Customs seizure of rolling stock.

The biggest seizure ever made by the Customs Department, involving 18 locomotives & 1,000 box cars, was recently made public. The rolling stock belongs to the Canada Atlantic, & O. A. & P. S. Rys. The seizures were made on 2 different occasions. The 1st was on Dec. 14, 1897, when 5 engines & 500 freight cars were seized for alleged non-payment of duty. The freight cars were marked V. & P. L., & the whole are valued in the customs books at $350,000. The other seizure was made in July, 1897, of 13 engines & 500 freight cars, marked Canada Atlantic Ry., via Central Vermont Ry. The last seizure is entered as worth $400,000, thus making the enormous total of $750,000. The seizure was made for alleged non-entry of the engines & cars upon their arrival in Canada. The Customs Department requires that all new cars entering the country must be reported to the Customs Department. The official of the railways mentioned have had several interviews with the Commissioner of Customs, regarding the disposition of the cars, but so far, it is said, a decision has not been given. It was asserted by the railway officials that the cars were for international traffic. The Customs Department is, however, in possession of a copy of the following order, issued by General Superintendent Donaldson of the Booth lines, Aug. 4, 1898:

Order no. 619. Circular to all agents.—V. & P. L. cars from now on must not be loaded of the C.A. They must used entirely between the elevators at Depot Harbor & Coteau. Agents will, for the present, be guided by this order.

Most of the cars have been released & are now in use, but the seizures are still in effect. It is said the railway companies claim that they have acted within their rights, there being a clause in their charters authorizing them to borrow or rent cars. This they claim to have done, the clause not specifying that the railway from whom they rent shall be a Canadian Railway.

Railways: C.A.Ry., C.V.Ry., O.A. & P.S.Ry.

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