Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-07-12

S.,i IeSs attehtion mas been given 10 that
detah. Given the business 70 handle and
the railroad men say II would be Dispatched
me local agent OF the PENNSYLVANIA rail-
| with no apprectable delay.
In Sympathy With Movement.
road IN talk with the writer expressed
his entire sympathy with the movement to
enlarge Washington's wholesale trade. He
declared that his company had every reason
TO cooperate with the local business men
IN bringing about better shipping condi-
lions. He said that I'm the management
vi vast ana Increasing volume OF FIRE sht
TO ana from the south the facilities 81 ina
company had been taxed to the utmost FOR
! several years II had finally become nee
essalS 10 enlarge the facilities more than
three-told. The yards in Virginia the new
prloge, the tunnel under Virginia avenue
Were all a part of the general mans he
salo and construction on so large a scale
could not be completed as soon rs there
was really need of II
me agent felt sure that the cramninR at
washington was about over and that At
.eneIo. Souid be given Immediately 10 tho
prompt handling of local outgoing business
IN any volume that might be developed Z
DON'T forget" was his Injunction that
me greater the amount OF freight offered
the more attention would be given TO It's
prompt dispatch" His idea was that the
company could have no possible interest
IN discrimination against any shipper in
washington
roads centering ir Washington were visited
with a view to obtaining statistics showing
the volume of Incoming and outgoing local
freight The officials stated that they could
not give the figures for publication be-
cause 1t is an unwritten law In traffic man
agement not TO allow competitor to know
what one line is doing.
Incoming Freight Increasing.
1t was stated. however. that incoming
freight had vastly Increased within the
last three years Shipm"n,s OF coal. buiid-
ING materials and general merchandise
SHOW large percentages of Increase each,
year. Certain statistics were shown which
gave irrefutable evidence of the growing
Importance of Washington as a railroad
center, well as it's expansion in popula-
ZION and general consumption. One fact
was especially noticeable: that Washington
n the past twelve months has received not
only a greater volume OF freight than ever
before, but of a greater variety of COM
modities. Fruit and pershable goods ars
coming in larger bulk than formerly, sug-
gestive OF the fact that the capital city
Will soon be receiving its tropical fruits by
water without sranshipment ar New Or
leans, Mobile or Baltimore. One item OF
trade of growing Importance Is the break
ing of bulk or cars mere containing meats,
fruits and truck and the immediate reload
ing of composite carloads for the larger
towns in Virginia and West Virginia. The
local representatives of the Chicago pack
ing houses combine with the provision COM
mission houses in loading such cars daily
and three times a week 10 go on short
trips to the inland towns This is OF
the largest items of jobbing trade at the
present time. Another is terra Gotta, fur
nisntd by the WORKS In the northern part
OF the District. A third is wholesale gro
ceries considerable trade in which is done
with the nearby towns in Virginia and
Maryland. Only small part OF such ship
meuts go in carload lots. 1t was stated
&c fRF H1-v Nft,f
of washington prompt as the
Washington Southern, -, which handles all
the Washington freight for the southern
lines. could dispose of Il to the several
roads. The transfers were said to require.
on the average. about six hours.
Transportation Problem.
The transportation problem for shippers
out of Washington is not at all compiled ted.
Freight in car lots can be sent with greater
dispatch than smaller quantities. which re-
Guire breaking bulk at Alexandria or al the
terminals of the other roads In Virginia.
One of the advantages of the organization
of the shippers will naturally be to fill cars
going to one point, so that they may take
advantage Of the quicker delivery to the
road which is to carry them to destination.
The situation does not differ materially
from that in other cities, and with the in
crease of trade in the south or any other
part of the "hinterland" means will be
found for better dispatch than now seems
possible. The drayage of small consign-
ments to the Southern yards in Alexandra.
by means of the ferry. has been resorted to
where urgent dispatch required, and
though expensive, II has been found effec-
tual In obviating the delay caused by ths
loading here and reloading in Alexandria
the next day, adding somewhat to- tho
freight charges.
With the increase of business over the
southern lines II is likely that new arrange
ments would be made by the railroads
whereby cars of miscellaneous freight could
be loaded here for delivery at various points
on the southern roads without the formality
Of breaking bulk at the Virginia terminal.
1t was suggested to the writer by one OF
the traffic managers that the chief reason
why this had not been done was the lack OF
trackage facilities to allow 1t In South
Washington under the old system.