THE SUNDAY OREGOXIAX, PORTLAND. DECEMBER 21, 1910.
JOBBERS CRITICISE
U. S. RAIL CONTROL
Rea
in
e Jrina
or
usy
Handling of Freight Cars De
clared Inefficient.
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday then comes Christmas. There is much gift buying yet to be done and The Owl Drug
Stores have made the necessary preparations to take care of the crowds. There are still ample quantities of practical gift
articles from which you may select. It will be to your advantage to come Monday if possible.
DELAYS AROUSE DEALERS;
14
,!. II
Present Service Regarded . as Be
low Old Standard and Detri
mental to Business Houses.
When a car of foodstuffs dallies a
month on a trip that should occupy
not more than a week, when "tracers"
fail even to gain touch with the van
ished goods, and when the same oc
currence transpires again and again
with monotonous and coally regular
ity, then do the wholesalers and
jobbers arise to wish back the good ,
old days before the railroads passea
into the hands of the government.
Portland wholesalers, taking it by
and large, are far from content with
the status of the railroads under their
present management, and draw in
vidious comparisons between the
present and the past. A summary of
the charges they make, basing them
upon experiences said to be common
throughout the period of government
control, comprises the following
statements:
Car Service Slnckena.
That car service has slackened to
not more than 40 per cent of the nor
mal supply.
That periods of shipment have in
ordinately lengthened.
That "tracers" fail to find cars of
goods, which are frequently lost from
the ken of the wholesaler for weeks
at a time.
That cars arriving at Brooklyn
yards, on the east side, are almost
uniformly held until the following
clay, before they are delivered to the
terminal company.
That strings of empty cars fre
quently stand on the private spurs
and sidings of wholesale concerns,
with no attempt made to get them
immediately back into service.
That any actual shortage of cars
has been fostered by the government
policy of refusing to build additional
cars each year, on a normal pro
gramme, and by generally failing to
keep up the equipment at standard.
"Double Loading" Opposed. .
That "double loading," an econom
ical measure placed in effect by the
administration, often causes pro
longed delay and considerable loss.
That the policy of the railroad ad
ministration appears to be that of
"passing the buck" to the shipper
with regard to service improvement,
rather than formulating a general
remedy.
And that a general slackening in
personal attention to duty and the
convenience of the shipper is mani
fest among trainmen.
Five of the largest wholesale deal
ers in Portland, whose consignments
cross the continent, were interviewed
concerning their opinions of the
quality of freight service at present,
as compared with that before the fed
eral control of railroads was estab
lished. In each instance the traffic
managers voiced specific complaints,
requesting, however, that their state
ments be not referred to in quotation.
On minor points all did not' agree.
Some were more dissatisfied than
others but the general consensus of
opinion was that freight servtce at
present is a signal failure.
Railroad Blame Shortage.
"It is almost impossible nowadays
to get a 'set-in' to load with stuff,"
said one traffic manager. "The rail
roads say it is because they haven't
the equipment. We used to get three
switches a day, that Is, new cars were
delivered and filled ones taken away
with that frequency. Now we get one.
Cars that are unloaded on our track
are left here until the following day
instead of being switched out to aid
in stemming the shortage elsewhere.
"The supply of cars at present, as
we find it, is not more than 40 per
cent of normal. Service has deteri
orated in like degree. We used to get
service out of San Francisco in from
four to five days. Now the goods
take from 10 to IS days in reaching
Portland.
"Double-loading was advanced by
the administration as a measure of
economy. Shippers were willing to
co-operate. Double-loading means
that a car 'Consigned to us, for exam
ple, and not completely filled, shall
receive the remainder of its capacity
load In consignment to another firm,
perhaps in Portland,, perhaps else
where. We have had such shipments
held at Klamath Falls, when en route
from San Francisco, for long periods,
though the Klamath Falls house has
removed its share of the consignment.
Delayed Shipment Cited.
"Shipments from the south used to
arrive in Brooklyn yards at 3 o'clock
in the morning, and were at our
warehouse before 8 o'clock. The ear
liest we ever receive them now is the
second morning after arrival. The ter
minal company advised Brooklyn that
it cannot receive the cars and that
they must be held. They say they
are short of equipment.
"Transcontinental shipments used
to take from 15 to 18 days. We can
not figure now on less than 30 to 40
days. A car of canned goods shipped
by us to New York was 39 days on
the road, and took 14 days to cover
the last ISO miles. Nor was this car
double -loaded.
"A car of sugar from Santa Bar
bara. Cal., was three days in making
the first 60 miles, and arrived in San
Francisco two days afterward, where
it should have arrived in a single day.
Slow Switching: Dlacussed.
