The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1910-01-13
T|E-UP IS
LAID At DOOR OF
MANUFACTURERS
Fail To Provide Sufficient Storage
Facilities, George c. 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 OF proper storage facilities on
the part OF Detroit industrial inslitu-
tons was given as one OF the main
causes OF freight congestion in ard
about Detroit juss now by George G.
Conn. freight trafiic<manager for the
Pere Marquette railroad. In talk be-
fore the Wholesalers 4 Manufacturers
association al 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 that 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 mas
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
10 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 | tell you that IL takes
100 cars and from two to three engines
to carry load OF coal that can be
carried in one 1000 ton boat he
added
A. b. Atwater, assistant to the pres.-
dent of the Grand Trunk, said his road
had received but few complaints from
shippers, although the road has
handled % 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-cailed, was responsible in a meas
ure for the congestion that has existed.
Requests for special deliveries OF ears.
which have come In great volume dur
Ing recent months. has also greatly
hampered the general movement OF
sars he said.
s"I6e conditions in the river have al
SO had their part In freight troubles.
he continued .rOrdinarily We oazsAt to
be transferring from 1000 and 1000
freight cara per day at this time OF
year. On Dec. "a. 25 and 20. We were
able TO transfer but 500. This means
that the cars had to back up some
where.
yet. conditions are rapidly impro~-
ing. This morning only 500 cars were
held up in Toledo. And In spite OF
our business last month |
was larger than ever before in Decem- !
Der. We handled In that month 1850
more cars than In Dec. 1908. | &c
not say, however, that the road 10 en- |
tirely biamless. We are willing to
take our share OF the blame"
Mr.. Brown said the Michigan Cen
trail had built ESQ miles OF industrial
tracks in and about Detroit in the past
wear and referred to other improve
ments contemplated In the matter OF
terminal facilities. He spoke OF the
grade separation work and the prepar-
ations now under way for union
station as factors which tended to In
terfere with the free passage or
trains.
il. Sim. superintendent OF the Wa
hash. was the last speaker. He told OF
some of the troubles that confront
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
Is concerned.