The New York herald. [volume] (New York, N.Y.) 1920-1924, 1922-09-13
ROADS Will DIVIDE
| FREIGHT in EMBARGO
Pennsylvania Offers to Take
Over the Entire Fruit
Movement.
ERIE TO RUSH COAL
Underwood Says Ban Re-
mains Until Roads Get
More Engines.
EXECUTIVES COMPLAIN
Say Embargo Should Have
Come From Interstate Com
merce Commission.
EXECUTIVES COMPLAIN

Sweeping REIMBURSEMENT to meet en-
bargoes declared by the Erie. Lacka-
wanna. Lehigh Valley and New York
Central lines engrossed attention OF
the metropolitan freight district yes
terday.
The Pennsylvania Railroad announced
it is prepared to take over the entire
California fruit trade. formerly served
by the Erie. conditional upon coopera-
ton of shippers in prompt unloading
of cars. Road officials win discuss the
situation with the Fruit and Produce
Trade Association. representing 200 re-
ceivers and 10000 California shippers,
at the Pennsylvania station this after
noon. They will point out. 1t was
learned. that the Pennsylvania "can
handle any size fruit business. but
cannot hold It," by that meaning that
it's facilities are. based upon quick
clearances.
=. II. II. Won't Join Embargo.
The Pennsylvania Railroad refused
to accept an invitation of the other four
roads to join them in the embargo plan.
1t was definitely established. Officials
were positive no general embargo would
be seen on the system, though II traffic
diverted from other roads threatened
congestion at some single junction point
local embargo on that point might be
declared temporarily.
Use OF the Pennsylvania's Manhattan
produce yard at South Kearny, N. j..
has been offered the Erie and other en-
bargoed roads to supplement their
Western junction points, according to
Pennsylvania officials, but has no. been
accepted. Assistance, they said, had
been asked to expedite movement OF
perishable freight now in transit, and
this tender was made in lieu Of possibly
more desirable but less accessible facili-
ties at the Marion. N. j., interchange.
BY Iongstanding agreement the Erie
had always handled the California July
10 November fruit movement, officials
continued, and the Pennsylvania had in
turn taken the November to July ship
ments OF green stuffs from the South.
Tho latter shipments were the more
nique based upon celebrity in handling
rather than storage space for holding.
Utilization or these facilities therefore
depends upon the ability OF California
shippers to adapt themselves to the new
conditions, 1t was said.
5000 Cars of Grapes Coming.
Prospect OF an approaching 5000 car
shipment OF California wine grapes is
causing Pennsylvania officials special
concern in connection with the proposed
new agreement, they SAID.
Free use Of the Eries fruit terminal
facilities at piers 90 and 81 and at New
ark was offered any road bringing fruit
into the city. President Frederick d.
Underwood announced yesterday, pro-
viding they paid the help. Full force
of the embargo will not be felt for about
two weeks he indicated, when he said
in reference to California fruit:
1T will require two weeks for the
Erie to take care OF fruit now on the
wheels and consigned over its lines
Asked how long the embargo would
last. he answered: The embargo will
be necessary until the railroads get more
engines and the public gets more coal"
Admitting equipment had necessarily
been curtailed by the seventy-four days
shipments strike. he said the present
embargo had, however, gained the Erie
fifty engines for use in movement OF
coal, and that the road had the situa-
ton In hand. He said Erie shops were
manned rs per cent September 9th. with
"a per cent. strength OF locomotive men
but only 80 per cent. of car men.
At the shops taken over by the road
at Hornell, N. ", $50 men were at work
OF a pre-strike force of 500. he said.
Complaint was expressed by execu-
tives here yesterday that declaration OF
embargo should have come from the
Interstate Commerce Commission, ana
action had been taken only after the
commission had turned deaf ear to the
roads appeals. No interference by the
commission with the embargoes as an
nounced was expected. however.
Suggestion was made yesterday to the
commission by one OF the four roads,
1t was learned, that non-coal carrying
lines like the Wabash and Nickel Plate
could be utilized to shoulder the excess
burden Of perishable freight.
The Central Strike Committee sent B..
M Jewell. national strike leader. the
following telegram:
New York Is threatened with both a
fuel and food famine in the next four
weeks Freight service here is on the
verge OF a complete breakdown. Coal
shipments have absolutely nothing to do
with this embargo"
Neither the Jersey Central nor the
Delaware and Hudson lines, both heavy
coal carriers, anticipate assurances OF
embargoes, according % officials.
The Lackawanna and Lehigh Valley
railroads reiterated the embargoes
were wholly to facilitate coal.
Fruit and vegetable dealerr here yes
terday expressed confidence shipments
could be arranged over other than en-
barge lines without hardship. Some
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