Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-01-16
BAER TO CURB
INDEPENDENTS
No More Cars for Shippers
who Hold Back Coal.
Thousands of Tons Are Tied
Up at TideWater Points for
Various Reasons. Causing
Prices to Co Higher.

George F. Baer, president of the Read
ing-Jersey Central Railroad system, has
demonstrated that he meant all he said
last Tuesday in New York, when be
assured Mayor Low that his companies
would do everything possible to insure
prompt and fair distribution OF coal as
fast as it could be mined.
1t became known yesterday that or
ders had been issued by both companies,
placing an embargo against further coal
shipments by such independent opera
tors as have failed, for one reason or
another, to unload cars at the tidewater
terminals until the cars so held shall be
emptied and released for use.
In other words, President Baer has
served notice that, so far as his control
extends. no one will be permitted to
withhold coal from consumers.
Explaining the action taken and the
reasons for 1t, C. E. Henderson, second
vice president of the Reading Railway,
said
"The Reading has placed no EN- barge
on the shipment or distribution OF indie.
pendent coal from its tidewater ter
minals, but 1t has put an embargo
against further shipments OF coal from
the mines of certain operators until
they release cars now standing loaded
at Port Richmond and Port Liberty.
Because of the difficulties In unloading,
consequent upon cold weather, and for
other causes, loaded cars In great num-
bers accumulated at our terminals in
Philadelphia and New York, and at
those of other companies at Elizabeth
port and Perth Amboy.
"The yards became blocked. This
condition meant the tying up of hund-
reds Of loaded cars, largely independ-
ents' coal, something that could not be
tolerated without injury to the public
and ourselves. Therefore, the Reading
placed an embargo on further shipments
by operators who have failed to unload
cars Until this is done and the cars re-
leased no others will be available for
those operators. We cannot and will
tail production because our cars are
held"
Along the lines of the railroads from
Jersey City through Bayonne down TO
Newark Bay, are miles and miles of
cars loaded with coal--not only gondola
cars, but freight cars. These cars have
no snow under them, showing that they
were there at the time OF the last storm,
the rails between the cars being rusted,
showing that they have not been moved
for many days. The coal is being held
for higher prices.
AT Bayonne there are acres OF cars.
Looking from this point down the track,
coal cars extend until they are lost In
the distance. Hundreds Of thousands
Of tons OF coal are there held by the
grasping coal spectators for higher
prices.
In the Perth Amboy terminal yards
it is estimated that there are sufficient
loaded cars to extend, II placed in one
train, fully six miles, In the Elizabeth
port yards the railroads are accumulat-
ing thousands upon thousands Of tons,
all in cars, ready to be released the
moment the operators believe that the
highest price has been reached.
1t is impossible to estimate the amount
of this coal in storage. Only the com
bned railroads know, and they won't
tell
The independents allege that the ex-
treme cold weather froze the coal In the
cars and prevented its removal and dis
tribution. They claim that it was all