The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-22
INTERSTATE BOARD
BLAMED FOR TIEUP
Railroad Sold Part Of Its Har-
Dor Boats Here on Ad-
vice Of Commissioners.

The trafic situation continues to be
the most important and interesting
subject discussed In the iron and steel
trade. Progress Ia being made against
the freight accumulation, but the large
shippers scarcely expect full relief IN.
side Of several weeks. although partial
resumption IL likely on most Of the East
ern lines within the next week or ten
dayS. The Pennsylvania system seems
70 be in worse straits than the smaller
roads. Thu former continues its EN-.
barge on all classes OF freight With the
exception Of foodstufYs and % for public
service utilization. The freight department.
Of the New York. New Haven and Hart
ford system reported yesterday that
Western roads had raised the embargo
against shipments to the New Haven
system. which had been In effect for .
week or nor Az already noted. the
New Have Is prepared to accept ship
ments from all points on connecting lines.
and In making rapid headwuy In the
moving Of 10000 cars now here with
It's floating equipment.
IT developed yesterday that Western
shippers wero sonsigning Eastern
freight by way Of the Pennsylvania sys-
TEN to Newark and then transferring to
the Delaware, Lacka and Western
and West Shore lines. through which
there has been better prospect Of
reaching tidewster. This scheme. how.
ever. mas been blocked by the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad. the embargo being
placed further inland, but the same
transfer may take place at New Bruins
wick. Freight Is consigned by shippers
to themselves Mt the above points. and
the transfer costs only :: per car.
The present congestion At New York
terminals demonstrates how inadequate
storage space IL In the metropolitan dis
trict. II 10 said. however. that the Penn
sylvania Railroad is determined to give
relief as speedily as possible and to that
end has given an order that all export
freight that has been on cars ten days
In the New York terminals be unloaded
wherever the cars happen to be. This
has already happened as far back as
Morrisville. The consensus In railroad
circles now seems to be that the Inter-
state Commerce Commission itself 10
largely responsible for much Of the
freight congestion on tho Eastern sea-
board. Some time since. whom the COM
missioners made an investigation of rail-
road facilities at New York. they ad-
vised transportation companies TO get
rid Of at least half Of their floating
equipment. as II was entirely unneces-
sary. The New York Central Railroad
Is said to have adopted this suggestion
and disposed Of half Of its lighterase
craft. The New York Central is now
trying to buy boats to replace the light
ers sold.
The bridge builders are much encour.
q by reports emanatinG from the rail-
roads that larger contracts for bridge
work will be placed this winter In time
for spring service. No adequate esti-
mate of tonnage to no derived from such
contracts al be given. hut especially
large orders are expected from the Bal
timore and Ohio and a fair tonnage
from ta Pennsylvania. The New Haven
also. as soon as finance will permit. will
go ahead with the Thame River bridge.
AZ previously noted. This work will call
for the expenditure Of about $780,
900. The coal roads, more especially the
Delaware. Lackawanpa M Western
and Lehigah Valley, are constantly In the
market for bridgework.
The Southern Railway has placed an
other -ontract for bridgework, calling
for about 600 tom Of structural steel.
with the Virginia Bridge and Iron Com
pany, and another contract for about 100
tons of bridgework with a Northern
shop. Inquiries are still In the marke.
from the same road for about 400 tonH
OF steel for bridges. The Lehigh VAL
ley has put out a new inquiry for two
bridges, calling for $50 tons of steel
shapes. The New Haven also has an
inquiry in tho market for two small
- ges. Three Western roads are on
the point of closing bridge contracts
calling for about $500 tons Of struc-
tural steel.
The American Bridge Company has
been awarded the contract for 700 tons
Of structural steel to be used In the
construction of an extension to the coal
unkers at Newark. lowering 4 Gar
rigues have secured the contract for 400
tons Of fabricated steel for the building
of a garage on West Sixty-seventh street
for the Hudson Motor Company. The
same fabricators. it Is understood. will
also furnish 500 tons OF structural
shapes for the Billiard Machine Tool
Company machine shop at Bridgeport.
The Hooker Electrolytic Chemical Com
pany OF Buffalo has placed a contract
for another factory at Niagara Falls,
calling for 500 tons OF steel. with the
Ferguson Iron and Steel Company. Re-
ports come from Buffalo that the latter
company will expend 81, 500. 900 In plant
improvement before April / Of lei year.
This company Is understood to have
gained great benefit from heavy war
contracts. An inquiry IL in the market
for about 500 tons OF structural steel
for the building Of a house at
Durham, ". G..
The Board OF Chosen Freeholders Of
Hudson county ave awarded the gem
eral contract for the building of the
Hudson county Jail to w. II. 4 y. w.
Cane of Jersey City and New York. The
contract price Ia Ss6l.S85. II is inter-
estinE to note that IN the previous occa-
sion. about six v eeks ago. when bids
were taken, ]. T.. Brady 4 Co. Of
New York submitted a lowest bid, $751;
$40, or more han 500, 900 less thar
the contract Just awarded. According to
one contractor yesterday this 10 an ex.
ample OF Jersey economy. The higher
price submitted Ia said to have been due
to the higher prices prevailing for plain
steel material n for the erection OF the
fabricated steel.
The Samuel l.. Moore Corporation IL
understood to have taken bids yester-
day on the construction OF 4 machine
shop calling for 1900 tons OF fabricated
structural steel. 1t may not be Generally
known that the Moore corporation Is q
subsidiary OF the Bethlehem Steel Com
pany.