The Detroit times., 1910-01-12
FREIGHT T|E-UP IS
LAID At DOOR OF
MANUFACTURERS
Fail To Provide Sufficient Storage
Facilities, George G. Conn, of
Pere Marquette Traffic Depart
ment, Tells Wholesalers.
Michigan Central Official Declares
Ice Conditions in River Have Also
Had Much To Do With Congestion.

Lack or proper storage facilities on
the part or Detroit industrial institu.
lions was given as one OF the main
causes OF freight congestion In and
about Detroit just now by George G,
Conn. freight traffic manager for the
Pere Marquette railroad. In a talk be.
fore the Wholesalers & Manufacturers
association at its weekly luncheon In
the Cadillac, Wednesday noon. He
predicted that the time Is soon com
ing in Detroit when the railroads Will
establish rule shat all freight not re-
moved from the cars within two days
will be placed In public storage. Such
a rule obtains in the east and has
been productive OF good results, he
said.
The speaker devoted some time to
the coal situation, blaming the manu-
facturers for not providing sufficient
storage room for coal. II the railroads
adopted the same policy with reference
to their storage facilities there would
be no cars moving, said Conn. The
piling up OF coal cars In Toledo, &C
cording to the speaker, was a natural
result Of the closing Of navigation,
which threw the entire burden Of
transmitting the coal supply on the
railroads.
"You will appreciate what this
means when I tell you that 1t takes
100 cars and from two to three engines
to carry a load OF coal that can be
carried In one 1000 ton boat" no
added.
A. B. Atwater, assistant to the presi-
dent OF the Grand Trunk, said his road
had received but few complaints from
shippers. although the road has
handled 25 per cent more shipping this
winter than in any previous year. He
spoke very briefly.
S. w. Brown, general superintendent
of the Michigan Central, spoke for r.
II. L'Hommedieu, general manager OF
the road. who was unavoidably de-
tanned. He gave figures showing that
delay In taking cars from team tracks,
so-called, was responsible In a meas.
ure for the congestion that has existed.
Requests for special deliveries OF cars.
which have come In great volume dur
ing recent months. has also greatly
hnmpered the general movement Of
cars, he said.
''Ice conditions in the river have al.
SO had their part in freight troubles"
he continued Ordinarily we ought to
be transferring from 1000 and 1900
freight cars per day at this time OF
year. On Dec. "a, 25,426 we were able
to transfer but 500. This means that
the cars had to back up somewhere.
yet, conditions are rapidly impro~-
ing. This morning only 500 cars were
held up in Toledo. And in spite OF
conditions, our business last month
was larger than ever before In Decem-
Der. We handled In that month 1850
more cars than in Dec. 1908. dc
not say. however, that the road Is en-.
tirely blamless. We are willing to
take our share of the blame"
Mr. Brown said the Michigan Gen.
trail had built 25.6 miles of industrial
tracks in and about Detroit in the past
year and referred to other improve
ments contemplated in the matter OF
terminal facilities. He spoke OF the
grade separation work and the prepar-
atoms now under way for union
station as factors which tended to In
terfere with the free passage OF
trains.
]. J. Sim, superintendent Of the Wa
bash, was the last speaker. He told or
some of the troubles that confront
railway men In the way OF Ice block
AIDES and engines going wrong unex-
pectedly. Conditions were normal In
Toledo, he said, as far as the wabash
ia concerned.