The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1912-03-25
SAYS LIMITED TERMINALS
/. CAUSE FREIGHT CONGESTION
President of Toledo Commerce
Club Points Out Conditions
In Detroit

j. d. Biggers, secretary OF the To-
lledo Commerce club, mas sent The
Times the following statement from
President Isaac Kinsey, of the club,
relative TO the causes OF the tralhc
congestion in. and around Detroit.
This statement is not TO be "Dn-
strued as a criticism OF Detroit, but
merely as yindication of Toledo
railroad systems have been UNI
railroad systems have been been UNI
duly and unjustly blamed for the
freight congestion which has so seri-
ously handicapped the business In
terests OF Detroit.
This condition in Detroit, though
somewhat exaggerated this winter by
unusual weather conditions, is really
an annual affair. Detroits limited
terminal facilities are sericis
handicap TO her indust rial develop
ment. Then, too, the fact that the
transportation situation in Detroit is
almost entirely under the control II
one railroad system, H. from some
standpoints. a drawback IL is our
belief that Detroit's remarkable
growth has been made in spite OF her
transportation facilities rather than
because of them
Each fall, the State Fair in De
troit marks the forerunner OF the
congestion which is TO follow DE-
troit's facilities are not even ade-
quate TO care for the comparatively
L.. a. 4 q l.
fair
The practice of reconsigning coal
probably contributes more largely 10
Detroit's annual tie-up than any other
one thing. Detroit coal dealers. as
early as last fall, started ordering
cars of coal TO be held in Toledo for
lreconsignment. This practice has been
continued during the winter months
and during -the-present- season=has
been somewhat accumulated by pros
pectiye strike among coal miners and
tho fear OF q consequent shortage OF
coal.
"Detroit's terminal trackage is not
extensive enough 10 allow the cars TO
be held for reconsignment in the De
troii yards Toledo is, therefore, made
10 bear this unfair burden, which af-
forwards results more disastrously 10
Detroit than TO Toledo.
Toledo has been criticised merely
because the congestion seemed to be
I'm Toledo. These criticisms have
been based upon a superficial know
ledge of the real state of affairs and
cons equently. are essentially unjust.
Toledo invites inspection and is will
ing to endure any criticism which Is
properly laid at its door.
I'm reality, however. Toledo has the
finest and most extensive shipping
facilities OF any American city with
the single exception OF Chicago. A
total of % steam railroads, II inter.
urbans and six steamship lines, all
carving freight, radiate in every
direction from Toledo. We have the
finest terminal belt railroad In the
United states II is 2S miles IN
length and connects with every steam
ami electric railroad in Toledo 80
grade. thus enabling prompt and 'ef-
Hcient interchange OF freight in the
Toledo wards. The railroads OF Toledo
1Iy17- been exceptionally -Aberal
pro ,lding not only for Toledos pres
snt hut for her future needs. How
ever ti.ey have not and could not be
exnocted. to provide sufficient track
900 60 that the Toledo yards might
oSTord storage facilities sufficient TO
car, for the disabilities of Detroit and
ito state OF Michigan.