The sun. (Jacksonville, Fla.) 1905-1908, 1906-09-15
September Is, 1906

CLYDE steamers had taken, and would now take
their shipments at the time specified in the con-
tracts the present deplorable condition would NOT
now exist. Il Is supposed that the railroads have
assessed the wharfage charges complained of In
the foregoing communication to the City Council
of Jacksonville for the purpose Of curtailing Clyde
shipments, and In that way relieve the situation
from this cause. The Clyde Line has invariably
handled their lumber shipments In a most I'm
business like and arbitrary maner, causing ship
pers and handlers very large losses and the great
est annoyance 1t has been customary for them
to notify lumber handlers that they would take
certain orders on certain steamers and the hand.
lers would unload lumber ON the dock and place
1t convenient for the specified steamer. That
particular steamer would come and 60 without
the lumber, and other steamers would come and
go for period ranging from three weeks to two
months before the lumber was taken. Meanwhile
the damage to the lumber, especially dressed lum.
ber exposed as It is to the elements, is enormous
The rain blues and blackens the lumber swells the
tongues and shrinks the grooves and the sun
causes Il TO warp and crack. Furthermore, 1t is
married and bruised by trucks running against,
and over 1t, and by other lumber being carried
over 1t, and bumped and jammed against it. II
anyone has ever collected dollar from the Clyde
Steamship co. for losses from the above mention.
ed causes or on account of delays In shipment no
record Of 1t Is known to exist.
Steamer lines sailing from Savannah handle
their lumber business promptly, and without break
age, damage or shortages. It Is claimed that
there will always be lumber blOckades In Jackson
vile until the Clyde Line improves It's service, or
until there Is a competing steamer line, or until
the lumber dealers curtail shipping to great ex
tent via the Clyde Line m a...
It also appears that the Clyde Line has nowhere
near adequate dock space for the amount OF lum
Der 1t Is trying to handle. 1t further appears
that the lumber men have not provided them
selves with adequate dock space to handle the
business they are attempting. In no other bust
ness than that of lumber, does the merchant ex
pect the railroads to furnish storage warehouse
room for their shipments and 1t Is unreasonable
to ask. that they furnish docks for lumber deal
ers II Is true that the railroads are poorly equip
ped for handling the present volume Of business
but, to give the railroads their dues they should
not be expected to perform impossibilities.
The foregoing Is what this journal has gathered
from it's request for information from the LUMBER
dealers and is given for what It Is worth.
It has been reported by the Metropolis OF JACK
sOnville that there was q considerable slump IN
the price of lumber. This Is not true. The de'
mand for lumber has not been very brisk for tne
past two months. but everything looks favorable
lor at least an average fall business The small
lumber manufacturers are In much better coma.
ton than they have ever been before and great
many prefer shutting down temporarily rather
than resorting to price cutting In order to secure
orders.
There is no denying the fact that the conditions
In Jacksonville are bad and that unless a remed!
Is ehected soon the losses in business to that po'
Will be well nigh irreparable. Any attempt 10
figure the loss to the mill men OF the State by rea
son OF this congestion in the terminals In Jackson
Vile would be futile It is simply incalcqia DIE
and runs up into figures compared to which tne
cost OF miles Of new terminals In JacksonVlNe
would be Insignificant