Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1899-09-21
HIGH FREIGHT RATES.
MEETING IN NEW YORK TODAY
MAY RESULT ~ ADVANCE.
MORE BUSINESS AND CAR FAMINE.
These Are the Reasons sssi. Ied for
an Incrcase-Conl May Not he In
cIuded-OnIy Eastbuund Commodi-
ties-Rnilway Notes.

A great deal OF interest is manifested
In local railroad circles regarding the
! outcome OF the conference in New York
to-day of the presidents Of roads in the
| Central and Trunk-Line Freight associa-
| tons
! President Ingalls, Of the Chesapo axe
and Ohio who has been at the Hot
Springs, has gone to New York. to at
tend the meeting lie will return to the
Hot Springs the latter part Of this week.
or early next week.
The object OF the New York meeting
Is TO consider the passenger and freight
rate situation. In many quarters IL u
believed there viii be an advance I'm
east-bound commodity rates. SO FAR as
passc niger rates are concerned, II Is eN-
pected there will be some adjustment OF
the differential fare matter.
Many reasons are given for an ad-
vancement in freight rates. great in
crease in business is one of them. The
scarcity Of cars is another. Tnough In
many quarters 1t is said that the extent
of the car famine is exaggerated, the
consensus Of opinion seems 20 be that
il Is quite widespread. Regarding the
increase in business, II is admitted that
heavier traffic than last year.
1t is thought there will almost GER
tainly be an early increase in rates on
iron and iron-ore, and steel. Much more
is being hauled than six months ago.
IRE increased demand has also caused
a great increase in price Manufacturers
can afford 10 pay higher rate.
The amount Of lumber being hauled
from the West and South is greater than
ever before in the history of the country
In this connection IL was stated by
railroad man yesterday, that Cecil Rhodes
had contracted with western mills
for the enormous quantity Of 5oO,-
10000 feet Of lumber for his Cape to
Cairo railroad. This has TO BE delivered
next year. Ii will all have TO be hauled
TO the seaboard 1t means that all lum-
ber-carrying roads are going 10 be busy.
1t probably means an increase in rates,
and may mean that the Tn ed states
will have to import lumber next year.
Therefore, it means that the present stir
price of lumber will be maintained for
some time to come.
1t is not thought there will be Il general
increase, at least. in coal rates. as the
roads carrying coal have, in almost all
cases. contracts with operators to carry
at certain rate.
The members OF the different organi-
cations of railway men are interested IN
the effort being made 20 establish CO.
operative grocery stores by the unions.
The experiment is now bcing made by
Baltimore and Ohio Southwestern men,
at Chillicothe, o. 1t just been in
augurated. so its success has not been
established. A practical groceryman
has been engaged TO run the business
Df.It rQl IN
be put on the goods. If successful Bal
timore and Ohio Southwestern men
will establish not only groceries, but
stores for the sale of goods of every
character including clothing, at divis-
ional points along the road, and Will also
invite the favorable attention OF their
brethren of other roads, TO the scheme.
Uniformed employees Of the Baltimore
and Ohio are about to be required TO
wear silver or gold stripes on their
sleeves to indicate the length of time
they have been in the service Of the
road. A gold stripe will mean five years
of service. a silver stripe two years.
Speaking of this. a Southern railway
man remarked that the stripes would
have to be very narrow. or there would
not be room for them on the sleeves or
some Of the Baltimore and Ohio pasSen- !
ger conductors, some OF Whorn would De |
entitled to from seven to nine stripes.
Colonel r. NJ. Il. Talcott assistant TO
the president Of the Seaboard Airline
returned yesterday from trip Of inspec- !
ton along the line Of the Richmond, Pc
tersburg and Carolina. Colonel TalcOtt |
says he found most excellent progress
being made everywhere. rhe last work /
to be completed. probably. will be the |
James river bridge at this city. Track |
has been laid on foTty-seyen Of the 10 |
miles of the road.
The plans for the Chesapeake and Ohio |
and Seaboard depot. in this city. have |
not been sent 10 the Hot Springs, but II |
is expected that they will be shipped in |
time to be examined there by Mr.. ingalls, |
and probably. other officials, when the !.
former gets back from New York. sun /
day or Monday. They will then be re- |
turned to this city for the inspection Of |
the officials of the Seaboard, and the |
award will probably be announced from |
here.