The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-08-18
Railway Officials on Congestion.


rlacedY A-Well, no. There have been DELAYS
when labor was scarce and there have been sew.
eral instances where they couldn't discharge tbs
on the bulkhead on account OF its being blocked
and the inability of the Clyde Line to move Il
We have had cars standing there three or four
days under load waiting to be discharged but
no place to put them.
Q-Do you enforce demurrage charges against
forwarding agents for failure to unload? Al
haven't done It,
Q-Do they ever take more than the free time
allowed to un1oad9 A-Wel I should say In
some instances they do.
Q-Why Is 1t you do not enforce the demumage
nenaties in such instances as that? A-Wel
there have been times when have delayed the
lumber dealers in the discharge of lumber AMI
cross ties
Q-You give that as reason why you don't en-.
force the collection of demurrage? Ayes,
Q-Have you had demands made upon you at
any time by any of the consignees doing busine7s
with you, for demurrage for your failure TO handle
their cars for them within the time that they
should be handled? Al have.
Q-Have you paid them? A-No sir.
Q-Why not? A--They have In every case
cheerfully withdrawn their claims after discussln}
the matter with them.
OFT seems to me that both yourselves and the
people that do business with you could remedy
the matter to some extent by enforcing these de,
murrage rules; then may be your yards wouldn'+
be blocked up so badly as they are. A-Our
yards, Mr.. President, wouldn't be blocked now If
the lumber was moved as promptly as 1t is re-
ceved
Q-Do you know what preparations the consig
nees are making to get rio of the lumber on your
docks? Al do not. They tell us they are try.
ing to get lighters to put 1t on to wait the arrival
Of steamers, and that there has been considerable
delay in getting schooners tor sail movement |
don't think we have had tnree schooners at Pier
In two weeks, have we? Ito Mr. Barker)
Mr. Barker-Just three
Q-Have you got place to extend your space
at Pier A? Awe are clear out to the water ln"
Q-Havent you more water front? Ayes, We
have more water front and plans are made now
for new dock. e.t
Q-How soon will that take place? Al was
very much In hopes that the work would nav9
been begun now, but there was some delay II
making plans and getting the rights, and so forth
GLOW soon do you expect to have those
docks? Awe are in hopes of having them by
late fall or early spring.
Q-How much will that enlarge your dock facill
ties? Alt won't increase the facilities for hand
ling lumber, for the reason that this will be a
covered DOCK to take care of the other commodi
ties, but 1t will relieve the lumber dock, to Ger
tain extent, where naval stores and other commo-
dltles pass over the lumber docks which In very
great measure interrupts the lumber movement
Q-Dont you think the lumber docks should De
increased to meet the demands Of the increased
commerce here? Al said a while ago, Mr.
President that considered the dock space en-.
tirely adequate to take care Of the business
"0 NohoiShceS WOuu get SCeaHl0TS anu Sehooh''"
to move it.
Q-Have you plenty of clerical help to prop
erly dispatch the business that is offered your
terminals? Al think So SIR
Q-Mr. Pierce, will give you an opportunity
now to make general statement OF these condl,
lions and the cause of them, and SO forth AMI
what remedy should be applied, If you wish. A
Inc conditions at Jacksonville, so far as the COZ
gestion is concerned, are very serious and can
see very little hope Of relief unless vessels are
secured and the docks cleared. The lumber dear
ers, SO far as can see now, are barely taking
care OF the current movement In fact, as stat
cd few minutes ago, less than twenty cars were
9iscnarged yesterday, and sixty-ve taken In to o.
ulscharged. Or course l agree to the fact thaI
lumber can't be handled as rapidly rs other com,
modles, certainly, under the present condition q
the docks. We have enough lumber in Jackson
ville today, II not another car is received, to sup
ply schooners and steamers for the next forty
nve days. II 1t could be moved
VT mas been stated Mr.. Pierce, by the lur
Dermen examined here that il was not their fau('
. MIN one or two exceptions. A-Well, believe
.hey were honest In making the statement and
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