The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1910-10-27
AS "a Result ola Conference
Here with Two of the
High Officials.
CHANGE is ORDERED
BY Which Station Agent su-
persedes the Local Yard
Master.

Resulting from a conference Frida,
night at the offices Of the Leatherbur,
Shoe Company between the Merchant
and Manufacturers Association Of tbi
city, recently formed and comprIsin,
the principal shippers here, and Gen
eral Superintendent F. C. Blazer an,
Assistant General Manager John 6
IWalber of the Baltimore and Obi,
Railroad Company, shipping condi
tions here are to be materially i'm
proved
The conference was at the instanc,
OF the association, which had notified
President Willard that it desired t,
Ilay before the company the handicapl
to shipping here. This action aros,
from the fearfully congested situation
in the local yards and the inabilit,
by virtue thereof to maintain bushes.
here on the scale demanded by the
immense activity of this section Of
the state in the various lines Of com.
merce and industry.
The two railload officials as an.
nounced by the Telegram arrived here
from Baltimore Friday morning and
spent the day inspecting conditions
preparatory to the conference. AS an
immediate result of their examination
into railroad affairs here, Charles w
Van Horn, station agent, was given
entire charge of the business at this
point, being made general supervi-
sor of the yards in addition to his
other duties thus having Jurisdiction
over the yard master, an exception tc
the rule, and this arrangement was
announced at the conference, with the
additional information that the order
would become effective Saturday
morning Mr.. Van Horn is to have all
the assistants he finds he needs tic
carry on the business with system
and despatch.
The meeting was presided over by
John L. Ruhl who acted as spokesman
for the local. organization and in a
brief speech described the annoyances
and delays resulting from the con-
gested condition, the evident lack of
yard facilities, the absence of suf-
ticient motor power and the irregu-
larity Of freight trains.
Mr.. Walber stated that conditions
here were not entirely due to local
handicaps as there was more or less
congestion all along the railroad sys-
TEN especially at western points and
cited Parkersburg as an Instance.
where it takes three days to get the
yards cleared from freight from the
East He stated that in order to give
Clarksburg relief freight not destined
to this point had been diverted by way
of Fairmont and other places and
coal mine sidings had been employed
az well. He directed attention to the
fact that east of Grafton large force
of men had been employed all summer
on additional trackage, which would
be placed in service within three or
four weeks thus bringing great relief
to this section. He explained to the
conferees that poor water conditions
had greatly crippled the service here
and as an effect of low water from
twenty to twenty-five per cent Of the
capacity of the motor power in the
yards here and along the Immediate
ly adjacent lines had been lost
Mr.. Walber emphasized the fact that
with outside new trackage completed
together with additional trackage ar
/ ranged for in the yards here the local
situation would be greatly improved
at an early date. He pointed out that
to relieve the situation here great
amount of switching and routing is
being done at Brunswick, Md, which
properly should be done here, and that
similar work is being done at Grafton
Monongah and Fairmont for Clarks-
burg's benefit. He also stated that
additional side tracks had been order,
ed between here and Grafton.
Referring to the great amount o.
business here, Mr.. walber said thai
clarksburg was the one bright spo
along the Baltimore & Ohio line:
during the recent financial depression
and the company keenly appreciates
the value of the trade here to it For
track laying here, the erection OF {
water tank m The eastern yards anc
other local Improvements. he STATED
that an expenditure of 100000 hat
been authorized by the president ant
board of directors of the railroad ant
The promised that all effotrs possible
would be made to meet the temporary
situation ~
At this iuncture the railroad offiic
ials asked for expressions and sug
gestions, in response to which Franl
n