New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-10
TWO SOLUTIONS PROPOSED.

Two solutions Of accomplishing the first have
been suggested-one, the tunnel system under
the city, and the other a system of elevated
freight tracks. At first glance the elevated sys-
tenn does not to be entirely impracticable
but when you consider that a structure along
main lines OF traffic and that TO accommodate
the movement OF import and export freight as
well as local traffic, freight yards which would
cover a large portion of lower Manhattan would
ne necessary, the absurdity Of this solution is
apparent In our own terminal, Oh the Brook
Jyn waterfront, We have frequently had in our
yard more than Two hundred cars loaded with
freight waiting for one steamer, and must
also holc a sufficient number Of empty cars for
each trunk line to accommodate the freight
movement of the incoming cargo Of the same
ship. In order to be Of service this movement
ship must be rapid and economical. Most steam
ships load different classes Of cargo in different
parts Of the hold, and the system which II is
necessary TO follow is TO have the loaded freight
cars Immediately available, so that the foreman
Of the stevedOres in charge Of loading the ship
can call Tor the cars by their number
quired. and they must be fed to the steamship
as rapidly as the steVedores can handle the car
80. This makes it entirely impracticable to
store the empty and loaded cars in The Bronx
or in New Jersey and properly serve the steam
ships docking in Manhattan without even con-
Eidering the requirements OF local traffic The
same arguments apply to the tunnel system
with the added objection of the enormous cost
or construction, owing to local geological con-
ditions
The solution therefore. to my mind. lies in the
establishment Of a series of terminal centres
utilized by all Of the trunk lines. where the
wholesaler, Jobber and manufacturer may con-
gregate, and secure as they 90 at the Cupples
station in St Louis. direct track connection with
all OF the trunk lines, at least facilities for de-
nvering freight 70 freight terminal acting for
them all. The Cupples station consists of a
series Of great brick buildings OF the regulation
warehouse type erected beside the tracks OF the
Terminal Railway and covering thirty acres Of
land. Spurs and switches extend into each OF
the buildings. Freight intended for any one OF
the thirty wholesale firms occupying the station
is unloaded from the cars directly upon trucks
which elevated by means OF hydraulic lifts
TO the floor of the consignee. Freight is shipped
in the same way, the handling being done and
the bills OF lading being prepared by the en-
ployes of the station. In this fashion the slow
and expensive carting OF goods by teams Is
avoided The work OF loading and unloading IS
done by ore force OF employees, whose wages are
paid by the firms collectively.
IL has been stated that the actual saving 70 the
Firms by this cooperative scheme IS three or
four nillionS OF dollars annually.
The shipper In a small town possesses the adj
vantage OF being able TO secure either direct
track connection with the railroad serving tha I
town or Of being able 20 cart his shipments all
20 one freight house. AS soon Is n counpetinE
line appears, II becomes necessary to cart part
% his shipments TO one railroad and the rest 20
the other, and as q community develops the
shipping points increase in number until con-
dieoas are reached similar 10 those in Manhat-
tan where z shipper is compelled 70 send his
trucks 70 nuLaberless freight stations
Abe shipping methods "a the Eraan community