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THE
fflJJIC TIRADE
VOL. XLIV. No. 1 4 . Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 1 Madison Ave., New York, April 6, 1907
i
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CONGESTION OF FREIGHT A SERIOUS MATTER.
L. M. IDE CELEBRATES
Interests of Manufacturers Greatly Hurt by the Inability to Get the Proper Freight Service—
Prominent Railroad Official Admits the Corn and Says It Is Due Entirely to Lack of
Terminal Facilities in New York—The Chamber of Commerce or the New York Board of
Trade Should Take This Matter Up—Leading Piano Manufacturer Gives His Views on the
Situation—New Outlet Wanted for the Freight Continually Arriving.
His
Forty-Seventh
Birthday
With
Judge
Whelan, Who Was Born on the Same Day.
(Special to The Review.)
Detroit, Mich., March 30, 1907.
L. M. Ide, vice-president of the Laffargue Co.,
The present congestion of loaded freight cars the better off will be every manufacturer in New of New York, and ex-Justice John B. Whelan,
at the terminals in New Jersey has become such York City. I have got tired of sending out of this city, discovered several years ago that
a serious menace to the manufacturers in this tracers for backs and plates that were shipped they were born in the same year and the same
city who have raw material in transit that they weeks before, only to nnd they were tied up with
day, in the State of Michigan, and ever since
are averse to making any promises for the de- hundreds of other cars somewhere in the net-
making that discovery they have celebrated the
livery of their manufactured products. This con- work of tracks at the Jersey City terminals.
anniversary together. Tuesday these men were
gestion is entirely due to the lack of terminal We cannot get at the car with a truck, and have
47 years of age, and a portion of the day's cele-
facilities in New York City for the unloading-of
to wait until, by a stroke of good luck, it gets bration included a billiard contest at Sweeney's,
freight cars, and the tremendous influx of freight into some New York terminal. Our only salva-
coming in from distant points and being shunted tion is to place our orders so far ahead that we on Monroe avenue. In the evening a dinner was
on all the available switches prevents the cars can be sure of getting them when needed. But given for the families in the home of Judge
now in the yards from being taken out. One even then, by some perversity, the car is liable Whelan, 286 Merrick avenue.
case was cited to The Review of where five car- to come through quick, and our warerooms be-
loads of lumber have been tied up in this man- come congested. I wish that every Board of
PLENTY OF MONEY TO BUY PIANOS.
ner for seven weeks and to all appearances it Trade connected with the various manufactur-
will require as much more time to extricate ing industries would take this matter up at once Great Increase in Savings Bank Deposits in
them. As perishable and "rush" stocks are given with either of the bodies I have mentioned and
Chicago Show That There Is Plenty of Money
preference, such consignments as lumber and with the railroad companies, and try to find some
for Luxuries and Pianos in Particular.
hardware, particularly carload lots of raw ma- means to make a new outlet for the frei-ght con-
terial are placed on switches and sidings in the tinually arriving. I am sure it would help us
(Special to The Review.)
terminals, and remain there indefinitely.
in two ways—give us our supplies promptly and
Review Office, 196 Wabash Avenue,
A prominent official in one of the railroads furnish us with empty cars for our outgoing
Chicago, 111., April 2, 1907.
shipments."
