The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1898-03-20
WEIGHT OF RAIN AND STAKES.


1t Is announced that after April the pruo-
tce OF making allowances for weight of
stakes aud strips and rain ON lumber ship
ements from Texas to interstate points will he
discontinued This ~ the expressed deter
mination OF the Southwestern freight bureau.
This body of the chief railway men of the
Southwest should have accompanied their an
nounce,nent with the statement that lumber
shippers will hereafter be provided with cara
suitably equipped for the safe transportation
oil lumber and for Its protection from rain in
transit Without such assurance the rule
they announce is a rank ln1usiiQe and ~
glarng absurdity. 1t III quite enough to i'm
pose upon lumber manufacturers the oblisa-
tion of furnishing free of Charge the stakes,
strips mud nails necessary 10 render Hat chrs
sultahle TOR the safe hauline OF lumber and
timber hut when IN addition to this expense,
the railroads dnahnd that the shipper shall
nay fright on the material given them for
prepsfly eqniprlne their cars. the purpose
beaY u close analogy 10 the action of the
landlord IN ruisinB the rent of the tenant who
has Improved his property. Sawinil men
bayeauSed thousands Of dollars worth Of ntcr-
ehantablo lnmhW In stalking and stripping
cars and properly eluipplDg them for the
hauling OF their product, only asking IN ro-
turn that, as they receive nothing for the
lumber and nails furnished. they be not
charged for the extra weight on the additions
TO the con'panys rolling stock With the on
ceptiop OF occasional Intervals when Il seems
all sense OF fairness was snotherad, the al
1owanco has be~S, made. but the question has
again been opened for discussion. Ii IN the
custom OF railroads to provide cars con-
stiuetod especially for the hauling OF partic-
ular commodities, Thus we have conl cars,
grain tars, furniture cars, cattle cars, etc,
but whilo the lumber tonnage vs. enormous no
such thing 10 known as lumber cars, yet tho
fact that lumber shippers deem II necessary
TO make improvements In the ears furnished
p them. mud the nduitipuul of rnil do
recognizing the necessity OF the improvements
by their refusal to accept cars that are i'm
properly or imperiecty staked prove that
lumber transportation Is distinctive and tina,
distinct cars should be provided All the mr.
guments In favor OF mn allowance for weight
Of stakes apply likewise to the question OF
deduction for rain, The whole matter can be
settled by the railroads furnishing suitably
equipped cars.
NOTES AND PERSONALS.
MI John = Gilbert has been out in the
State for several days,
Messrs. W, A. Fletcher and Mark Wiess
were In Houston Thursday.
Captain William wiess OF the Reliance left
yesterday morning for brief trip to Hous-
ton and Galveston.
M; a. J. sehnreman Of the NJ. T, Jones
Lumber company, Houston. cnme over last
Saturday night and left Sunday.
& The Reliance Lumber company will clear
tho Sanford about next Monday and viii be-
u gin early nett week TO load the Clara A.
Fhinney. now due.
Mr.. W. a. Priddie OF tho Reiiance was al
4 Sabine Pass Monday and Tuesday looking
over the papers u d vessel being loaded By
his company.
Herr Carl Frederick sPannewItx OF the
= ORANGE and wingate companies. Orange.
came evsr Tuesday morning and went down
8 Tho recent trouble in lumber rates over
KeBleru railroads has resulted In "A resfnra