Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-22

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The congestion of the coal traffic on the
broken.
Mr.. C. L. Doyle, the general manager,
and Mr.. C. c. Walker the superintendent
of transportation, who went to the min
ing district some time ago for that pur-
pose, have succeeded in moving some Of
the coal trains and 1t was said last night
that for the next few days between go
and 500 big hpppers would arrive daily
in Richmond.
This coal, OH its arrival, will be dis
tributed on many inland orders: some
wi, be turned over to the Seaboard Air
Line, Atlantic-Coast Line, and Richmond,
Fredericksburg. and Potomac railroads.
while much of the tonnage will be sent
on to Tidewater for shipments beyond the
capes. While this means plenty of coal
on this market it does not necessarily
mean cheaper fuel because most Of the
tonnage has already been sold at market
values.
The aggravating conditions along the
railroad for the last few days is only a
return of the conditions existing before
Christmas, when traffic was impeded. At
that time it was relieved by the holiday
idleness when the railroad had the oppor-
tuaity to relieve the congestion which
they did. During the last week or SO,
| however. 1t became evident that heroic
measures were needed and while the con-
| dition Of the road does not reflect on the
! division managers the chief executives Of
| the road have given the moving OF freight
| their, personal supervision.
| It is reported that a short While ago
| the railroad had sidetracked as dead
| freight west Of Clifton Forge, upwards
| of 200 coal cars loaded, with pra ractlcally
| no motive power available to- move it.
| The spur roads and sidings were. in
| many cases. filed with loaded cars. and
| as the congestion grew worse, interfered
| with the movement of trains. Owing to
( the stagnatien of the loaded eausSnent
! there were few ernpties available at the
| mines. and fer this reason the mines.
after filing all of .neir own mine cars
| with coal, w ere forced. TO await the sup
| ply Of cars. This condition has forced
| many of the coal operations to curtatl
/ their output until it is said. mines are
now working scarcely 60 per cent OF their
! capacity. -
! notwithstanding this curtailment, it is
reported that the Chesapeake and Ohio
| railroad is receiving from the mines daily
between 500 and 600 cars which, for the
| I
embargo placed on coal going west by the
| Big -Four and Cincinnati. Hamilton. and
| Dayton railroads, which to some extent
| cuts off the. Chicago and Indianapolis
| markets. ~
The statement that so much coal is
! coming East vas welcome news to some
| Of the wholesale coal men here. as they
! have had coal tied up on the road since
| the fifth of the month with no record OF
| its whereabouts. while under ordinary
| circura stances such coal will move from
| the mines to Tidewater in four or Ave
| days.
| At present there is vessel tonnage at
| Newport News, it is said, for about 100
or 4o.oo0 tons and this present movement
of coal will allow them to get away ear
j lier for the New York and New England
markets. About 1000 tons Of coal was
| dumped at the Chesapeake and Ohio
| piers Tuesday.
1 The unusually heavy traffic on the
1 Chesapeake and Ohio is just an instance
1 of what is troubling all the other roads.
1 not alone in COAL but in every other
| commodity; everywhere the deliveries are
/ reported slow. The CHESAPEAKE and Ohio.
| it is said, have no embargo on other
/ freights,s giving coal the right of way,
| and with the assistance of the new loco
| motives built by the Richmond 'Locomo-
| tive Works. which should have been de-
! livered six weeks ago. It Is thought the
congestion will be relieved within a week
| without adopting vigorous methods.