handling the through traffic said to The Review:
In the editorial department of The Review last
"There is no use in trying to disguise the fact
In connection with this matter a large lumber week extended reference was made to the wealth
that every freight carrying road has a bad case and veneer dealer said: "I am promising a date of New York City as exemplified in the remark-
of paralysis so far as the city terminals are con- for shipment, but when delivery is mentioned able showing made by the deposits in the savings
cerned. There is a certain class of freight that 1 am forced to hedge. Under the existing condi- banks, and the fact that these are the people
must receive a preference, and the discharge of
tions, I make an allowance of at least a month who buy pianos, and that they have the money
this is sufficient to take up every available plat- or six weeks after arrival for delivery, and in to do so. Now, out here in Chicago we are not
form on Manhattan Island and the Bronx. The consequence, have lost several good sales. Just making a bad showing, either—in fact, another
great value of land on the water front precludes now, I agree to ship before a stated date. Then high mark has been set in savings deposits in
the purchase of sufficient piers to unload tha I throw the burden of delivery on the carriers. this city. They aggregate $158,991,128 in forty-
floats that would be necessary to bring in the J am only too glad to get goods consigned to me two banks, an increase of $2,969,642, or 1.26 per
cars as fast as they arrived. When the number a month after shipment, and lately it has taken cent., in the past two months. There has also
of freight cars, running as it does far up in the from eight to ten weeks after a car was loaded been an increase of over $10,000,000 since Sep-
thousands, which come in daily are taken into before it gets in my warerooms. I have re- tember, 1906, and a gain of $30,000,000 since May,
consideration, and the limited space available for quested the Lumber Dealers' Board of Trade to 1905, and of $40,000,000 compared with Septem-
tneir discharge is considered, I am only surprised take up the matter, as it is demoralizing busi- ber 1904.
the congestion is not worse. As the matter now ness."
The figures reflect an exceedingly prosperous
stands, the consignees insist their freight be
condition among the laboring and middle classes,
discharged within a reasonable trucking dis-
who represent the savings depositors of this
tance from its destination. In the downtown dis- TO STIMULATE MILWAUKEE'S TRADE. city, and who are our best buyers of pianos. A
tricts the receipts are always heavy. At the Piano Dealers Join With Other Merchants in significant factor, and that which serves to sub-
same time sufficient empty cars must be always
Support of Special Fare Rebate Plan of
stantiate belief in sound conditions, is to be
kept on hand for outgoing shipments, which
Bringing People to the City.
found in that out of the forty-two banks given,
means an additional handicap. The experiment
thirty-eight show increases in their savings ac-
of discharging freight at the Jersey City termi-
A number of music dealers have joined with counts. This indicates that the ability of people
nals, and giving free transportation to the truck-
to put away money is a general condition all
men was tried several years ago, but the con- merchants in other lines in the fare rebate plan
over the city. Five downtown banks show the
of
the
Greater
Milwaukee
Association,
of
Mil-
signees refused to receive it that way, as it was
largest gains, while there are two in the out-
billed to New York, and it must be delivered waukee, Wis. Out-of-town buyers presenting a
lying districts which compare with the institu-
receipt
for
their
railway
ticket,
and
purchasing
there. I believe that the time must come when
ferry lines for teams only must be run to Jersey $30 worth of goods from some merchant in the tions more centrally located.
City, and discharging depots arranged there, so association, will receive a rebate of the one- Seven banks gained more than $100,000. They
that merchandise can be handled from the cars way fare plus one-third. The purchases may be are given in the following order: First Trust,
on that side. If every pier on tne North River divided among several merchants belonging to $659,489; Hibernian, $464,556; Illinois Trust,
was devoted to the incoming freight it wovilrl the association, each of whom will give a receipt $226,895; Union Stock Yards Trust, $215,292;
for the amount purchased from him. It is ex- Kaspar State, $212,196; Security Bank, $149,611;
be no more than adequate.
pected the scheme will greatly increase the re- State Bank, $111,966.
"I think that this matter is one which should tail business of Milwaukee. The piano firms
receive the careful attention of the Chamber of interested in the association are the J. B. Brad-
H. F. Rayner, Knabe ambassador, will in fu-
Commerce or the New York Board of Trade," ford Piano Co., Edmund Gram, Ross, Schefft & ture make his home in New York, having sold
said a prominent piano manufacturer, "and the Weinman Piano Co., F. G. Smith Piano Co., and his house in Cleveland and moved his effects to
gponer some steps are taken in that direction McGreal Bros.
this city.