The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1905-07-30
Manufacturers Appeal to
Corporation Commission.
cox NOT SUFFERING
Furniture Men in Danger Of Losing
Thousands of Dollars Through
Failure of Southern to Furnish
Cars Which 1t had Been Not
flied Would be Needed.

Mr.. C. f. Tomlinson, president of
the Tomlinson Chair Company, of
High Point, and Mr.. Clarence j. Field,
secretary of the Case Goods Manufac-
turing Association, of North Carolina.
appeared before the Corporation Com
mission yesterday in the matter of d
shortage of cars which has practically
tied up Inc predominant industry of
High Point and threatens the loss of
thousands of dollars to its furniture
manufacturers. The two gentlemen
named come as representatives of a
meeting held in High Point on Fri
day night which represented practi-
cally all the manufacturers of the
city.
The magnitude of the shortage may
be appreciated when it is considered
that the deficiency already reaches 800
cars and that, unless relief comes,
there will be a shortage within ten
days of 600. When it is known that
there are packed in each car 10000
pounds of furniture. the immensely
of the tie-up will be noted,
The whole matter was gone over
with the commission by both Messrs.
Tomlinson and Field in all its de-
tails. 1t was pointed out that the
present season is that in which the
factories are called on to fill contracts
made months before; that the railroad
knew this and that it had full notice
of the necessity for the cars being on
hand. An agent of the railroad, i'll
fact had gone about among the fac
tories each day and ascertained their
car requirements. He had done every
thing he could to procure accommo-
datiOns, but without avail. The fac
tories are clOgged with goods and are
in danger of FORGETTING their contracts
For instance the TomlInson Com
pany had ordered twenty-five cars,
they need the same number on August
10th and on September list. The one
order of twenty-five cars means TWEEN
ty-five thousand dollars worth of
goods. The road has been notified of
these needs for months. The cars
have not come. The contracts are in
daily danger of being cancelled
There was the usual technical de-
Tense developed even from the testi-
mony of the complainants. 1t seems
that on the entire 5000 miles of the
Southern road. there are only 400
cars suitable for the shipment of furn-
iture. These cars would not last High
Point thirty days The standard car
is one of fifty or forty feet. On that
their contracts. In the fault of not
having the cars on hand. the road
offers TO send SO foot cars. Rates. how
ever. are made per car; and manufac-
turerS base their prices on the stand
ard. To fill two of the smaller cars
would be to lay themselves liable to
ruinous rate of freight, which would
eat up profits
1t seems that there has been an
off nrf a 10 "a
smaller cars so as to get them in at
the rate of the larger ones which
should have been furnished, but there
has been a conflict between the traf-
fic and the transportation departments
of the railroad which has prevented
any adjustment.
Therefore the meeting Of the rep
resentatiVes of the various factories
sent Messrs Tomlinson and Field to
protest and to carry the matter on, if
the commission could not handle it,
At the conclusion of the conference,
Chairman MCNEIL communicated with
Vice-President Andrews, who gave as
surance that the heads of the depart
ments would be ready for a hearing
early in the week.
Some of the companies represented
by the two gentlemen before the board
are the Tomlinson Chair Company, the
Globe Home Company q. Elwood
Cox. president) Welch Furniture
Company. Kearns Furniture Company,
Smith Furniture Company, Rankin
Coffin and Casket Company Lindsay
Chair Company Union Furniture
Company. Continental Furniture Com
pany, High Point Furniture Company.
Mr.. ElwOod Cox is at present away
on a tour of the Pacific States. IT is
stated that his main business, the
manufacture of shuttle blocks, is not
affected. as he ships that product on
fiat cars. of which there are plenty.
1t is not yet known where the final
hearing on the matter will be held,
whether at Raleigh. 3r whether the
board will go TO High Point TO hear
the testimony.
Although it is an immaterial mat
ter TO the manufacturers who want the
cars in which to ship their goods. the
railroad is daily mourning a penalty
Of one dollar for each car which it
fails to produce after it has been or
dered.