"The administration continually
harps upon the co-operation ot the
shipper. But when we get the cars
unloaded they don't get them out
promptly. On our siding in a single
typical day, at noori, I counted 20
extra cars ready for service if they
had been elsewhere. They were not
switched out until the following day.
To operate a switch engine costs $15
an hour. Two hours would have suf
ficed to move these cars. Yet 20 cars.
in the alleged interests of economy,
were idle for two days to eave an ex
penditure of $30.
"If the same service -were given
now, the service that was In vogue
before the war, with cars placed
promptly and with arrivals at the
warehouse seven days out of San
Francisco, I am confident that fully
4 0 per cent more cars would be avail
able.
Carelessness la Charged.
"There is also a noticeable slacken
ing in personal application to duty
among trainmen. They know that
under the railroad administration they
cannot lose their Jobs, and in conse
quence have grown' careless and to
some extent inefficient. I believe
that this has a great deal to do with
the delays.
A story of "tracers" that failed to
trace was told by another traffic
manager of a wholesale company, who
said that this particular phase of the
trouble was their most frequent in
convenience.
"We are constantly having- trouble
Give a Pair of Shoes
or Slippers
from the Quality Store
The prestige of quality goes with Rosenthal
footwear. You could make no better or more
sensible gift. .
If you are not certain of the size
buy one of our. Merchandise Orders.
Boyden's and Banister's Shoes for Men
Laird-Schober Shoes for Women
New Silver Slippers
Complete Lines of Laird-Schober New
Oxfords and Pumps
Men's and Women's Over-Gaiters
Tweedie Boot-Tops in Latest Shades
A Gift for Mother a Pair of Dr. A. Reed's
Cushion Shoes
We Give S. & H. Trading Stamps
m-iii tMWLiir tm 'i'j.f -1 ;i I' l ---t--- -
HlJil1aaBMMBa-----
129 Tenth Street, Between Washington and Alder
tracing shipments," he said. "Seem
ingly there is no one who can keep
track of the consignments, and " we
cannot tell when they will arrive. In
a number of cases we have had sugar
shipments from San Francisco, that
should have reached here in seven
days, delayed for two weeks and
longer without a word of theiv loca
tion. We would be told, occasionally.
that the cars had passed Ashland.
From that point they should reach
Portland in 36 hours. Several times
they have taken four or five days to
make' the trip, nor could we locate
them on the way.
"I don't know what the trouble
was. The railroad officials who were
attempting to trace them worked
hard, but couldn't get co-operation or
results. It was funny at times, for
often we have been called by tele
phone and told that the car was lo
cated, when we already were unload
ing it."
A number of wholesalers and other
large concerns whose freight traffic
is heavy appeared to give private
sanction to the complaints gleaned
from their commercial colleagues,
but shied when asked to discuss the
matter from the angle of their own
affairs, and asked that the question
ing be discontinued as of no avail.
Still and AVliUky Seized.
ABERDEEN, Wash., Dec. 20. (Spe
cial.) Five gallons of moonshine
whisky, 100 gallons of raisin mash
and about half a ton of raisins were
seized yesterday from a shack about
14 miles Up the Wishkah river from
Aberdeen, by Deputy Sheriff McBride.
Two men, John Grublch and John
Selig. were arrested. The still was in
operation at the time of seizure, it is
stated, and about two quarts of the
finished product were taken running
from the still.
Compensation Laws Topic.
William A. Marshall, chairman of
the state industrial accident com
mission, will be the speaker this
evening at Everyman's club, 243 Couch
street. He will explain provisions of
the workmen's compensation laws.
Violin and piano numbers are prom
ised, and motion pictures will be
shown as a part of the programme
tonight.
" ISA
J virvi xt Aire J
requisite teatxtyor
iKe rumd-'parnlecl minia
true coimfc-"
e.rpart in tlx e superb Steger
Miniature GtatuI.
T
S . It is &
perfect grand or delight-
fully .small Aesigtx for
. modern artistic apartment? '
Pi
I ictur
to do it
tures And words tail
to do injustice.
"ou must
see it 'hear
tone. Trtert you will find
. i . i. ri s
it indispensable lor vour
music room.
vweruenf term
Factory
Distributors
SOMNPMN0C0.
Ill Fourth St
atVashinAtoa
-
.vor
Ebony
Brushes
Real ebony back
brushes should be
classed with gifts
combining elegance
and service. They
are not plentiful in
the open market but
we can offer you
Hair Brushes
1.25 to 8.50
Military Brushes
$3.00 to 10.00 pr.
Hat Brushes
1.00 to 1.50
Clothes Brushes
1.50 to 4.50
Half-pint Thermos Bottles (nickel)
Pint Thermos Bottles ...
Quart Thermos Bottles ...
Thermos Lunch Kits ...
Thermos Carrying Ose . . .
