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

Vile and who in pursuance OF this authorization
spent three and half days in Jacksonville last
week investigating and taking testimony Is now
in Tallahassee The action Of the Commission
HAS ALREADY RESULTED IN MUCH GOOD
to the shippers of the State.
The testimony taken showed so clearly that
the railroads were not properly equipped 10
handle the business that was offered them that the
railroads in anticipation OF the action OF the COM
mission, have already taken steps 10 relieve TINS
congestion as much as possible.
A case in point which, although OF compare
lively small Importance In itself, but which is
of great Importance as an OBJECT lesson OF what
the railroads CAN DO II they feel that they are
likely to be COMPELLED 10 DO 1T, Is that of the
r. d. Drysdale Lumber Co.
While the testimony was being taken Mr.. Drys-
dale said that his company had some cars loaded
with lumber in Jacksonville which had been there
for some time and which he had tried for many
days TO have placed without being able to get
them placed for delivery, and that he had despair
cd OF ever being able to get these cars.
Commissioner Burr, In presence OF several RAIL
road officials who, being summoned to testify
were waiting their turn to 60 Oh the stand said:
Have you the numbers OF these cars with you,
Mr.. Drysdale?" Mr.. Drysdale answered, mo, l
haven't got them" Mr.. Burr said III you will
bring me the numbers Of these cars will under
take to have them placed for you"
This was In the morning.
At the hearing in the afternoon Mr. Drysdale
again being present, Mr.. Burr asked him If ne
now had the numbers of those cars he wanted.
1T isn't necessary" said Mr.. Drysdale, THE
CARS HAVE BEEN PLACED"
When asked about his trip Mr.. Burr said:
ut Is impossible for me to remember all the
testimony which was given at the hearing The
stenographer estimates that 1t wiz cover about
275 typewriter pages. can only say In gen.
eral way that found the conditions In Jackson
vile even worse than ] expected to find them
My Investigations there have convinced me that
this Is the most important thing which the Rail-
road Commission has before It. There Is no doubt
that the business Of the State Ia seriously inter-
fered with by this congested condition.
with but one or two exceptions the shippers
who testified at the hearing said that the fault
lay in the want Of proper equipment and terminal
facilities on the part of the railroad to handle
the business offered them.
II visited the docks of the Atlantic Coast Line
at Talleyrand found them stored to their ut
most capacity with lumber. found the lumber
piled on them much higher than is customary.
Mr.. Spencer. the agent assured me that vessels
drawing 10 feet could now load at this dock. and
that the dredge which had been at work at the
bar Just beyond the dock would be kept at work
until this or O greater depth was made perma-
nent Mr.. Spencer also told me that the creek
running alongside Of the railroad property would
be dredged out and track laid along the creek so
that lighters could come into the creek and be
loaded with lumber direct from the cars.
II also visited the docks of the Seaboard Air
Line Railway. found that the dock room WAS
NOT PROPERLY UTILIZED. The lumber was
piled In such manner as to waste a large amount
of space on the docks The area to the north of the
docks was not foored between the tracks, and for
lack of this covering It Is impossible to utilize
large area for storing lumber. From my observa-
ton think will be well inside of the mark, II
l say that threeQuarters of million feet more
lumber could be stored on this dock II the space
was properly utilized This would give opportunity
for the discharging of rs cars at once which
would help considerably In relieving the conges-
ton.
"Perhaps the most significant thing that hap
pened at the meeting was the determination of
the Wholesale Grocers to make no complaint al
though II came out In the testimony that they
were suffering greatly on account OF this conges'
ton. The day on which the lumber brokers we're
testifying asked q wholesale grocer who was
present to give me q list Of names OF wholesale
grocers SO that might summon them to appear
the next day and testify. This man said, 1t isn't
necessary for you to do that There will be
meeting Of the Wholesale Grocers Association to-
night The members will be notified that you
are here and they will all be glad to come volun-
taull