The sun., 1919-10-19

=
IN Hoboken was ever seen so much
sctiyity as is now the case on these
pers every day Of the week. Three
of them, 1, 2 and 3. are given up to
the vast accumulation OF lost luggage
Of the members of the American Expe-
dictionary Force. 1t belongs to indi-
yiduals Of every official degree and
vas dropped somewhere in France.
II has been returned to this country
10 find owners. Unmarked In raany
cases. uninscribed in almost all cases
and unbilled in every instance, the
lost luggage department of the army
has a staggering problem to solve.
But il does solve great number
Of these puzzles. From 1900 to 1000
pieces are traced to their owners every
day and started homeward at Gov
trnment expense. Just al many, how
ever are turned over. investigated in
vain for clue to ownership ana piled
up on crates to wait for additional in
formation.
Lieut.-Col. r. r. Pickering is in
charge of this lost luggage puzzle,
with Capt. p. Il. Walker as his assist
ant. His office is on Pier ., Hoboken,
and adjoins n great room full OF
clerks stenographers. typewriters and
other assistants, large assemblage OF
civilian workers. There are in the de-
partment i16 civilians, So enlisted
men and 26 officers Numerous as
are the members of this unit they need
reinforcement and probably will get
It. The work in many Of its sub
divisions is slow, difficult ana subject
TO continual Interruptions. Unless n
piece Of luggage under discussion is
put clear through a straight course of
search for an owner II is apt to fall
back into the unexamined lot and all
the work on it has to be done over.
Three Piers Not Enough.
Like the working force, so will the
space now devoted TO lost luggage have
20 be increased Three piers with the
bulkheads between them now IN use
are not sufficient for space to stow
away temporarily the baggage that is
being increased daily by shipments
from France. This lost baggage ar
rives at all Atlantic ports, a fact
which considerably increases the diff
hculty Of tracing owners, for all Of
this baggage must be brought to Ho-
boken and spread out on these piers.
Recently a big quantity was unloaded
at Newport News; II had to DO re-
shipped.
There lay on the Government docks
at Hoboken September is approx
mately 100000 pieces OF baggage made
up OF 10000 trunk lockers, $4,000 bed
rolls, 5000 suit cases and liz, 900 bar
rack bags which have been brought
overseas and lie unclaimed by owners.
On many Of them there In no trace OF
ownership, many have names without
addresses and many show addresses
but not names.
The lost luggage department has
adopted a good system and It may
succeed In finding owners for two
thirds OF this lost luggage. As the
rags and trunks come off a ship they
ere each given number and assigned
TO a section on the pier. Then a dcscrip-
tion OF each piece is carefully recorded,
together with the name Of the owner
II one happens 70 be attached II an
address is found also, effort is made to
communicate with the supposed
owner. In many cases owners Of bag
gage no longer reside at the places
shown on the baggage. go a new ship
ping direction Is required. In some
instances the name will appear on a
trunk or bag or suit case as Captain
John Smith, New York" or "Lieuten-
ant John Doe, Chicago" One can
easily understand that such an incom-
plete address is more confusing thar
helpful.
After this preliminary inspection
and record has been made the bags
and trunks are turned over to assist
ants to open and try to find some clue
10 who may own each piece. A card
containing whatever information has
oeen cleaned in any way and from
Whatever source is made and carefully
H!ed. Sometimes enough information
Is obtained thus to enable clerk to
write 10 a probable owner.
Claimants Give Descriptions.
When claim is made for lost bag.
gage the claimant Is asked for {
minute description. which is In turf
recorded on a card of q differ, u
color When the two cards CO.
respond the trunk, bag or box as tbs
case may be is quickly found ant
thlpped BY the Government by express
10 It's owners address.
The greatest desire is to get the
recovered baggage to its proper
destination as soon as possible. II,
Heecs the room, and the purpose of the
new army branch is to bring owner
ana lost goods together with as little
"e'Ay as may be. lie asks that al
persons who have lost baggage ant
VINO live in the neighborhood o.
hoboken should inquire In person
me persons who live too far away
70 be able TO visit the pier II
person are requested to write direc
10 the Lost Luggage Branch, Pier 2
ll'Doken, y. j., and give a complet,
ana accurate description OF the bag
Eage they are seeking to recover
pom receipt OF letters Of this de
scrlption search is made of the filet
cards for one which VIII tally and wheI
me lost is found 1t is sent forwsr,
az Government expense.
"Trip around the three piers nov
peing devoted to this service on al
suto truck occupies considerable tim
shd proves to be the best way O
Srning what detail Is involved Il
""s task. The ride itself cover
several miles and In each division O