Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1917-03-22
RAILROAD RUMBLESI
TIMELY RULES TO
FREIGHT SHIPPERS
Pennsy Reprints Valuable In
formation Given to Merchants
in Greater New York

In a recent circular the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad gives timely and valu-
able advice to freight shippers on the
question of loss and damage. The in
formation is reprinted from the
Greater New York" official bulletin
of The Merchants Association OF New
York. Under the heading, THE Traffic
Bureau Makes Appeal To Shippers To
Help The Carriers by Observing Sim
pie Rules" and Containers and Bills
OF Lading Are Frequently Found to be
Defective" the circular reads as fol-
lows:
From time to time, through the
columns of Greater New York. we
have invited the attention of men,
bers to the importance of issuing clear
and legible bills of lading or shipping
orders; also to the Importance of using
good containers, removing all old
marks from secondhand containers
and marking packages plainly.
Too much stress cannot be laid
upon these subjects. The railroads
and steamship lines receive the ma
Jority of package freight during the
afternoon. especially during the one
or two hours before their closing time.
After the shippers team is admitted
to the piers, which very often follows
long wait in line, a second delay is
experienced if the bills of lading or
shipping orders are illegible or the
packages are not plainly marked so as
to correspond to the shipping docu-
ments.
Defective Shipping Orders
I'VE have recently received from
the carriers Photographic reproduc-
tions of shipping orders received by
the railroads which are a disgrace to
the shippers from whim they emanat-
ed. In making both of these shipping
orders carbon paper was used. In one
case, while the writing is reproduced,
1T is indecipherable; and in the other
case the carbon paper used did not re-
produce 10 per cent. of the writing
which must have been on the original
shipping order. Great care should be
exercised in making these important
documents and if possible they should
be typewriter. In any event they
should be legible and if carbon paper
is used it should be of good quality so
as to clearly reproduce all writing on
the original.
The carriers have united in seek
ing the cooperation of the shippers
and we heartily endorse suggestions
which they made in the form of circu-
lars to their patrons. If our members
will give the suggestions the serious
consideration they deserve, a great
many claims Tor loss ana damage VIII
doubtless be obviated."
Here Is the Circular
Every cent that a railroad pays
out for loss and damage represents
waste. The Pennsylvania Railroad is
forced to spend in this manner more
than $1,000,000 per year. This is q
burden to the company. Moreover, il
does not save patrons from annoyance
and possible loss of business when
frniohf eff ic 10
"The railroad is doing all in its
power to reduce this loss. 1t now asks
the cooperation of its patrons in the
effort
Here are four ways in which ship
pers can help.
81. Use good containers.
"2. Mark articles plainly. Remove
all old marks.
"3. Write bills of lading and ship
ping orders legibly.
"a. Deliver freight early and avoid
delay and damage"