The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1896-06-04
FREIGHT CARS.
Interesting Facts aud Figures Touching
This Equipment.

Interesting Facts and Figures Touching
This Equipment,
In the great retreat Of his private office
enjoying the sultry breezcs as they famed
the heated atmosphere through the win
dow n promincn, railroad official sat yes
terday afternoon slipping ice water and
discussing railroads. past. present and
what might be expected in the future.
with a Post reporter CHANGING out the
window. his eye fcl! upon t. long string
OF freight cars. empty and idle. standing
On the track in the yards This turned
tho subject to railroad equipment and
freight cars in particular, From tho IN
formation impaired by the official the fol
lowing story on the freight car is pre-
scented,
To the average observer Il freight car
Is Il very commonplace affair. and receives
but small share OF his attention, but
Notwithstanding II is, as Barnnm would
say. "one of the greatest things on earth"
II can move nj the rate of sixty miles an
hour, but Is equally ADAPTED TO remain
stationary on a SIDING for weeks AZ a
time l50cp milcs. year Is comm On
record for a freiGh; car 10 travel. ana M
stances occur where cars make as nigh
as a mileage Of N.gp or Gl"e miles -, a
wear The mileage, however. Is probably
not over 1000 miles year, or about
twenty-five miles a day. This is because
the ear stands idle about flye DAYS for
every one !, is in motion The average
life of a freight car. with ordinary wear
and tear and occasional trips TO the mnln
shop for the renewal OF sich parls a.
muv have become defective. ~ IN tho
neis hborhood of eighteen or twenty Years,
hu, there is the possibility OF the ear
being converted into a shhpcnsS mass
before 1, ia twentv-four hours ora, .,
An authority estimates thnt ta"r' hre
M tho mr., sent time owned and ron'ro''ci
by the railroads and private 60, cEr .onipa .
MES of America nearly $500 .srs ~
make two continuous trains rcachils
from I;osion To san Francisco. witn az
engine for ey0ry foriy-ilve cars, ~ ms
total number probably no, oN'' iY''''' a.
In movement day and nisht'
fr,lrht ear Is great money CAREER
So long MS it l. kept on the move ~,
from the time ne ear s' ., il 'u no, nayins
Cor he oil used on its journal - Is
therefore largely upog me manas 2rei =,
controlling Of these lHo"sth ~, ~ roii,oshs
uars d.a NO and the earnings OF the
rnad Win hn directly. proportional 10 'np
manner in which the car ,,',r, nte NJ cars
the moN", ,v nearly 800 different coinna-
~ ~ md as each comrany's cars are py
no means restricted 70 rs no ,he,, cav can no
is something mars scn,nted for, both in
control ,,. a n,p collectively. The methods,
however. by which the irelR dn,,, th' and
counts are kept =, are not difcult for any
acGurasa' 10 have at all times statement
s sh,,Irs the location OF us 'n'''e ''''''
ment. 10 know the whereabouts
II II y 80 car belonging 10 ph,licu'a.
o. Ola q an some specific date, pg aai he IN.
the car aeco ,,, he forthcoming IN about
formation onos WI need be The cpnents ,S %
r 4; sn$ 81 s s5SSsl s' sip rs s@
ing. the tram rse accompanied II on lis
journey.
VICTORIA ITEMS.
Victoria Texas, June s.-Assis.sn' Dup
N'c'o''a' pr,dses and Buildings A.