The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-05
SHIPPERS ARE HOT
after RAILROADS.
Tidewater and Western Being
Severely Arraigned Before
Corporation Commission.
NEGLECT -ro TRANSFER CARS
Wood-Dealers Complain That
Their Business Is Being
Destroyed.
NEGLECT TO TRANSFER CARS

An interesting case which engaged the
attention Of the Corporation Commission
yesterday has for It's object the compell-
ing of the Underwater and Western Railway
Company to afford better facilities for
the movement of wood over It's line TO
Richmond
The matter arose on the complaint OF
wood-shippors along the line Of the Tide
water and Western, and the hearing in
wolves complaints US well against the At
lantic Coast Line and Southern. The
entire matter is being heard at one time,
and will probably consume all of to-day. |
Hon. Eppa Hunton, Jr, Is representing
the Underwater and Western; Hon. w. b.
Mc1lwaine, OF Petersburg, the Coast Line
and Mr.. r. b. Tunstall, of Norfolk, the
Southern.
Business Impeded.
1t seems that the Underwater and West
ern runs through country where the
| wood shipping business is quite an item.
! and serious delay In handling cars Is COM
| planned of. A carload of wood coming to
| the Richmond market from the Tidewater
and Western must be transferred to the
Southern at Moseley or the Coast Line
at Chester. This is how the two latter
| roads happen to get in the case.
There were several witnesses who tes.
| tilted strongly as to the alleged neglect
| on the part of the railroads to furnish
proper facilities, but the Tidewater and
Western got the worst end OF 1t all the
| time.
Mr.. w. f. Gill, Jr., of the firm Of
Gill Brothers.. wood dealers in Man
chester, testified that his firm had had
two thousand cords of wood on this
road, which he had been trying for
two years to have hauled.
He had gotten small shipment last
November but had been unable TO
move stick since
He declared that his firm had lost
25 per cent. of the value of the WOO,
from deterioration.
Mr.. Stuart asked the witness how
long 1t would take him to get all the
wood at the present rate of shipment
v and he answered that he could no
!, say. but that before it could be movet
: a good deal Of 1t would not be wortl
@ hauling.
!. Thought 1t Only Advice.
y IT seems that the commission or
dered some time ago that the roa'
d furnish the shippers at least one WOO
!, + seemed to construe this as advic
- rather than an order.
- Mr.. Gill said ME great delay wa
q caused at Chester by reason OF tn
re- Coast Lines failure to furnish car
r. to the Underwater and Western.
Messrs. Hunton and Mcllwaine briei
-, Nv cross-examined the witness. and y
ss| was excused.
IA Mr.. c. r. Guy. OF the firm of Ellint
nj ton &, Guy lumber dealers Of this Cit
50 next testified. His firm had eXper
ey enced considerable trouble and inco'
ia yenience. Sometimes he received lur
Der that had been loaded three mont
before, and 1t was often much dar
aged from exposure. He had got Sc
enteen carloads OF lumber since D
cember. when he should have hi
thirty-five or .orty. /.
Mr.. G. L. Dyer, of Winterpock. HI
hoen IN the wood business, and h.
been forced to abandon it because
n could not get his wood hauled
q market. .,.. -
who testified along the same line. .
The case will be completed 70 "a !:
Sc and 1t is practically certain that T
cnm,nission will require the ccnpan!
10 afford the relief sought by the shi
rers,