Harrisburg telegraph. [volume] (Harrisburg, Pa.) 1879-1948, 1919-07-19
: RAILROAD NEWS
ON
FREIGHT LOSSES
Philadelphia Division Starts
Campaign to Benefit Ship
perS and Railroad Co.

Cut the cost of loss and damage
to freight. That is what the Phila-
delphia division is doing now. An
active campaign is on. A committee
has been named and employees are
to receive daily information as to
the best means for cutting down
unnecessary expenses. The cooper
alton of the shippers will also be
asked.
If shippers would pack and
| mark their goods properly large
proportion of this loss would be
saved, it is pointed out. One Of
ficer said: "It is a well-known fact
that it is to the advantage of both
the shipper and the railroad COM
pany to eliminate claims as far as
possible. Claims, il will be admitted,
cause a great deal of waste time
and money, in consequence 1T iG to
the best interest of all concerned to
prevent claims"
Heavy Loss Payments
To give an idea of the magni-
tude of the loss and damage on the
Philadelphia division alone, this ac-
count for the first four months of
1919 amounted to $S7, ,424, notwith-
standing the fact that business had
fallen off to some extent. Here are
some causes for losses:
Frequently the exposure of the
contents of a shipment will cause
loss through theft that would not
have occurred had not the exposure
presented both the suggestion and
the opportunity. Shippers can assist
by guarding against such exposure.
If the claims that are now pre-
sented resulting from improper
packing and marking of freight
shipments, could be eliminated, the
greater part of the difficulties now
experienced could be overcome. In
the last few years the increased cost
and shortage of proper wrapping
and packing materials have induced
many shippers to adopt policy
of unwise economy, whereby in
ferior packing is used. which is not
sufficiently substantial to Withstand
damage from ordinary handling in
transit.
Most of the loss and damage, 1t
is said, occurs in handling less than
carload freight. necessitating same
being handled through freight
transfers. This work must be done
with promptness, in order that the
freight may not be delayed an un-
usual length of time, and so that
it may get out on scheduled local
freight trains. These local freight
shipments are of all sizes, dimen-
sions and weights, and consequent
ly all packages cannot be loaded on
top, nor can freight shipments be
arranged on platforms or trucks be-
fore loading, in order that the heavi-
est freight may be loaded on the
bottom at all times, although every
effort is made to load shipments
in this manner
Some Evils Named
The use of old or secondhand
cartons, or other containers, is
particularly fruitful cause of claims.
If these cartons or containers do not
break open, they can almost GER
tainly be depended upon to send
the shipment astray on an old mark.
Aside from the matter of second
hand cartons. the mistakes in mark
ing shipments are many. The
marking of freight packages should
be done in plain and legible char
acters that will not rub off, or be-
come obliterated by ordinary han
ding. A tag should never be tied
to a freight shipment when the
proper marks can be written. nailed
or pasted on the package itself.
When tags are used, at least two
should be put on all packages, and
fastened with a wire or heavy
twine. Wire should be used on
hardware, and the tag should have
an eyelet so that the wire will not
cut through.
1t can be readily seen that ship
pers, as we'll as the carrier, are
vitality interested in the matter of
preventing these claims. A ship
ment is never made for the purpose
of having it result in a claim. The
prudent shipper. with an eye to fu-
ture business, wants to deliver the
property to the consignee, and the
consignee wants that same property,
intact and on time, or for Gus
TONER The payment of a claim does
not satisfy either.