The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-08-11
Congestion Impedes Business

Mr. w. F. Jones, Mr.. e. G. Phinney, all of whom
testified that they were in the lumber business in
Jacksonville and made statements substantially
the same as those contained In the testimony Of
the other gentlemen quoted
Mr. F. v. Hull, of the Barnes & Jessup Co., naval
stores factors was called and sworn.
Q-Are you in any trouble with the railroads
about getting cars placed for unloading? A
Very much yes sir. tt
Q-How many cars have you on hand now not
placed? A-That is hard to say The railroads
fail to notify us of the arrivals. We have re-
quested 1t repeatedly but they don't notify us at
ALL We made written request Jan. 1, Feb. H. Mich
%, and May LIST. We have failed to receive any
notice of arrivals.
Q-Do you think the delay to your shipments is
due to their (the railroads) failure to have suf
cient force to unload them? A-Why 1t is Ger.
tainy the fault of the railroad.
Q-What effects are these delays having Oh
your business and the business Of Jacksonville
and also the shipping interests of the State? A
Well, II has quite an effect. Some Of the ship
ments that would naturally come to Jacksonville
are diverted to other points, Savannah for in
stance, II the freight rate isn't too great. Just
account Of the congestion we lose the handling Of
the commodity to very large extent.
OFF the stuff could be handled more promptly
there would be more stuff in? A-Nearly double
think.
Mr.. Chas J. Angel then testified, substantially
the same as the other lumber men.
Joe King Jr., was then called and sworn. He
filed list Of cars which he had ordered placed
and couldn't get which he said was made up by
his bOOkkeeper. He said that he had gotten bet
ter service from the A. q. L. than from any other
road and that there never had been a time that he
could not have unloaded his cars If they had been
placed; that the answer that he got from the rail
roads was that they were doing the best they
could He said he had very little trouble with
the Coast Line, that mis- trouble was with the Sea
board and the st. Johns River Terminal Co. He
related contention he had had with the officials
of the ST. Johns River Terminal Co. about an en-
barge that had been placed on it. Continuing he
said ... -.
But our main trouble has been with the Sea-
board. We try not to buy anything on the Sea-
boadr. We just lose the shipment. have bill
here of 1915 on the Coast Line, lumber that had
to be bought. The lumber was cut and we did
all we could to get cars, the mill did too, but we
had to buy 1t and here is the BILL I spoke to Mr..
Williams about it. OF course they laugh at you,
give you the horse laugh II you 60 after them for
any money. I'm afraid now that all Of us are 60
ing to catch II for coming up here and testifyinJ
against them" '.aa..
Q-What is the general effect Of these delays on
your business and the business of the port OF
Jacksonville generally? Ave have written our
people on the steamer business that we want no
more steamer orders; that Wen do without them
entirely; and we could do more steamer business
than sail business under different conditions.
cradle loss by reason of this congestion and fail
ure to place these cars? A-Well in a general
way nave and everybody else here has, that Is,
iumbermen. But in specific way that waits to
De seen When these vessels arrive may have
demurrage to pay. In general way It affects US
ALL
Q-Your mill connections are having trouble to
get cars to send lumber on? A-Awful, awful
got telegram from the Dowlings 60 days ago
believe 1t was, and had to go to Savannah to
see the Coast Line and get some cars II it wasn't
lor the Coast Line they would just have to go out
OF business. It's very few 8. A. L. cars we ever
can get. They require % cars day to move their
lumber at Live Oak. I sent an order the other
gay to Morrison for certain stun He said;
III you can't get It In jacksonville Just cancel
your order. We haven't had any cars In three
weeks and we can't handle the order because we
can't get them"
,,Q.Do you want to say anything further, Mr..
hng! A-Well, just want to say this. What
think Is the cause of this trouble in Jacksonville,
inc business in Jacksonville, understand, has
treDled IN the last five years. but the railroads, 1t
seems with the exception Of the Coast Line
haven't grown along with It and the growth Of the