Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1896-09-04
II. AND o. FREIGHT BUSINESS.
Result of the Efforts Made to Secure
the Traffic.

Result of the Efforts Made to Secure
the Traffic.
Hardly day elapses that some evidence
IS not developed that Receiver Oscar G..
Murray of the Baltimore and Ohio Is using
all the means at his command or that
money can secure to attract every class
of freight that can be transported to the
lines Of the road under his supervision.
Mr.. Murray early in his administration
of his present trust gathered around him
at Baltimore some of the very best freight
men that could be obtained. not only from
the Big Four. Of which he was one Of the
vice presidents previous to going to the
B. and O., but also from other roads, main
ly in the west. and soon a plan Of
campaign could be arranged these subordi-
mates started out to hustle business for
their new line and in this they have sue
ceeded to a degree that has caused con-
siderable surprise among the officials Of
some of the other trunk lines.
Within the last day two word has
been received here that the milers Of the
great northwest, especially those belonging
to the Head Of the Lakes Association.
have become greatly interested in schemes
for their financial benefit which have been
arranged by Mr.. Murray The erection Of
buildings for the free storage Of flour at
various important points on the B. and
o. by the company promises to greatly
increase the freight revenue of the line.
letter received here from Mr.. l.. r.
Wilson, secretary Of the Head of the Lakes
Association. says. after referring to the
advantages which the millers enjoy by
shipping their product over the Baltimore
and Ohio to eastern points: During the
season of navigation last year there were
11OOO,UH barrels of -four shipped from
lake ports to seaboard via lake and rail-
every barrel of which was carried by rail
from lower lake ports. A water route from
the head OF the great lakes to the sea-
board via the Erie canal. and the crea ton
or an equipment on the latter with salts
factory terminals at Buffalo and New
York, in the hands of responsible parties
who can issue an undlsputed through bill
of lading, will. we are sure, command sue
cess.
tenn of transfer and storage facilities
| among the canal men at Buffalo, and the
tnpossibilfty of receiving a satisfactory
bill of lading, has been one of the prin-
cipal drawbacks to canal shipments.
The principal drawback, however has
been the entire absence of any storage
facilities in New York harbor and Buff
falo.
'"The railroads have owned and controlled
all the free storage in New York. and. with
their immense facilities. have been able to
entirely control the traffic.
THAT they fully appreciate the value
OF practical free storage for a limited time
Is conclrsively shown by the fact that
the Baltimore and Ohio. Pennsylvania and
Chesapeake and Ohio are all adding very
largely to their facilities in that direc-
ton.
Large flour sheds have this year been
built at Fairport and Erie, on Lake Erie,
and the facilities at Newport News in
creased. and unless New York soon realizes
the necessity of an export and flour bus
mess from the west and provides facilities
for it which will compete with other ports.
she will be left high and dry as a port.
"a very much larger proportion Of our
shipments than ever before are this year
going via Montreal (where we already
have an all-water route), Newport News,
Philadelphia and Baltimore"
An extensive flour dealer said to a Star
reporter that 80 far as New York was
concerned there was not only an absence
| OF free storage facilities for flour arriving
there by canal. but the railroads give at
least twenty days free storage. while the
flour must be Immediately unloaded from
| the boats, or demurrage accrues from de-
tention OF the boats
The same dealer said that Mr. Erastus
Wfman Is trying to organize a company
for the systematic operation of the Erie
canal, with the view of attracting the
-four trade from the northwest to New
York. as suggested by the milIers could
be done.