The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-07-21
ThEIsuN

The next day, NOT WHOLESALE GftOCnN
SHOWED UP with the exception of two represen-
tatives of the United Grocery Co., one from the
Stringfellow Doty Co., and one other. was loo
that the grocers had determined not to TESTIFY
and the reason given to Inc was that they We're
afraid OF being punished" by the railroads. Elk
PLANTATION of this was given that many or the
wholesale grocers rented from the railroad COM
pany.
Another very significant feature of the ing
was the voluntary appearance before the Comm
sioner of Mr. B. G. Lasseter, General Manager OF
the United Grocery Co., and Mr. W. M. Ioomer'
the attorney of the company, VINO submitted the
following, which will be made part OF the tran
script of the testimony:
Jacksonville, Florida July H. 1906
The Railroad Commission OF me State or Florida,
Tallahassee, Florida
Gentlemen-We respectfully ask your considera
ton of the conditions now prevalent and which
for number of months have existed In the city
and port OF Jacksonville with reference to the de-
livery to and receipt by the railroad companies at
this port of outgoing freight In less than car
load lots, and as we'll the unnecessary and unrea'
sonabe delay in the transfer from one line to
another and the placing Of incoming and outgoing
solid cars
The delay in switching and placing solid cars
Is not only unreasonable but Is seriously detri
mental to the jobbing interests of this city
The facilities afforded by the railroad companies
for receiving outgoing freight in less than car
load lots are entirely inadequate and unsatisfac
tory in number of ways The hours during
which freight of this class Is received are entirely
too Short the facts being that the average freight
terTIcal In Jacksonville is open practically only
seven 10 hours out Of twenty-four (24) for the
receipt of freight of this class and during large
part Of that time because Of arbitrary require
ments as to distribution of freight along the
platforms, the approaches are blocked with loaded
teams at heavy expense and loss to us and others
engaged In the same line of business.
We have found the local officials and employees
as rule capable and always courteous but the
conditions against which we complain and which
have become tntolerable are attributable in our
judgment to the fact that the railroad and termi
nal companies here are not equipped with sufi
Gent number Of switch engines and crews.
The number of employees Is too limited. These
employees, as rule, are underpaid and over
worked and the responsibility for these conditions
Is to be charged to those higher up in authority
who are either ignorant Of or uninterested in the
conditions at Jacksonville.
So notorious have become the conditions here
that trade organizations in adjoining States and
cities like Savannah have met to consid..s meas
ures OF relief for the freight congestion existing
here.
We ask that under the authority vested in
your commission and under the general rules now
in force, or such additional rules as you may see
proper to adopt for dealing with this situation:
that the Atlantic Coast Line Railway, the Sea-
NAAA A1AAO ASoA"oy, Ino Ed5C COdSt
Railway and the st. Johns River Terminal Com
pany be required to equip themselves with an ad
equate amount Of rolling stock and sufRcieni
number OF employees for the prompt and proper
handling Of business here and we especially ask
for the passage of rule requiring that the local
freight terminals shall be opened for the receipt
OF outgoing freight in less than load lots from
seven o'clock In the morning to five o'clock in the
afternoon.
UNITED GROCERY COMPANY.
BY B. G. Lasseter,
General Manager
Toomer Reynolds
AttornC.s.
What course will you take Mr.. Burr, in deal.
Ing further with this question. and how soon do
you think that the Commission will be ready to
take action?"
i Will" said Mr. Burr, go carefully over the
testimony as soon as 1t is sent to me- The
stenograpner said that 1t would require ten days
to transcribe his notes. When the record is be
lore me Will then be able to make up my report
10 the Commission. In my opinion It will be