New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1915-12-19
Pennsylvania and Reading
Bar All Goods Except
Food and Coal.
DRASTIC ACTION TO
AVERT BLOCKADE
New Orders Will Cut Off About
400 Cars a Day, with Capacity
of 10000 Tons.

Philadelphia. Dec. 49,. The Pennsyl-
vsnia Railroad to-day issued an en-
barge on all freight destined for the
New York District, with the exception
OF foodstuffs and coal for necessary
purposes"
This order fulfls in its most drastic
fo-rn the intimation Of a few days ago
when, having refused to carry freight
originating on connecting lines, the
road gave shippers on it's own lines to
understand that unless shipments to
New York decreased the company
would be compelled to take extreme
measures.
Coupled with the Pennsylvania en-
barge, the Philadelphia g. Reading put
into operation an embargo on coal
shipped to Port Reading, \. J. This
point is utilized by the Reading TO con
centrate its coal for the New England
and coAstwise trade. The order will re-
suit in the shutting off of from 300 to
400 cars a day. with a capacity Of APP
prOXlmateiy lOu,VUO toio'
Both these embareoes. railroad men
predicted to-day. indicated serious food
and coal shortages for New England.
Port Reading is the main shipping point
for barges loaded with Reading coal.
Refusal by the Pennsylvania to handle
traffic destined for the New YORK DIS
trict virtually shuts off New England
from railroad connection with the
South and TO a great extent from the
Middle West. An official statement is
sued by the Pennsylvania follows:
due TO the unfavorable weather con
iitions-snow and heavy fog prevail
ing during the last week, the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad has been unable 10 re-
ieve the congestion of freight IN the
New York district, even with an en-
barge on freight from connecting lines.
ain order, therefore, 10 make greater
Roadway and TO prevent an absolute
blockade, which has been impending, 1t
has been determined for the present
to embargo all freight for the New
York district, excepting, of course,
foodstuifs and coal for necessary pur-
poses" go,
So far as is evident, foodstuffs will
have difficulty in getting past New
York, as the Pennsylvania is entorc-
ing an embargo on all freight over the
New York, New Haven & Hartford
Railroad, with the one exception OF
coal for the New Ravens locomotives.
Embargo on New Haven traffic, 1t was
learned to-day, was levied at the So
licitation of the New Haven road itself.
The New Haven lacked sufficient hight
erage facilities, and its own lines were
all but put out of commission by the
recent storm. The Pennsylvania In
normal times receives and turns over
to this road an average Of 1000 cars
daily.
Movement of war orders, in view OF
the Pennsylvania action, is becoming
daily a more serious proposition, so
far as New York is concerned. with
the wide range of embargoes placed by
nearly every railroad entering New
York, including the Erie, the New YORK
Central, the Baltimore & Ohio and the
Central Railroad of New Jersey, the
railroads are considering various eX-
pedients for easing up the situation.
The time is now imminent. according
to traffic officials. to shut New York on
from further congestion by diverting
freight 10 what are known as "out-
ports" Philadelphia. Baltimore and
Norfolk This plan directs that cut
into eastbound traffic DE made, sending
the freight into these ports.