Kansas City journal., 1897-10-11
TINE LIMIT DISREGARDED.
OWNERS IGNORE CAR
SERVICE ASSOCIATION RULES.
At the Meeting to Be Held Next We'd
nesday an Effort Will BE Made to
Force Elevator Men to Pay
All Back Charges.

| There is an interesting docket OF work
| awaiting the consideration OF the Kansas
| City Car Service Association, which VIII
| hold it's regular monthly meeting Wednes-
day at the Coates House. The interest
centers in two matters. One is the propo-
| sition to extend the workings of the Kansas
| City bureau SO as to include ST. Joseph and
| Atchison and Leavenworth; the other Is
| the action of the elevator companies OF the
| city that have for some time refused to
| pay the charges enforced by the Car Serv-
| ice Association because cars were held be-
yond the specified time for unloading. The
| elevator owners are kicking because they
want to do their work as they choose and
| not be subject to the supervision OF any
| one and be forced to pay for being tardy
| in handling business, while the railroads
| are well pleased with the workings of the
| car service and are trying to force the ele-
vator men to conform to the provisions or
| the association or pay the penalty for their
| tardy discharge of work.
| 1t is pretty certain that there will be 4
| spirited issue raised in the matter, as the
elevator men have disregarded the time
| limit for unloading grain and have charges
amounting to over $500 standing against
them, which the companies demand shall
be paid.
The Car Service Association looks after
the unloading of freight and tries to force
all roads to unload cars received within a
specified time or pay demurrage charges:
The purpose is to keep cars moving and
prevent blockades of the yards and conse-
quent interruption to business or great an
noyance and loss to the companies and
the shipper. The system is one based on a
sound business proposition and all of the
lines but one that enter Kansas City are
members of the association. Had it not
been for the spirited work and fine system
Of the association here Kansas City would
when the first bulge of wheat was started.
and even with all their work delays We're
unavoidable at some elevators.
The fact that Kansas City was not block
AIDED and that shipments were handled
promptly aided greatly in popularizing the
local market and caused hundreds of cars
gone elsewhere had there been blockade.
The railroads realized the great benefit
they got out of it by getting their cars
promptly unloaded and returned to them for
use. and In the increased accommodation
they could show their shippers. This fact
added SO much to their revenue and ease
Car Service Association with much spirit.
The elevator men complain that grain
was put on their tracks faster than it could
be handled, and that they did not get as
many switches each day as rush of trade
would render advisable. On the other hand
it Is claimed that some of the elevators got
the service of switching seven times a
day, while two or three is considered suffi-
cient. These questions will come up and it
may lead to very interesting meeting of
the association, and if the roads hang to-
gether it is difficult to see how the elevators
can escape the payment of the charges.
It is understood that nearly all Of the
railroads are interested in extending the
car service workings to ST. Joseph. Leav-
enworth and Atchison. During the ship
ment OF grain here cars were allowed to
stand for days at those places and inter-
fere with business. and for their own pro-
lection the companies want all of the Mis-
souri, river cities put on an equality in car
matters