New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-02-16
No Reason for Freight
Tie-Up, Say Road and
Port Officials
POINT TO 262 SHIPS
WAITING TO SAIL
Blame Labor Conditions
and Weather for Jam
in West -

While the opinion Of railroad, steam
ship and port officials yesterday was
that the reports of freight congestion
in this city had been exaggerated, they
agreed that this was due largely 70
the system of embargoes against ship
ments from the West for export.
The situation now, according to the
movers of freight, is not more serious
than it had been at various times dur
ing the last two years when German
raiders were preying upon the COM
merce of the Allies.
Additional relief was seen yesterday
in the announcement that Scandinavian
and Dutch steamships would soon move
out of port with full cargoes for their
home ports.
There is no need for all this alarm
about freight congestion" said the
representative Of one of the big British
steamship lines yesterday. 1.-THE yes
sells of the Allies have shown clearly
that they can get by the German sub
marine blockade with comparatively
little loss. When the neutral ship
owners awaken to the fact that the
German activity is not much greater
than it has ever been and will event
ually weaker they will resume their
sailing schedules. There are in the
port here to-day about 262 steamships
of British, French, Scandinavian,
Dutch, Spanish, Italian and American
registry.
Many Ships Ready
"A conservative estimate of the cargo
carrying capacity of these vessels is
about 75U,O 900 tons. Nearly $4,000 tons
of this is represented in American yes
sells, engaged almost exclusively in the
coastwise trade.
Great Britain has about forty-four
steamships now in port ready TO leave
when loaded, and representing cargo
capacity of not less than $4,000 tons.
Ships from the Scandinavian countries
now loading in this harbor represent
carrying tonnage of 81 200 tons"
A port official declared yesterday
that the freight congestion here was
not serious and that If the government
decided upon some definite policy of
arming or conveying American steam
ships the freight situation would
promptly resume a normal basis.
There has been no piling up OF
freight at the piers here because of
the new German submarine policy"
said A. j. Stone, vice-president Of the
Erie Railroad, yesterday, "nor is there
any very serious congestion of domes-
tic freight. As a matter of fact, the
railroads have the situation pretty we'll
in hand.
Gan the railroads for some time have
been refusing TO accept any export
freight unless the consignor could
show that he had already booked space
for the shipment on some vessel. When
this fact was confirmed We would au-
thoriZe the shipment, and it would then
be made, timed so that it would reach
the piers here at about the time the
ship would be ready to receive it.
Accumulation Prevented
"This system is still in effect, and il
has effectually prevented eny great &C
emulation of export freight here. Even
since the v@sels have not been sailing
on account of the submarine scare the
loading Of freight has gone Oh about
the same. No export shipments are
coming forward unless there is a ship
ready TO receive them, and the freight
is being placed on board when it ar
riyes, even though the vessel is held
temporarily awaiting sailing orders.
81 may say that the general situa-
ton here is practically normal. We
are receiving and delivering TO vessels
just about as much export freight as
ever. and | don't believe the new sub
marine policy is going 10 make any
difference in the end in the
amount Of our exports.
"Eastbound domestic freight is COM
ing into New York right along, and is
being handled eXpeditiousiy. About the
only centres where there is serious
congestion are Buffalo and Chicago.
All the Canadian lines coming into
Buffalo and practically all of the lines
running west from there are tied up
and unable to take all of the cars con.
signed to Buffalo and points west from
New York. That is the reason for the
recent embargoes.
Congestion on Canada Lines
"The congestion on q the Canadian
lines is due principally to weather con-
ditions and shortage Of labor. The
war has called so many Canadians that
it has made experienced railroad men
hard TO get up there. Unfayorab,
weather has a great deal TO do with
4 he congestion around Chicago
"As far as New York is concerned,
there is no serious problem here at
present, and | do not anticipate any
more embargoes. Favorable weather
conditions with the coming of spring