The Washington times., 1915-12-31
Pennsylvania Removes Embargo
on Shipments to Terminals
in Metropolis, Not Beyond.
CONGESTION NOW NOT BAD
Coal Situation Here Causing
Some Concern, But Dealers
Do Not Expect Rise in Price.

Announcement has been made by
Pennsylvania railroad officials here that
the embargo or freight shipments be-
tween Washington and New York city
had been lifted. Freight will he ac-
cepted for delivery at terminals. In tho
metropolis, but none will be taken for
points beyond New York.
An embargo was placed on freight
between the National Capital and New
York about a week ago because OF the
congestion in the metropolis. and the
fact that thousands OF the Pennsy-
Vania's cars were tied up. loadcd, on
side tracks in Northern freight yards.
The situation has been relieved some
what, aud local freight solicitors have
resumed tehir activities.
The same condition prevailed on the
Baltimore and Ohio, although 1t con-
tinued to accept freight consigned to
terminals in New York. At the local
Baltimore and Ohio freight office 1t was
said today that while there was great
scarcity of cars and considerable con-
gestion, consignments were being clear
ed to New York city piers and depotS
without apprcciable delay.
Coal Situation Alarms.
Because of the car shortage and con-
gestion, washington's bItuminous coal
anthracite situation is giving coal deal
ers cause for worry. The mines have
been unable tc Cet more than one-fifth
of the cars they need to haul the normal
supply to markets. AS a result the local
coal dealers have been unable to get
a single ton ahead, and are getting
along from hand to mouth" The retat-
crs are hauling coal from the local
wholesale yards instead of getting the
coal direct themselves.
Local dealers said that while there
was no immediate prospect of rise In
price of coal, the situation was such as
to prevent any householders from stock
ing up for the winter and to prelude
the laying up of a reserve supply of
coal In Washington Yards until after
the congestion and car shortage was
From New York came reports today
that the metropolis was facing a short
age OF coal. because thousands of cars
get into the city, Miles and miles of
loaded coal cars consigned to New
York two weeks ago are still long
distance from their destination because
they cannot be moved. the rails being
blocked by cars filed with export
freight which reached the metropolis,
or as near as they could get to it,
ahead of the coal trains
New Haven Embargo.
Today the New York, New Haven
and Hartford railroad notified the In
terstate Commerce Commission that 1t
had placed an embargo on all freight,
and ordered all it's agents to desist in
soliciting business. Agents of the New
Haven were told TO institute a syste-
matte campaign among all receivers
and shippers of freight. prevailing upon
them to promptly release cars by eXpe-
dtious unloading in order that the ter
minals may be quickly relieved, there
by enabling the company to return the
foreign equipment on our rails to the
home lines more rapidly
The New Haven order contains the
information that t. has on it's rails now
$1,000 freight cars, which is 5000 more
than 1t had this time last year, and
1900 more than it had two years ago,
For the first eight days of December
the New Haven loaded 50,667 cars of
freight, as against 37,74S for the same
time last year. At present. according
to the embargo issued today, there are
more than 1900 of the New Haven's
cars loaded with freight and standing
on the rails.
The inability of the New Haven
Lackawanna, Jersey Central, and other
lines to handle freight shipments be-
Yond New York Is responsible for the
Washington embargo on consignments
north of the metropolis.
Lack of Steamers Caused Tie Up.
Although the storms OF December Is
ana % were partly ItSDOIlSlple lOl the
freight congestion and delays, the real
cause, according to Washington freight
agents is the lack of steamers to han
die the enormous volume of export
business from New York Millions of
tons of merchandise, foodstuffs, manu-
factures; machinery and other Ameri-
Can-made goods are being rushed to the
great Eastern shipping port to fill Eu-
ropean orders.
The volume of exports leaving New
York is indicated by the Department OF
Commerce figures for last week. Dur
ing the five working days of the week
S32,S99,l3 worth of exports were re-