The News-Herald. [volume] (Hillsboro, Highland Co., Ohio) 1886-1973, 1904-11-24
MOVEMENT OF CROPS.
~ IT RAILROADS WILL DERIVE
IMMENsE REVENUE.
Experts Place Sum at S463, ,644, ,051-'
Total Value OF Farm Products
Grown During 1sC4 Esti-
mated at 20, ,oo6, ,OoV, 900.


For moving the principal crops 'oI
the country grown during 1904, the
railroads VIII receive gross revenue
estimated at S4o3,b44,Uol. This esti
mate Is the result OF careful compila
tion made by the traffic department ol
one OF the largest eastern railroad sys-
TENS, and submitted Tor the considera
ton of men who are influential in Wal
street, and who own either q controll
ing or q substantial interest In many
Of the large railroads east and west
The statistics from which the proba.
BILE revenue to be derived IRON the
crop movement of 1904 is estimated
were compiled after the labor OF hun
dreds of trained experts from all parts
Of the country. The object of the com.
pilation was to inform the railway
magnates regarding the probable In
come of 1905, and the amount of equip
ment and power that will be necessary
to transport the principal agricultural
products of the present year.
In arriving at the estimate Of the
gross revenue, consideration has been
given to the fact that much of the
property will be transported by the
railroads several times In different
forms-that is, to and from the manu-
factories and the general markets.
In arriving at the total value of the
principal crop products the traffic ex-
perts have taken conservative figures
which in almost every case are under
the present market values Of the prod
ucts. The total crop valuation is esti-
mated at $685., 100000. and If all of it
moved It is shown that the crops would
MI 1S,22090S freight cars, which are
now Of an average capacity Of 80 tons.
1t Is also shown that the transporta-
tion tax on the whole amounts to about
eight per cent. of the valuation.
To transport the entire crop of 2.400,-
100000 bushels of corn alone there
would be required a total Of 2.4OO 900
cars. while the estimated production
OF 62,50O,0000 tons of hay would require
1851 ,S1S cars If 1t was all moved at
one time. To transport all of the esti-
mated 60,000.0OO head Of cattle would
require 100000 cars. while the esti-
mated wheat production of $4,000 600
bushels could be carried in 611 100 cars
Not all Of these farm products. how.
ever, Will be moved by the railroads
as great deal Of them are destined
Tor home consumption. 1t is said. for
example, that not more than rs per
cent. OF the various grains will be
moved by the steam roads, probably
only 20 per cent of the hay. 90 per
cent. or the potato crop. 90 per Gers
OF the cattle and 75 per cent. of the
hogs, the production of the latter be-
ing estimated at 47,OO0.00O head.
In arriving at the number of car
loads, based upon this estimate. It is
round that the total cars needed to
move the crops at once would be 5.3ss.. |
lSS. Corn is the largest movement the |
cars estimated being 1900 900, and hay |
comes second with 1,136,363 cars.
. Wheat Is shown to be the third most
fruitful of the farm source OF revenue
10 the railroads, the crop of 1904 be-
ing worth to them at least s4s. .449 100
scin pays the largest transportation !
tax, which this year will amount to
{2o1 10000. Second on the list in the /
emount of transportation tax stands /
hay, which will bring a revenue OF
about $62,499,951, while at the bottom !
OF the list stands rye, which will bring
the roads s2.10O,0O0