New-York tribune., 1907-10-15
LIG GHT ON CAR SHORTAGE
BLAME FOR SHIPPERS.
Central Ansacers Com plants Made
to the Public SerUice Commission.

only IN New York territory but also through
OUT the system. and answered in advance the
complaints of the New York State Shippers
Protective Association against various railroad
companies which will he heard by the upstate
Public Service Commission at Albany on Thurs
day.
William c Brown, senior vice-president
showed how It was impossible for car builders
10 fiji orders placed with them more than a year
ago thus preventing the system from moving
the crops TO the seaboard as rapidly as was
planned Francis La Bau. freight traffic man
ager of the New York Central lines east Of
Buffalo. announced a remedial measure to go
into effect next month which it is hoped will
go far toward reducing congestion of perishable
freight in New York City. This new policy is
aimed remedy a condition for which many
of the shippers themselves are held to blams.
Some of the shippers practically use our
cars as hotels" said Mr.. La Bau. 'You go any
morning TO, say. Eleventh avenue and West
33d street and You will find hucksters there
with two or three bushels of potatoes. three
or four dozen heads Of cabbage and other prod
uce in small amounts. They buy these direct
from the car of a shipper, whom have been
charging only 81 a day for the time the Is
N the team tracks. This is prime cause of
congested car service and I have decided upon
ore way TO remove it.
These cars contain potatoes from Maine.
the Adirondack district and Michigan. apples
from the Mohawk Valley the Western coun-
ties Of New York and cabbages. onions and
carrots from various points Many of these
shippers have put stoves in these cars and
practically live in them until their produce is
sold thus getting at least cheap living rates
as they would get at an ordinary hotel and at
the same time having their storage free. This
applies equally 10 our team tracks at West
SD street. West Goth street. West both street.
Merose and Brooklyn
This retailing by the shippers of their prod
uce direct from the cars involves a delay OF
from ore TO five weeks on each car This is one
Of the prime reasons why we unable 10 keep
the shippers supplied with I have de-
cided that this abuse will be largely done away
with by an additional charge for storage Of cars
on track. to become operative in this territory
in November For the first forty eight hours
the storage viii be free. For the next two days
the charge will be 81 a day for each For
the next two days IT will be 50 a day for each
car. Three dollars viii be the cost each day for
the next two days. Thereafter the charge will
be 81 each day for each car, all this in addition
10 the regular demurrage charge of 81
day for each car"
How do you explain the complaint all over
the country of lack of sufficient cars 70 move
the crops?"
The primary trouble" Mr.. La Bau replied.
lis that the Almighty insists upon growing all
The crops in the summer, and they come down
on us all at once. Because the crops are all
harvested at once they must be moved at once
The congestion is no worse now than it has
been in other years. The trouble grows pecu-
iarly acute. though. in November, Immediately
prior 10 freezing weather. our increase in
equipment to meet this demand has been from
y to u per cent in the last two years.
Another cause of complaint of inadenuata
car service that many merchants insisted
upon frostproof cars being used to distant
points off our system. say, the CaroIinas If
Ne accommodated them we would lose the use
Of these cars for possibly sixty days IF we
allow our cars TO be loaded down on those roads
they will keep them their own lines and
deprive us Of the of them. with the result
that not ourselves but the shippers who com
plain Of this situation Will suffer still worse
IN addition TO the refrigerator cars We load
about one thousand frostproof produce cars
that is, those with double fioors sides and doors
constructed especially TO carry fruit and vege-
tables These are in constant use on the lines
east Of Buffalo, which include four Thousand
miles of territory"
What about the demand Of the shippers for
grain doors, buIkheads and false bottoms in the
produce cars?'
Grain doors simply mean planking over the
door openings TO keep the grain from sitting ont
They complain that we do not furnish similar
cars for vegetables but this is conparativelv
Insignificant False bottoms are put in or
dlnary box cars by shippers TO make them
frcst proof. We do not see why we should do
this at our expense the same result can be
attained by shippers placing temporary stoves
In cars
What about the demand of the shippers that
me rate Of freight be inserted in the bill Of
lading at the loading station?'
There is no regulation on our line" replied
MI La Bau. prohibiting our station agents
1rorn inserting the freight rate in the bill of
laoing- Doubtless the trouble complained OF
arises IN scattering instances where shipments
are destined 10 obscure points in the South or
vest or far Southwest, 10 which we have no
through rates published"
The shippers also demand prompt attention
70 claims for goods lost or damaged in transit.
What about this2"
we consider it dangerous" said Mr. La Bau
under the interstate law and the public utiI-
lues law 20 undertake payment of anv claim for
ioss or damage before the integrity Of the claim
IS investigated and substantiated This oc-
eupies time, especially when the shipment is
made over several roads. We have a freight
claim agent. with one hundred or more clerks,
10 Investigate claims and TO draw vouchers for
such as are just
"A dispatch from Chicago asserts that the
Ne" York Central lines west of Buffalo are
snort more than seven thousand freight cars"
Nlce-President Brown was told THE Lake
Fhore alone, ii added, was unable on one
nay last week TO provide cars within thrty-six
hundred of the demand. Is this so, and if so
what is the cause?"