The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1905-06-16
5f55 49,
"COOL CAR TRUST
GETS HARD BLOW
The Rock Island s to Maintain
It's Own Refrigerator
Service.
MEANS MUCH TO FRUIT
GROWERS AND DEALERS
Icing Charges Will Be Reduced
to Actual Cost Michigan
Helped, Also.

Railroads are breaking away from
the private car lines which have made
them so much trouble thru manipulation
of rates.
]. Minneapolis shippers who use refrig-
orator cars are to receive an Immediate
and considerable benefit from the
change.
The first direct information in regard
to this important change comes in the
form of an announcement that the Chi
cago, Rock Island & Pacific has made
a large purchase of refrigerator cars
for transporting fruit from Colorado
and other western points to the twin
cities and eastern points,.
The matter Of most Importance to
the shipper and consumer is the an
nouncement that on this road the icing
charges will be greatly reduced, cut
ting the present prevailing price Of $50
ton, while not making much Of diff
ference on single packages of fruit, will
assist shippers in making a dependable
profit for the entire season.
Where the Saving Comes.
The reduction Of $40 a car will re-
duce the carrying charges on box of
apples about 10 cents. About 6 cents on
box of peaches, and from 3 to cents
make perceptible difference in the
selling price at retail consumers, but
will enable shippers at Colorado points
to market larger amount of their
product, as even this Slight difference
on apples will help to market their stock
as against the many other districts that
have surplus of apples to sell, and
whose freights have favored them
greatly as against the Colorado grow
ers.
The railroads Of the country, es-
pecially where there are competing
routes, are evidently discovering that
these innovations are necessary in or
der to preserve the different fruit
growing industries along their lines.
Growers who find that the carrying
charges are so heavy from their mar
kets that they, are at disadvantage
when looking for an outlet, are quite
likely gradually to work out Of the
business. Some Of the carriers have
already noticed big falling off in the
fruit-shipping business along THEN
lines, and have awakened to the fact
that the interests Of the grower anG
themselves are identical, and are iust
making the first impertant steps te
adjust what they consider p very easy
and a very just matter.
For Michigan Fruit TOO.
The railroads that carry out the
great, apple, peach and grape crops Q:
Michigan are also taking the same step
as the western line, and will this yea
a,operate their own refrigerator cars
! Thew will make icing charges which
will cover, the actual cost. AS Their
are several thousand cars of perishabl
goods shipped out Of Michigan eac!
.t:year, the saving in icing charges will
| appreGate a. big sum. most OF whlc]
will go into the pockets of the growers
4 while the encouragement it will civ
to fruit production in that district vii
increase the number of cars hauled out
and the railroads will be more tina
repaid for the interest shown these i'm
portant factors in their general we
fare.
+ The action of the lines inauguratin
the new system will have an impol
I tant bearing upon the future Of tn
fruit industry: It seems to sound tn
death knell Of the private refrigerato
lines, contamination -devoutly wishe
for by the grower, handler and COZ
sumner of fruits all over the country.