Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1920-08-09
HANDLING
Of FREIGHT URGED
D. W. Fisher Asks Washing.
ton Board of Trade to
COOPERATE in Move.

Believing that prompt unloading
and loading of freight cars will go
a long way toward relieving the pres
ent serious shortage, in cars, D. w.
Fisher of the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad has written to the Washing
ton Board of Trade, asking it's CO.
operation in campaign to relieve
the shortage.
Mr.. Fishers letter follows:
You are doubtless aware of the
general acute car shortage through
out the country. There are no pres
ent prospects of relieving the situa-
ton by additional equipment. To ac-
complish this there must be a decided
Improvement in car mileage. This
cannot be done unless shippers and
consigneeS make determined effort
to loau and unload cars promptly.
The one solution is the more effective
use of the present equipment. 1t may
be that our people fail to realize
their responsibility to assist in re-
national in its scope, from the fact
that Washington is largely con-
suming proposition, its bulk of bust
ness being inbound. thereby produce
ing a large surplus Of empties. for
outbound loading You can readily
leasing of cars we can materially re-
lieve this shortage at other points.
Asks Twenty-FOur-Hou Limit.
Our management has. heretofore.
inaugurated vigorous campaign to
have cars loaded. and unloaded within
twenty-four hours after being placed.
1t has been deternAned that if this could
be accomplished that there would be
sufficient equipment to take care of
the business of the country.
Recently, the Interstate Commerce
Commission has issued special inStruc-
ton, in order to relieve the coal short
age. that consignees failing to unload
cars within twenty-four hours would
be embargoed. So far as this station
is concerned. it has met with the most
hearty cooperation of the coal dealers
who use this line. and there has been
no occasion to place an embargo against
any coal dealerS on our tracks. While
I do not speak with authority. it is
thought that unless by a cooperative
method. shippers are able to unload their
cars promptly, the same drastic action
will be taken for all classes of cars.
Small Cost insignificant.
ct is realized that to get the results
on the twenty-four hour releasing
that there will probably be some in
convenience and additional expense
attached to the consignee, but it is
thought that when the results to the
country as a whole are realized this
will be an insignificant item. We
especially urge the continued loading
and unloading on Saturday afternoons
and Sundays. We feel that the mem
bers of your organization are vitality
affected by present conditions, and
we ask that they be requested to CO.
operate to the fullest extent in order
that shipping conditions can soon be
back to a normal movement.
1--WE believe that if this matter is
brought to the attention of the vari-
Gus business interests that they will
take such steps as are necessary to
make this campaign successful. We
will be glad to arrange for loading
and unloading at unusual hours, and,
in fact. do everything in our power
to assist in this work"
The membership committee of the
board will hold it's regular meeting
tomorrow afternoon at 12:40 o'clock.
Z. E. Ramey, chairman of the com
mittee, will preside.