The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-31
GALVESTON REPLIES.
Claim That Cars Are Not Detained as
Mr.. Hurley Claims.

The business men of Galveston, Texas
are much wrought up over the inter
view given out in Topeka last week by
]. +. Hurley. general manager Of the
Atchiscn, Topeka & Santa Fe dealing
with the alleged detention by shippers
Of railway cars at Galveston.
The Galveston Chamber of commerce
has taken the matter up and is trying TO
correct what 1t terms is an erroneous
impression. The State Journal is in re-
ceipt of a letter from c. r. kltcheu,
secretary Of the Chamber of Commerce
of that city in which he says:
Gentlemen:-The Galveston News OF
December 26, published an item from
Topeka, Kan, dated December %, refer
ring to congested conditions of rail-
roads al present in which MI J. T.
Hurley, general manager A. T. & , F.
Ry.. was made to say.
"Consignees might relieve the con-
gestion if they would unload cars ex-
peditiously. There are today l4,OOU
loaded cars in Galveston and waiting
for consignees to empty them and turn
them back into commission"
Such a report was so erroneous that
we could not credit it. That number OF
cars would require 100 miles of side
tracks. In fact, the railroad tieup here
is not due to holding cars or demur-
rage at Galveston
We at once wrote to Mr. Hurley with
reference to this matter. Harm is done
by such reports, not only to the people
of Galveston, but to the general pubic
who use this port.
Our attention was called to your pa
per of December 20. giving an account
of a conference between the Kansas
railroad commission and railroad Eco
pie, subsequent to which similar state
ment was claimed to have been made by
a railroad man present at that meet
ing. We were also shown copy OF your
paper of December 25 under large head
lines attributing this statement to Mr.
Hurley. 1t may be that such remark
at Topeka was confused with statement
sent out from Chicago December 10
crediting Hon. Franklin K. Lane, IN
terstate commerce commissioner, Win
the remark that car shortage over the
country was aggravated by ueup OF
1900 cars at this port, due 10 Shippers
holding them for demurrage. AS this
was not the case, we at once disclaimed
such responsibility for Galveston, tele-
graphing and writing to Mr. Lane
Inasmuch as the railroad shortage
over the country is a very serious pub
are much concerned in the free and
uninterrupted movement of traffic
Though this port, and inasmuch as
your paper has published mistaken re-
to you. We have also sent a letter to
the Kansas railway commission board.
For your information, we enclose copy
of letter written to Hon. FRANKLIN K
Lane. Interstate commerce commission
err Mr.. Lane telegraThed IN reply that
he had given no interview to the effect
that galveston Shippers were HoIuiAs
cars for storage; that he had stated
that railroads claim car shortage due
in considerable part, by holding cars
loaded as warehouses. also enclose
clipping from the Galveston News De-
cember 25, showing letter written by
Hon. o. B. COlquitt. railroad commits
sioner to the interstate commerce COM
mission in which it appears that con-
gestion at this port Is not chargeable
to a lack of port facilities, or to wrong
practices Of Galveston shippers or con-
signees. Yours truly, afAv- 'ti
6. r. KITCHEIL.