Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1898-07-27
TO FIGHT THE MOVE.
CHAMBER OF CoMMERcE TO PRO-
FEST TO THE G. 4 o.
MEETING CALLED FOR THIS EVENING.
Secretary Dunlop Issues An Interest,"
ing Statement Emb rncing Several
Kilograms lent to President In
gals.

The Chamber OF Commerce will fight
the removal OF a portion of the force Of the
general freight Office of the Chesapeake
and Ohio from here TO Cincinnati. The
Board Of Directors will hold a meeting
this evening at 6 o'clock to consider the
matter. as shown by the following call, is
sued late yesterday afternoon:
A meeting Of the Board Of Directors Of
the Richmond Chamber of Commerce will
be held Wednesday, the 9th instant, at 6
p. NJ, In the rooms Of the Chamber, to
consider the following situation:
The changes which are reported to be
contemplated, and for which preparations
are said to be in progress in the Office Of
the general freight agent of the Chesa-
| peake and Ohio, at Richmond, are viewed
by the businessmen of the city and the
organizations representing them as a Sc
| rious menace to their interests, n as a
most Objectionable manifestation of policy
| on the part Of the Chesapeake and Ohio
| railway. Experience has taught us that
| the removal of any of the departments of
tdllIOd0o ~ away u
| tended with inconvenience and with dis
advantage to our shippers, and that when
the process has once commenced, not
wfthstanding promises generally made to
leave agents with full and adequate
powers. these promises are delusive, and
that when matters of Importance arise
between this community or its members
and such carriers, such matters have to
be referred to some authority away from
Richmond, involving a delay and difficulty
in their proper adjustment frequently
amounting TO a failure to receive such adj
justment.
TELEGRAMS TO MR.. INGALLS,.
In reply TO a telegram of July 22d from
Mr.. l.. u. Morris, first vice-president OF
the Chamber, asking President Ingalls,, of
the Chesapeake and Ohio, If there was
any foundation whatever for the report
that the Office of his general freight agent
would be removed to Cincinnati, the
rather disingenious and laconic answer
was received from President ingalls, at
the Hot Springs, under the date Of the
23d, There Is no intention OF removing
| freight office" To this telegram First
Vice-President L. u. Morris sent the fol-
! lowing telegram Monday morning. the 18th
loldHI 0
| swering my inquiry respecting removal of
freight office, subsequent publications in
dictate important changes, reducing scope
Of it's authority and value to Richmond.
AS this is inconsistent with understand
ing between you and committee OF the
Chamber, reached at conference at White
Sulphur 1889, another conference Is re-
auested before any such changes are con-
summated."
And having received no reply to this
telegram up TO $50 Z. NJ, the 18th instant,
Notwithstanding the call for a reply, by
the usual method, through the telegraph
operator at the Hot Springs, Mr.. Morris
sent a third telegram in reference to this
matter to President Ingallss reading as
follows: mo answer TO m telegram OF
yesterday forenoon. Would like to know
If the changes referred to therein are to
be made in spite of previous understand
ing with the Chamber, and without con-
ference with its representatives as re-
quested. Please answer Immediately"
WHAT THE CHANGES INVOLVE.
The Chamber up TO 6 o'clock Il. NJ. TO"
day is still without any further commu-
n~ication from President ingalls,. and the
conclusion seems TO be Justified that the
authorities of the road propose to make
the changes referred to without reference
10 the wishes of the Chamber or their
patrons in this community.
These changes involve, as we are adj
vised from the best sources of informatio2
at our command, in the absence of definite
information from President Ingalls,, the
removal OF Mr.. ]. +. Orndorf, freight
claim agent Of the Chesapeake and Ohio,
and the Kanawha Dispatch, and his entire
force, and a number of clerks from the
- "a - - NJ. t. II IInfnhkfCG QlnarQi
freight agent, engaged in the compila-
ton of tariffs and other rate work Incl
dent thereto. If this force, with its rec
ords, is to be removed to Cincinnati, and,
as has been stated, Mr.. Orndorf is to
assume the duties of assistant general
freight agent, charged with the settle
ment of claims and the compilation and
issue Of tariffs, the real rate-making and
claim settling authority will be trans
ferred to Cincinnati, and, as 1t IS "a far
cry' from Richmond to Cincinnati, we
may expect at the capital and principal
city of the State to be practically rele-
gated in these matters to a situation or
comparative insignifcance.
The city of Richmond, as a municipality
and a community, has never refused the
Chesapeake and Ohio Railway Company
any reasonable requirement, but. on the
CVnlIdI1s HAD lO-OPl4 - with NAAo ~
poration by affording 1t most unusual
facilities and assistance, and it, there
fore, should and unquestionably will, re-
sent this movement, more especially as
IL is entirely inconsistent with a distinct
understanding reached when, once be-
fore, similar changes were supposed to
be contemplated.
PROMISE NOT TO MOVE IT.
Tn tho srmmer of 1880 ~ WAS reported.
and currently believed, that this office
was TO be removed to Cincinnati. when,
Immediately, a conference was sought
and had with President ingalls, and Mr..
Harahan, who was then general manager
OF the road. At this meeting. held at the
Greenbrier White Sulphur Springs. Mr.
Ingalls, assured the committee OF the
Chamber, consisting Of Col. John Il. Pur-
cell. Mr.. A. II. Christian, Jr.. Mr.. S. Dab
ney Crenshaw, and the secretary OF the
Chamber, that he did not propose TO re-
move this Office from Richmond; but, on
the contrary, that the position was tenn
porarily vacant, pending the selection OF
an incumbent in whom he could repose
the fullest authority. It. was IN the oc-
casion of this conference that Mr.. ingalls,
first promised as en- evidence of his in
terest In Richmond, the termina improve
ments so badly needed at Richmond, and
this community, with long suffering. tx
not with patience, has waited for nine
years without realization Of this promise.
have not gotten the improvements.
but on the other side OF the account, we
are threatened with changes in the compo-
sition and organization Of an Office that
has practically always been at Richmond.
What are the conditions and cireum-
stances requiring this movement, which
did not heretofore exist? Is a question