within
the past two weeks coming around coal
which has been paid for, and for which the
dealers have received the manifest over q
month ago.
While all manner Of dealers unite in COM
planning OF the facts, the why's and where
torres are almost as numerous as the sufferers.
Some merchants laid the trouble to lack of
iaclntles on the part OF the companies, others
to carelessness and Encouragement, while still
others expressed the belief that the roads were
Intentionally pinching the Washington mer-
chants by threat Of what might happen if
they we're not allowed to retain possession of
the pubic streets and given the right to lay
side tracks.
THIRTY DAYS BEHIND.
Mr.. George F. Zeh. the manager for Hume Il
Co., the Wholesale grocers, stated that they
were having great difficulty in getting any
goods shipped by freight. most of the ship
ments coming in about thirty DAYS behind
hand. This trouble, he stated, did not extend
to goods shipped in charge of the quick delivery
men, and In his belief the railroads were
making discrimination in favor of these de-
livery companies.
ME-. JAMES L. BARBouR's VIEW
Mr.. James L. Barbour said he was having the
same trouble in obtaining his freight; that ne
was unable to fill orders and that the trouble
ever, that the fault did not lie with the railroad
companies who were not allowed facilities in
tins city for the proper transaction Of their
business. Mr.. Barbour was OF the opinion that
a more liberal policy should be shown to the
roads and thought that they had been so bar
raised by certain parties that they were
actually unable to handle the traffic
The Baltimore and Ohio road should
be moved back to New York avenue"
continued Mr.. Barbour, land allowed to buy
land there for proper facilities. while the Penn
syivania should be given the privilege to con-
denim land along the tracks below the depot
These arrangements would give both roads
ample space for their freight and passenger
traffic"
Mr.. D. Middleton Of Browning 4 Middleton,
great difficulties in getting freight that was
shipped month ago. The trouble is lack of
facilities on the part Of the roads,"
THE SITUATION AMONG COAL DEALERS
Mr.. Z. Kurtz johnson of johnson Brothers,
coal dealers, said shipments of coal to him
were over thirty days behind and he could find
no trace Of them. He thought the trouble was
careless handling on the part of the roads, with
perhaps some trouble from the roads having
Outgrown their present accommodations. 1.-THE
two roads," said Mr.. Johnson, ''have not
watched the growth. of trade in Washington as
closely as they have in other cities and the de-
mands on them have rather got ahead of their
ability. This is a matter which should be fxed
at once in view Of Washington's hopes for the
worlds fair"
Mr.. w. II. Baum. another prominent coal
deal, said he was having the same difficulty in
receiving coal shipped and paid for. He could
not understand what the trouble was, the &C
ton of the companies being very mysterious
At MIR. John Miller's coal yard in South Wash
ington 1t was learned that coal shipped in Sep
TENDER had not been received, while later ship
ments had come in within the last few days.
Mr.. Millers establishment has yard of its
own for the accommodation OF cars and the in
ability to receive shipments cannot, in this case,
be laid 70 the door OF lack of railroad facilities
in this city.
Several merchants expressed themselves as
In favor OF line OF regular boats between this
city and points north.
suPr. M'KEEvHR's EXPLANATION.
Superintendent McKeever Of the Pennsyl-
vania road said the trouble lay In the slowness
with which merchants to whom cars were sent
unloaded them. He said there was no block on
the road and that as fast as cars were unloaded
others were brought in. ''There is no trouble"
continued Mr.. McKeever, sin the delivery Of
freight not sent by the carload"
The reporter found at the New Jersey avenue
freight yards considerable number OF empty
cars taking up the room. Merchants aver that
shipments in small bulk are as much delayed
as by full carload, and, still further. the coal
dealers with yards Of their own into which cars
can be switched are complaining a. loudly Is
others
Mr. ALVEY LAYS IT ON THE coNcIAvE.
Superintendent Alvey Of the B. and o. said:
THE conclave il responsible for it all. We
i'd not touch q pound of freight for seven
days, SO you can imagine how it banked up on
us. Since that time we have been using every
means to get matters straight and deliver rs
far possible, those articles which were
perishable. You know the fall Is the time We
handle the most freight Now, last inaugura-
ton we had no trouble with freight, although
the crowd was many times a. large. We will
be up to date next week."