The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-08-20
CONSIDER FR|SCO'S
 NEWEST PROPOSAL | NEAR AFFRONTERy
|DeBardeleben Points Out Clauses of Such, He Says, Absurdity They Won't
 Be Seriously Discussed

Henry T. DeBardeleben, manager of
 opinion that in case the Cordova ter
 minal question goes to the interstate commerce commission that body will
 summarily order the Frisco to take over the port tracks there. operate them on it's own score and deliver goods to the water carriers at river side. This, he declares, is precisely what the water carrier would prefer. Neith- CT the DeBardeleben Coal Company nor it's successor, the federal govern ment wished to lay rails or to owr rails. but, says Mir. DeBardeleben we were forced to lay tracks because the Frisco refused to lay them for us- After a years time" said MT. D< Bardeleben. the Frisco is finally lay. ing the spur leading to the Cordovs derrick. q matter of two days for a small squad of men,"
 MT. DeBardeleben has gone over the contract submitted by 1ne Frisco fol operations at Cordova. He points out some of its leading provisions, which are as follows:
 The interchange track shall be a strip of the main port track one hundred feet long and capable of holding but two cars at as time. Surplus of cars coming to the port for river business placed on a side track to be on the opposite side of the main line built by the Fris- co, and, when needed, these cars are to be switched by the Frisco from the far siding to the main line and then into the short inter change track.
 For this switching the Frisco proposes charging the usual fee. which, although it does not state it, Is $5 per ear now and will be greater under the Increased freight rates.
 The Frisco proposes that when ever its crews and cars are engaged in switching traffic for the water carrier. whether on its main line and sidetrack or on the short inter change track. the said cars and crew shall be considered as the ports own in all matters of liability for damage either to members of crew, to cars, or for any other liability arising during the switch ing process. This proposal espe- cially provides that this liability shall exist, whether due to neg1i- gence of Frisco men or not. The contract provides for a per diem charge for cars placed on port track' and the usual demurrage.
 There is a provision for joint in spection of cars while in this switching business, the water carrier to assume one-half of the charges for the same According to this contract if a col | lision occurred on the main line of thu l Frisco while it was doing this switch ling and exacting full charges for it the water carrier would be responsibl | for the damage, although it has m control over the Frisco and none owe
 the men doing the switching. HAD TO SMILE
 l MT. DeBardeleben had an amuse smile when he pointed out the hun l dred-foot exchange track with it's two car capacity His smile was broade when he pointed to the large side
 track which the Frisco proposed t build on the opposite side of the right of-way so as to produce "a maximum
 amount of unnecessary switching to b 1 charged to the account of the wate carrier"
 MT. DeBardeleben has specified hi
 objections in detail and forwarded then l to Theo. Brent, general manager o
 the Mississippi-Wa system at NeV Orleans. Unless radically changed, tn contract will not be considered. l Meanwhile the sidetrack to the der rick at Cordova has been laid. and tn derrick should soon be ready for busi ness. Thus far the Frisco has mad
 no change in the customary method o
 interchanging freight at Cordova. | is spotting cars for the river side an, going in after empties without charge
 Its compensation is it's portion of tn , freight rate. That is what the rive
 management contends shall always b. the remuneration of the connectin, railroads. and no more.
 l The river management claims to b 1 a water carrier. and that it's connec
 tion with the rail carrier is at rive side.