Sterno Stoves
another practical gift suggestion. Good for
emergency use in the home and ideal for those
who travel. The prominent prices are 65c, 1.25
and 1.50. The latter is illustrated. The stew
pan handle is detachable and the stand folds flat,
making a small package for packing.
IVORY PY-RA-LIN is the preferred gift of thousands and thousands of women. Some
have partially complete sets, some have not yet started to acquire a set. A little careful
questioning and investigation will develop the necessary information. At least fairly complete
assortments are ready for delayed buyers in all Owl Drug Stores. Come as early as possible.
"Say It With Perfumes
It is said that flowers express the sentiment of friendship
and they unquestionably do. Why not send the condensed
odors of the flowers? They last longer and certainly mean
more in actual service.
In The Owl Drug Stores you will find splendid assortments
which include such well known quality names as:
Colgate's
Hudnut's
Mirim&i Lily
Djer-Kiss
Houbigant's
Pinaud't
Piver't
Violet's
Mary Qetrden
Palmer's
Roger's Flower Drops
Chinwah
Vemice
heme
Red Feather
Jieky
Vivandou
Toilet Sets
Combinations of
Perfume, Toilet
Water, Face Pow
der, Rouge, Tal
cum, Sachet and
Soap in handsome
boxes. They are pre
pared by some of
the most famous
perfumers and toi
let article manufac
turers in the world.
Kodaks
Why not give a
Kodak the gift of
extraordinary edu
cation and pleasure
value? Eastman
products are fea
tured. Albums
Selection will be
easy. Prices range
from 25c up to 5
most of them with
loose-leaf binding.
B Thermos Bottles
is and Lunch Kits, too can be enjoyed by the whole family
Is J fr an indefinite period of time.
. . . . 3.25
. 2.50 to 3.75
. 4.00 to 5.75
. 4.00 and 6.00 '
. 2.00 to 3.25
Fine
STATIONERY in handsome boxes is an ideal gift for a lady they all use more or less
of it. Every Owl Drug Store is well supplied with special gift boxes. The prices start at
69c and range up to 7.50. Some are combinations of note paper and correspondence cards.
Correspondence Cards
Handsome boxes containing 24 cards and 24 envelopes sell at
popular prices from 35c to 1.00. The higher grades have gold
edges.
Waterman Fountain Pens
If you intend to give a pen, why not give the best? The Water
man has stood the test of years. Buy a Waterman in an Owl
Drug Store and get full advantage of the exchange service.
Eversharp Pencils
The most popular pencil that has ever been offered for sale. Well
named "Eversharp" for it is always in that condition. The prices
range from 1.00 up to 5.00.
SAFETY RAZORS are unquestionably the most popular of all gift articles that are sug
gested for men. A good "safety" will be appreciated every morning of many years to come.
The 1.00 Razors We have them all: The Gm, The Durham
Duplex, the Eveready, the Keen Kutter and the Enders.
Gillette Razors 5.00 to 10.00 Special Gift Sets.
AutoStrop Razors 5.0O to 10.00 Handsomely boxed.
Stroppers for Safety Blades 2.00 to 5.00 The Twinplex
Stropper for Gillette blades is illustrated above.
Inexpensive Watches
Most any man would appreciate an
inexpensive watch to take the place
of his high-priced one on outing
trips. Prices range from 2.25 to
5.00. The latter is the special util
ity wrist watch.
Flashlights
Auto owners, campers, hunters in fact all men like to
have a Daylo Flashlight to' use in emergencies. You will
find all Owl Drug Stores well supplied. Besides the nov
elties like the Penlite (at 1.00) we have the regulation
lights from 1.55 to 3.25 with battery.
Hot Water
Bottles
They belong at the
top of the list of
practical gifts. We
carry nothing but
the best grades.
Rubber
(Seamless)
1.00 to 3.00
Flannelette Covers
for rubber bottles
Metal
2.00 to 3.00
QotK Covers included
Lea
t
T
1 ' U!
LEATHER GOODS of quality always appeal to men, and such you will find in good
variety in The. Owl Drug Stores. Coin Purses, Bill Folds, Card Cases, Combination Cases,
Photo and Card Cases, Hip Books, Money Belts, etc. The prices range from 50c up.
Roll-
1
tips
Rca.usjAT.oK
mm
BROADWAY AND WASHINGTON
Mail Orders Given Prompt Attention
Tourist Cases in cretonne or silk
1.00 to 3.50. "Fitall" cases from
1 .00 to 5 .oo.That's the assortment
story in a price nutshell. If anyone
on your list is a traveler, consider
roll-ups seriously.
THE OREGONIAN ANNUAL
OUT JANUARY FIRST
More than 100 pages. Single copies 10 cents; postage 7 cents in the United States
foreign, 14 cents.