Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-09-05


which need not necessarily all move
through Potomac yards. totaled 1855
cars, or about IL per cent. The totai
Is about 43 per cent of the total
movement into Washington.
SHIPMENTS from Western States to-
tailed 1,747 cars. or about 26 per cent
of the total movement. From East
ern States the movement totaled 2
O33 cars. or about 81 per cent. This
| total is 81 per cent.
Apple Shipments Pointed Out.
Attention is called to the fact that
there is a large movement of apples
to Washington from the Shenandoah
Valley section Of Virginia. which ter
ritory is served directly by the Balti
more and Ohio, which claims that 1t
can. therefore, handle it more expedi-
tiously to Washington than any other
railroad.
Particular attention is called to the
fact that the Baltimore and Ohio has
larger mileage than any other rail-
road in the State Of West Virginia,
which is likewise a large apple-pro-
ducing territory, growing rapidly In
volume from year 70 year.
1t can be readily seen. the officials
argue, that the Baltimore and Ohio is
in position to offer much superior
service to Washington from West
Virginia than that Of any other rail-
road entering this district.
Much emphasis has been placed by
the advocates Of the water front or
Potomac terminals site. which is
Pennsylvania Railroad proposition. on
the circuitous route from the Potomac
yards in Virginia to lexington as
against the direct haul to Water
street. It has been claimed that this
was an additional distance Of about %
miles. The Baltimore and Ohio Off
Gals say in reply that the distance
| from Potomac yards to lexington IL
about Is miles greater than the dis
lance from Potomac yards to Water
street They compute this mileage
from tariff on file with the Interstate
Commerce Commission. The Balti-
| more and Ohio route In hauling per
| ishables coming into Potomac yards
from the South is passed the Water
street tract by way Of Benning to
Tuxedo. to Alexandria Junction near
| Hyattsville and then back into the
New York avenue yards at lexington
place. BY this routing the Baltimore
and Ohio figures that on the largest
possible movement through Potomac
yards Of 2.s44 cars to lexington they
| would have 5l.192 car miles longer
| haul than would he necessary to
Water street.
Other CircuitOus ROutings.
But to offset this they call attention
to other circuitous rOutings involved
in handling Washington's perishable
| shipments. Those from States west
Of the Mississippi River must move
by way Of St Louis or Chicago. On
all this produce from the West and
the Southwest the Baltimore and Ohio
claims a decided advantage because
Washington Is on the main line of the
Baltimore and Ohio. and these perish
ables come In over the Metropolitan
branch through Rockville and Ken
sington, while Washington is on
branch line of the Pennsylvania Rail
road, as the main line runs through
Harrisburg. and pershables must
swing from Harrisburg to Baltimore
and then back to Washington.
From St. Louis to Washington the
mileage via the Pennsylvania is 9S5:
via the Baltimore and Ohio. S9l-a
difference in favor of the Baltimore
and Ohio Of "a miles.
From Chicago to Washington the
distance via the Pennsylvania is $40
miles. via the Baltimore and Ohio, 7S2
miles--a difference in favor Of the
Baltimore and Ohio Of So miles.
This difference would apply from all
Western points via the Pennsylvania
as compared with Baltimore and Ohio
mileage.
Making a conservative calculation.
the lesser difference Of So miles may
be taken as a basis.
In 1925 there were 1,747 cars from
Western States. which at IS additional
miles per car would give l0l.326
greater car mileage via the Pennsyl-
vania to Washington on these ship
ments a g compared with the Baltimore
and Ohio mileage.
Therefore. in handling fruits and
vegetables into Washington, figuring
that the haul from Eastern States
would be the same as via both lines,
the following results are shown:
Greater mileage from Potomac
Yards to lexington via Baltimore and
Ohio compared with Water street via
Pennsylva mia. 51,192 car miles.
Greater mileage from the West via
Pennsylvania than via Baltimore and
Ohio, 101 1926 car miles.
Which would make lower mileage
| in favor of the Baltimore and Ohio on
the total perishable business into
Washington Of 50.134 car miles.
Further Claims.
The Baltimore and Ohio claims an
advantage also in the direct haul on
produce from the North through
Baltimore through Laurel and Hyatts-
VILE. directly into the New York ave-
! nue. yards.
The Baltimore and Ohio spokesman
also meets the objection that extra
icing would be necessary at Potomac
Yards during the Summer season on
shipments of perishable food products
| for delivery at lexington. and that
| this would increase the cost Of the
produce. They say that this state.
ment was probably based on misin-
! formation and that the fact is that
when q car arrives at Potomac Yards
! it Is inspected, and II reicing is nee
essary, it Is reiced. regardless Of
street or lexington, and there is no
additional charge made against the
shipper or consignee. The arrange
ment on icing Is that the shipper pays
the cost Of icing from point Of ship
ment to destination.
The bugaboo of the Loughborough
Belt Line, which has been revived by
advocates Of the South Washington
site who claimed that use Of the Eek
ington area as wholesale center
| would bring this belt line into opera
ton. and which provoked an editorial
Of warning in the City Club Tribune.
is definitely laid at rest by the Balti-
more and Ohio officials. who say that
there is no connection whatever be.
tween these two propositions.
Distances About Equal.
They say the Baltimore & Ohio
haul from Potomac Yards to Ecking-
ton by way Of the proposed belt line
would be about equal to the haul by
way Of the present route.