Daily capital journal. (Salem, Oregon) 1903-1919, 1916-09-22
Yesterdays Testimony.

ortiahu, Ort., sept. Z2.-COncrete re-
ports from numerous individual lumber
manufacturers provided eloquent testi-
mony before the public service commits
sion yesterday of the serious damage
that the car shortage on the Southern
Pacific has caused the lumber industry
in western Oregon.
William Sproule, president of the
Southern Pacific; w. R. Scott, operat-
ing vice-presirdent; j. II. Dyer, assist
ant general manager ,and other Off
vials listened attentatively to the dra-
matte stories told by some of the lum-
bermen. and by their frequent interro-
cations. suggestions and comment man
! ifested sincere desire to cooperate
with the commission and the shippers
in relieving. the situation and in pre-.
venting future similar occurrences.
Critical Conditions Revealed.
Conditions as revealed by some fthe
witnesses yesterday are most critical.
The plant of the Sheridan Lumber
company, employing $50 men, has not
been able to operate since September
9; the Hamomnd Lumber company's
mill at Mill City, working 600 men, was
forced to close down last night; the
Standard Box & Lumber company at
ScOfield, with so men, is confronted
with serious financial difficulties; the
Pacific Face Brick company at Villa
nina has suffered great loss of bust
ness that may permanently impair its
commercial prestige; the Silverton
Lumber company at Silverton win be
forced to close within n few weeks if
it does not get relief.
Other minor misfortunes were re-
lated through the afternoon with al,
most unvarying monotony.
Closed Plant Piled High.
C. f. Fisher, manager of the Sheri-
dan Lumber company, which was
forced to close three weeks ago, ex
planned in considerable detail how the
ear shortage had affected his plant.
At the time this plant closed it "was
short 33 ears. Since then it has been
reducing this shortage gradually, as
the Southern Pacific has been supply
ing it with ears at Irregular intervals.
The compuany has been forced to cancel
many orders as Il result of the short
age. The docks, warehouses, and space
adjacent to all the sidings are stocked
with lumber. The necessity of piling
this lumber in unusual places will en-
tail unusual cost in handling. If it gets
wet it will take on weight and add to
the freight cost in shipment. Some of
it will be severely damaged by rain.
OF far greater Importance than this,
said Mr.. Fisher, is the loss of consid.
cradle good business that was placed
with competitors because he could not
mn Ia Ialivnr,aa Tho ,Ia hoo
5000, 900 feet ON hand, half of which is
sold. The balance could be disposed
of promptly if he could promise de-
livery. With reasonable assurance that
cars win be provided regularly, the
plant will resume operations.
Switching Delays Cited.
s. B. Barnard, of the Buxton Lumber
company, on the Tillamook branch of
the Southern Pacific, reported that his
mill has been short since July l. His
production is about $4,000 feet day.
The plant was compelled TO close TEN.
porarily late in August.
Mr.. Barnard complained that the
Southern Pacific freight crews bring
cars destined for his mill into Buxton
late in the afternoon and spot them
on the house track at the station. 1t
is not until the next morning that the
switching crew places them on his
industry track. Thus nearly "a hours
are lost. C. w. Martyr, assistant su-
perintendent of the Southern Pacific,
told the commission that this practice
now has been corrected and that the
cars will be spotted on the industry
track the sanfe day they are brought
into town.
Mr.. Barnard told, by way of illus.
trating the loss in business due TO
tho ear shortage, that recently he was
forced to refuse an order for 100000
feet of lumber for export.
Mabel Mill Needs Cars.
T. ]. Seufer, of the Coast Range
Lumber company, operating mill at
Mabel, said that his plant has not had
cars enough at any time since opera.
tions were started in April.
"Other plants around us get cars and
we don T., he asserted. 81 never know
where to go to find out about my ears.
have my office in Portland and al
ways have to chase around from the
Fargo building to the Union
depot, and then don I get satisfaction.
/ call up the office at the mill every
day, and frequently find that when the
Southern Pacific office in Portland tells
me that they have given us some cars.
that we have no ears at all.
"Within the last two weeks orders
for l3 carloads have been cancelled on
us. l am in danger right now of losing
three more carloads"
Mr.. Dey read from the statistical re-
e ~ l. 4 -,
office that Mr.. Seufer's mill on one re.
cent occasion had kept number of
cars for five days. Mr.. Seufert insist
this report.
Reports Unreliable. Is Charge.
Lloyd ]. Wentworth, manager of the
Portland Lumber company, who is asso-
cisted with Mr.. Seufert in the mill at