Norwich bulletin., 1912-11-15
LUMBER DEALERS HAVE GRIEVANCES AGAINST RAILROAD
Rigid Inspection and Small Pay for Ties-Discrimination in Freight Rates Alleged.

For the purpose of listening to report of a committee on conference appointed at it's annual meeting in September to confer with the officials of the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad company the Lum- Der Manufacturers association of southern New England held a special meeting in Hartford Wednesday,
 Up to September the railroad in paid 62, 50 and 30 cents each, and since that time the price has been 70, 55 and 35 cents each, according to quality. New specifications were issued which the lumber manufac- turers say are more difficult to con- form to. in that they require larger and better ties for the new prices paid. virtually increasing the quality out of proportion to the increase of price. Various members claimed that the new rules of inspection were un- just. It was said that most of the in spectors were proceeding in accord ance with the former custom, in most cases no rigid than before, but it was given out that the new rules were to be rigidly enforced
 Reports were given by different members regarding the quantity of ties delivered for inspection at differ ent points throughout southern New England.
 New England Products Preferred. The committee appointed at the last meeting to look up outside markets for ties reported that several cor pOrations had indicated their desire to purchase ties from the association, as they would much prefer ties manu- factured from New England chestnut or oak to any southern hard pine or chestnut ties.
 The committee on conference, con sisting of President C. H. Child of Putnam, Secretary c. A. Tillinghast of Danielson. C. M. Ely, F. M. Tyler and j F. A. Rockwell, reported the result of ! an interview with Vice Presidents Campbell and Horne and other officers l of the New Haven road.
 The committee reported that at that l conference they were assured by off, cers of the railroad that the company desired to grant the manufacturers of lumber a reasonable opportunity to draw into the company's yards and assemble for shipment the various forest products as long as such assem- blaze did not interfere with other shippers of freight.
 Rate Discrimination.
 The conference committee reported | that they had explained to the railroad officials that there existed a discrimi- 1 nation in the matter of freight rates against local lumber producers. They l reported that they found many freight rates in force within Sthe territory oi the New York, New Haven and Hart ford railroad which were as great as or greater than the rates on lumber and poles from points several hundred miles farther away on other railroads which ship into southern New England As showing discrimination in freigh rates, it was cited that it costs 1; cents to transport telegraph or tele. phone poles from Waterbury, to Low. ell, Mass, and that the same rate pre-. vailed for like products from Harris burg, Pa., to the same point in Massa chuSetts.
 Prices Quoted,
 F. W. Griswoid said that he though the fair average price for ties was 4 cents. John. Mclaughlin of Cumber land Hill, R. l., Said that he had aver aged AS cents loaded on ears from tn Bay State Electric railroad of Bestoi and the eonPsny had paid AT cents For the benefit of the manufacturers MT. Mclaughlin. who is member o the committee on markets, urged tn importance of seeking other market for the sale of forest products. II Poles Cuiied Out.
 The situation regarding telegraph and telephone poles was informal, discussed with some feeling and man, of the members felt that they had no been fairly treated in that they ha, had poles stamped by agents of tn Western Electric company which hal not been accepted and which are stil held at the producers risk and ex pense. waiting the purchasers orders l Oftentimes, 1t was pointed out, tn poles lay around from year to 1 months or more. It was said to b the custom of the purchasers to cul 1 out the straight poles for city use an leave the balance on the hands of tn producers, in violation of the agree ment.
 Aids to Sales.
 It was voted that the members c the association who have lumber o forest products to sell shall motif Chairman W. B. Demond of Staffor Springs, chairman of the market com mittss, and that he shall send out no tices of such sAiable product to mem II bers of the association. to facilitate tn l sale.
 It WAS voted the secretary be in
 structed to write Vice President Camp bell for a reply to the conference com | he nf1fo nF !,