The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1916-03-28
FREIGHT CLOG
AFFECTS BARRE
Many Monument Shipments
Are Being Held
Up
SHORT e OF CARS
J sSHIEF TROUBLE
Eff S Being Made by the
manufacturers to Sc
cure Relief

Through the freight congestion that
has developed in all OF the larger railroad
centers of the East, Barre granite manu-
facturers, and quarters as well, are face
10 face with one of the most serious
shipping problems that has arisen in
; many day. While the stoppage has
worked hardship on manufacturers of
other products for some time past, it is
only within recent weeks that its effects
have been acutely felt in the Barre gran
lite belt. And it may be said right here
that the problem is being presented to
the producers in its gravest aspects.
Thousands of dollars worth of finished
stone is piling up in the sheds and tho
prospects for shipment are not at all
| promising
Realizing the gravity of the situation,
the Granite Manufacturers association is
to carry the burden of its complaint be-
fore the officials of the Central Vermont
| railroad this week in an effort to have
conditions alleviated, if only in meas
ure. In its larger aspects the present
state of affairs involves not only a heavy
| financial loss for the manufacturer but
it carries with it the possibility that a
partial suspension of operations will fol-
low if relief does not come Business
conditions, so far as the general employ
ment of labor is concerned, are not ex-
actly what the optimistis would like to
see and unless the channels of transport
tation are opened in the near future, in
stead of improving conditions will grow
worse. There are varied reasons for be-
lieving that the approach of summer will
see pronounced quickening of industrial
activity in the Barre belt, but the freight
embargo that exists to-day viii not hast
en- the return of normal conditions.
Barre shippers are pinning some faith
on the outcome of conference of rail-
road ment in New York. in which the
Central Vermont road is represented by
its general freight agent, n. w. Hawkes.,
whose return to Vermont to-day or to-
morrow viii be the signal for confer
ence between the manufacturers here and
the railroad officials. An effort il being
made to secure a routing through Albany
and Buffalo for granite shipments, and il
the way is opened for transportation
through that channel, one remedial meas
ure win have worked to the advantage
of local shippers
While the loss involved by delayed
the fact that the manufacturer is faced
perforce with no other alternative than
to vacate that part OF his contract with
the customer which concerns the time of
it should be borne in mind
that other losses are aceruing to the
For instance, costly me-
MORALS ready for shipment since March
or Feb. TO, if they remain in the she'd,
are subject to assessment for taxes after
April l. Naturally. it has been the prac-
ice OF all manufacturers to have their
storage space cleared Of finished work bv
he first of April, but this year it APP
bears that many expensive pieces of
work will figure in the assessors ap-
,raisal.
Railroad men here in Barre are in
lined to ascribe the congestion locally,
o the shortage of fiat cars on which
most of the granite is shipped 1t is
'ointed out that every piece of motive
pparatus on the larger arteries of
reight transportation is being used to
onyey loaded freight ears And so it
ollows that the railroad can scarcely be
xpected to divert their locomotives to
he task of hauling empty trailers.
of munitions to the sea-
oard towns is cited as a single reason
,r the congestion. In New York, Chi
ago and other centers, it is said, the
eight yards are jammed with cars.
throughout the East the report is much
he same. The Central Vermont road is
only 30 far as its pier in
ew York. ts-ai shipments TO Boston
'e possible, but beyond the Hub they
e uncertain. Some shippers are resort
g to the express company as medium,
1t in bulky consignments the results,
may be expected. are not wholly sat-
factory. Cases are cited where con-
gnees are paying the 81 PEI day per
T demurmge in preference to paying
orage charges.
Recently the Central Vermont road PEI
Toned the Grand Trunk system for 50
{ cars, but the parent company could
i spare the tractors to fetch the flats.
the points where they are needed
)st. Partial solution of the problem,
far as it affects Barre manufacturers,
~ be reached in a movement to have
stern auto manufacturers. shipping
eir product to Vermont dealers, con-
n their shipments on fiat ears. One
IRE dealer IS expecting a consignment
autos that was supposed to leave the
tory on fat cars.
For the reason that the stoppage IS
neral and not confined TO any one dis
It. the outlook for immediate relief
not encouraging II is a situation that
never been really psralleled, 50 gran.
men say, in the history Of the indusl
= Il is replete with grave possibilities
! its effect, should conditions remain
they arc for any length of time. will
little short Of paralyzing.