Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1892-11-03

but this fact is only small matter ip con-
siderins the railroads treatment of our
manufacturers and merchants. To give you
few instances of discrimination will tell
you some OF my own experience. The
freight rate between Atlanta, Ca, and
Pittsburg is S5 on certain line of goods.
Now, 1 can purchase this material in At
lanta and ship it to Youngstown at a rate
of "a 20, making the goods 30 cents cheaper
in Youngstown than in Plttsburg. Pitts
burg should undoubtedly have better rates
than small place like Youngstown. An
other peculiar thing, the rate from Cincin-
natl is g on one class, but we have to pay
81 20 from Columbus, which is barely over
half the distance.
'HThere are other matters in which the
railroads treat us unfairly. 1 go to some
agent and ask the rate to Chicago, for in
stance. tell him accept his rate and
order the goods shipped. When the freight
bill is presented, there is not one out OF ten
that has not from 25 cents to 75 cents added
to what the amount should be, when figured
At the rate quoted.
Protected by Red Tape.
81 complain to the collector; he says, L
see there is mistake; one OF the clerks has
made It can't correct the bill, for it is
on the manifest now, but you pay the
with the COMPANY There is nothing to do
but to pay the amount, and it is rarely, if
ever. any claim is made to the company for
such small amount, as the redtspe which
has to be gone through would cause more
worry than the claim is worth. In this
wav the railroads have large amount of
money on which they pay no interest In
TACT, it is taken out of the pockets of the
shippers.
''Pittsburg is at another great disadvau-
tage. / can get rate from Cleveland to
Pittsburg and be sure of the exact cost of
the material delivered. In shipping into
Pittsburg it is different. / had some freight
come from Buffalo the other day on which
rate of 81 25 was quoted TO me. When the
bill was presented for the freight there was
60 cents per ton added to the gross amount
ior switching. Now, the firm to which the
goods were consigned is in the heart of the
city and, as the rate was quoted on Pitts
burg, you can imagine my surprise and
how it upset my figuring when the bill was
presented There is not another city that l
know of where such practices as these are
endured.
One-Sided Demurrage Charges.
'"The demurrage charges are also an out
rage. In the first place, only 48 hours are
allowed for removing goods from cars.
unloaded is charged for it at the rate of 81
per day. Now, frequently we have ship
ments as much as two and three weeks be-
hind time, vet we cannot recover a cent for
the delav Notices of the arrival OF cars
are sent around very carelessly, If at all,
and the result is that sometimes bills are
presented with SO to SIS demurrage charge
added to them when YOU are not aware the
cars had arrived. 1 had a case of this
sort the other day. A bill was
presented for a shipment to Johnstown,
with So demurrage added. / asked what
that was for, and the collector replied that
notice had been sent and we did not unload
the cars / told him we had not been ad-
vised of the arrival of the cars and if he
could show me our receipt for the notice I
would give him $50. What could do in
the meantime? Simply pay the bill The
idea of letting $500 or more worth of ma
terisl lie on the cars with demurrage
charges at the rate of 81 a day being piled |
I'D against it was too absurd to even think |
about All the profit has been frequently |
Knocked off shipments by such charges as
this
''The only way to get at the matter is by |
the public taking an interest in it. There |
is no doubt, if pushed, the railroads will |
give Pittsburg the same advantages as other |
large cities have. 1t is matter that should |
be agitated until the object is accomplished |
1 think the establishment OF freight |
bureau would be an excellent move"
James Flood, of Arbuckle's, said there |
were many WAYS in which Pittsburg was |
Disseminated against and thought freight |
bureau would be an excellent institution |
Tor the city.