The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1906-08-29
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE NOTES
News and Gossip About the Railroads
and Railroad Improvements.

and Railroad Improvements.
The Chamber of Commerce has
been notified by the Atlantic Coast
Line that the claim of this CONNER
cial organization for reduction of
$40 per car on bananas from Charles
TON to Sumter has been allowd on car
Load lots. and a reduction Of rates in
proportion on less than car load lots,
effective September 2. This places
Sunte. on a footing with Columbia
in rates on bananas, as Columbia
heretofore enjoyed cheaper rate in
this fruit than Sumter. Other dis
examinations in freight rates, while
very slight, are in course of adjust
ment. The Atlantic Coast Line shows
a disposition to do the right thing in
freight rates, so that any one in Sum-
ter having any complaint should refer
the matter to the Secretary of the
Chamber of Commerce.
The Chamber of Commerce has al
so been informed that some of the
material is on hond for making an
extension Of $50 feet to the freight
depot, extending the transfer plat
form 13O feet, and placing shed
over the platform. Also that new
delivery track for unloading car load
lots is being built between Manning
avenue and South Harvin street
| crossings, on the north side Of the
main line; that two more clerks have
been added to the freight depot force,
and that cotton shipping clerk will
be employed to see about receipting
for and loading cotton from the
weighing platforms of the Sumter
cotton warehouse. Hereafter incom-
ing freight will be kept separate
from outgoing freight and unneces-
sary delays, particularly in cotton
shipments, will be greatly reduced.
It is said that two larger and finer
coaches will be put on the Orange
burg and Lanes train to Charleston
and that efforts are being made to
have these coaches run through to
Charleston, connecting at Lanes with
the train from Florence to Charles
ton. If this is done it will do away
with changing cars at Lanes and
waiting around the depot at that
place for the train from Florence to
Charleston. And it will avoid crowd
ing the train going into Charleston
and coming out.
o - A44<as>.
Chief Clerk Nets of the Railway
Postal Service has notified the Cham
Der of Commerce that an investiga-
ton is being made as to the advisa-
bility of putting a mail clerk on the
train from Fayetteville to Clumbia,
via Florence and Sumter. This clerk
would be a big advantage to the
merchants Of Sumter, Columbia and
Florence.
A baggagemaster will be kept on
duty at the Atlantic Coast Line pas
senger depot all day hereafter and
until 10 o'clock p. m.
Work will be rushed as fast as pos
sible on the many new side tracks in
the regular and auxiliary freight
yards of the Northwestern and Allan
tic Coast Line. Both Of these compa-
MES are doing everything they can to
give Sumter the best freight and pas
senger service possible, but scarcity
of labor and material has thrown
back the contemplated Improvements.
Agent J. C. Cooper, Of the Atlantic
Coast Lne, anG Superintendent John
Wilson, Of the Northwestern, are ac-
commodating officials, and are trying
to get everything that is coming to
Sumter.
The Chamber of Commerce is going
to try to have Division Superintend-
ent c. L. Porter moved from Florence
to Sumter. Of course, Florence is
going to kick. but the Sumter people