The Washington times., 1906-07-09

balanced. only carload lots being ship
ped direct from Chicago.
Then as now. my shipments 10 Har-
risonburg from Washington. over the
Southern, were consuming from five 10
seven days In transit ! had frequent
claims against the road for goods spoil
I'd by delays en- route. ali Of which were
promptly paid. Meantime. however. my
business was constantly menaced, for
Baltimore could ship meat to Harrison
burg and have il delivered the next
morning. The cars went right through
Washington.
Il went right to sthe top of the lad
der, in the freighb department OF the
Southern, with my complaint l eX-
plained to the freight traffic manager
that my goods were being spoiled and
his road was paying damages. because
Of delays that were entirely unneces-
sary. / told him the company didn't
want damages. but facilities. We want
ed opportunity 10 do business on an
equality with the shippers Of Baltimore.
Il asked him TO put on a daily car
from Washington 10 HarTisonburg. /
explained 10 him now necessary such
q service was to other Washington ship
pers as we'll as myself / showed him
how completely il would open up the
rich and prosperous Shenandoah val
iey TO vastly increased business over
his line. / ventured the prophecy, which
l am sure would have been fulfilled.
that If the service were established one
car would not begin TO suffice for the
business. but that nve cars, and ten in
q little time, would be necessary. 1
had made a study of the subject then
and had the figures at hand TO support
what ] said and promised
u convinced the traffic manager-I
even succeeded i'm inOculating him with
some of my own enthusiasm. He took
up the matter with his subOrdinates,
promising TO give II immediate atten-
ton. In a few days ! received a letter
from him. notifying me formally and
explicftIy that the service would be es-
tablished and that the first car would
leave the Southern railway yards the
afternoon of the following Thursday
and that all freight must Ice loaded be
fore 4 O'Clock OF that day
Car Never Started.
II got ready as much freight as I
could for the first car. sent II over, and
had IL loaded Some of my friends. who
had been tipped off. did the same thing.
There was enough freight 10 pack that
car from floor TO roof.
1T never started. The goods wan
ferod around for five or six days and
inally turned up in Harrlsonburg. Some
0f them were perishable and had
spoiled. 1 took the matter up with the
Southern. / pleaded, argued and
stOrmed. but without avail. l was told
the Pennsylvania declined absolutely to
handle the car TO Alexandria. and that
ended it. / could get no further ex-
planation OF excuse. The Southern paid
E255 damages for the spoiled meats and
let It go at that II has been paying
damages regularly ever since and taking
anywhere from three days 10 week 10
get TO HarrisOnburg
THAT town is directly on the line Of
ant from Washington. Six sours would
be a liberal allowance OF time for the
trip.
Gave Up in Disgust.
II have given IT up. for all the argu-
ments and ali the influence I could
bring To bear had no effect. The Penn
sylvania had spoken. Now 1 ship 10
Harrisonburg on the r. and o., by way
Of Ha.pers Ferry and Strasburg june
tlon. When the goods reach the latter
point they have Travelled already the
fun distance between Washington and
Harrisonburg by way of the Southern
and have fOrty-hve miles still 10 go.
This last fOrty-fye miles must be made
on the Southern.
when / want to ship 90 Manassas,
Culpeper Orange. Charlottesville, and
other points on the main line Of the
Sothern, / do not ship from Washing
ton at all. l load the goods on a wagon.
send them down 20 the Seventh street
wharves, load wagon ana all on the
ferry and take them across to Alex
andria. Thence they are taken TO the
Southern freight yards and loaded on
the car The whole transaction means
s. OF IS ferry charges and the loss OF
the time OF a driver and a tWO-hOrSe
team half ii day. That means s. or S.
more.
''Pennsy" Held Responsible.
ITO my mind the evidence is clear
that the Pennsylvania railroad IS re-
spOnsible directly for the troubles and
difficulties Of the shippers of Washing
ton. Rates are not discriminatory, but
facilities are. I can't do business on
perishable or semi-perishable products
with a man in Harrisonburg. when 1t
takes me six days and him twelve hours
10 deliver the goods.
THE Shippers Association deserves
TO succeed and 1 hope TO heaven il will i"