The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1907-03-16
RAILROAD News
From ALL POINTS
Richmond Merchants Might Help
Railroads to Relieve Freight
Yard Congestion.
ARE ADVERTISING JAMESTOWN
Norfolk and Western Buying Coal
Cars by the Thousand.
Other Notes.

Tho Southern Railway has Just nut
out magnificent and costly engray-
ing by way OF advertising tho James
town Exposition and its line thereto.
Tho beautiful picture lis made from
prize design drawn by Miss Ruth
Sypherd Clements, an accomplished
young artist OF Alexandria, who has
done a great deal OF splendid work In
connection with tho Jamestown Tx
position. The design represents John
Smith planting the English ensign OF,
tho shores OF the James at Jamestown,
and picture Of Pocahontas, looking
on in wonder.
Several OF the railway men in
Richmond complain that the mer-
chants who receive goods In carload
lots are as much to blame for the
crowded condition OF the yards and
the tracks as the railroads. 1t Is often
the case. they declare, that merchants
are slow to unload the cars after they
have been put In place for unloading,
and even sometimes use them AZ
storage houses for their goods. finding
1t profits them more to pay the pen
atty than to unload, and, OF course.
while the, cars nre being so used
other cars arc held back. and thus
tho ynrds get crowded up IT seems TO
be purely a matter of business with
the shipper rather than a matter OF
accommodating a brother shipper or
helping the railways to relieve the
congestion In the yards.
For car the consignees have to pay
the companies 81 n day after the first
forty-eight hours, ani II they wero to
unload the goods, store them ana then
to receive an order for the car OF stun
II would have to be handled second
time. This would cost more than II
day. The cars are, therefore, cheaper,
and when orders are received Tor car
OF stuff 1t Is at once reconsigned and
the dealer here is rid OF the trouble OF
hauling, handling and billing q second
time. and there is the additional benefit
of having the goods ready loaded when
the orders are received, but In the mean
time other shippers are kicking. and the
wards are blocked to the choking point.
The Norfolk and Western Railway
Company has this week placed an order
with the Western Steel Car and Foundry
Company, of Hedgewisch, ILL.,, for l.ooo
forty-ton hopper cars, and an order WIN
its shop at Roanoke for 2a3 forty-ton nat
cars This Is in addition to the recent
order given to Its shops at Roanoke LOT
LOU coal ours dI'A =" Sshc'SSS"'
Railroad presidents now in Chicago. on
tho whole do not view the legislative
situation with alarm. President Wincheli
OF Rock Island, says 1t is too carry 10
Judge the effect OF recent Legislation. re
says a situation wherein the COSTS OF
everything except transportation are m
creased will, however, affect the pus'-
ness OF the entire country.
President B. L. Winchell. OF tho ROCK
Island system. says concernihs 'ne
railroad situation. IF the Interstate
Commerce Commission does Its work
wisely and sanely, as I believe IT VIII.
the railroads have nothing to fear.
They will get justice. which Is all
they ask. am relying upon the sound
| sense OF fairness OF the American
people to STOP, before tho situation
| Incomes acute financially. 1t is a
mistake to say that the railroads are
retaliating by reducing their service
and abandoning great enterprise 1t Is
simple prudence. n bowling to tho
storm. We are forced to stop building
| new lines, buying new cars and other
equipment, until we know where the
money Is coming from. 1t Is simply
business sense and not retaliation"
Forty-seven thousand men, the mem
bershlp of tho Brotherhood Of Rail-
! way Troinmen west OF Denver. arc
voting on strike to enforce demands
/, for Increased wages. The poll tho
! most extensive movement towards a
4 general strike since tho American
Railway Union tie-up OF 1894, has not
been finished. Indications are that tho
Hast ballots will reach the national
headquarters at Cleveland, o., about
March 25th. Tho Issue seems to de-
pend mainly upon tho position taken
by the Switchmen's Union. which as
an organization is not recognized. 1t
is said, by either tho railroad man
ayers or tho brotherhood OF Railway
Tralnmen.