The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1895-01-01
TO MAKE FREIGHT CARS.
4 Large Concern viii start . New In
dustrv In Seattle.

Perhaps the most important Industry
which will follow upon the making CT
iron and steel on Puget Sound will be
that of manufacturing freight and pas
senger ears. The only thing which has
hitherto prevented the establishment ~
such an industry here has been the high
price OF iron here. As is stated IN II. ar
ticle on the iron industries this obstacle
will soon he removed. AMI the company
which has determined TO start an iron ore
smelling plant at Seattle will also estab-
liSh an extensive freight car manufactur-
ing plant In connection with the smelling
plant. These car works will have a ca
pacity III the beginning % - ears a DAY.
which can readily Ire increased to n cars
per day should the business warrant. The
total number OF freight cars on the VAR
Gus railroads in the United States IL about
200. COO. and as the average life .: a
freight car is from eight 10 ten years
l3D.p0 10 lfo.e1 ears per year are required
TO replace those becoming worn out.
The advantages Of the Puget Sogu1
country for the manufacture OF freight
cars are very striking. because of the
a~daptability Of our fir lumber 20 car man
ufacture. II being considered 10y railroad
men and manufacturing experts TO be tn"
best lumber for that purpose in the world
Not only is the lumber better for the pur-
pose than that Of any other region in the
United States. but II Is also very much
cheaper han the lumber of any other
region. This fact has caused Eastern ear
manufacturers 10 ship large Quantities Of
this lumber TO their works In the East
at a cost of 30 cents per Hundred pounds.
and as there are from l0,fs9 To 1"ss
pounds of lumber In a freight car. aecord-
ing to It's size and character. this freight
charge would represent a difference IN
cost between the car made az Seattle and
that in the east Of from so - sisl II
therefore follows hat II the iron and steel
in the car. which amounts to about less
pounds, can he made as CheIply at Seattle
as In the East there viii he an advantage
70 the car builder here over the car hlisld-
or ot tho East OF from 81 10 sieo per car.
according 20 the size Of the ear. Tbs.
alone. represents a good profit.
And when II IS considered that. 0winE
to the preponlcrance Of eastboun1 tor
mage these cars can he delivered in thF
East for nothing. IL viii he seen mat
there IS no doubt whatever that this =
the best point in the United States 10!
the manufacture Of freight ciFs. TITS
prepOnderance of eastbouui tonnage has
been brought about II the past two YEAR
by the rapid development ~ the ShiugiF
ana lumber Industry. ottr shingles having
substantially displaced all other shingles
This Shfngle and lumber tonnage ia ~
large bulk ana iow rate. anil IL i there
Tore "A great burden upon the RAILROADS.
To be Obliged 10 haul empty ears across
the country for the purpose ~ carrying
back this class Of traffic. This ~preTs'fad'
@rance OF ~eaStbound onnage and the very
. n distance which tn" empties have ="
he hauled create an Intermittent ear fam
me. very annoying to the shipper AMI Inc
railroad. This annoyance. would be Iafg"
~ overcome by the manufacture Of cars
At this point and their sale % the middle
states and Atlantic coast roads. and there
delivered to trem loaded with our forest
products The trauscontinental Fos7s
would gladly pay the usual car mileage
for the use OF these cars in this way.