The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1907-08-30
RAILROAD NEWS.
New Minimum Grain Weights
Have Been Fixed.
Rock Island Lines Take Lead in
This Particular.
WILL MEAN MORE CARS
A Ten Per Cent Better Loading
to Be Secured.
Other Items of Interest to
Railway People.
MEAN MORE CARS

Notice has been sent to the shipping
public by the Chicago, Rock Island &
Pacific lines, the ST. Louis, Kansas City
4 Colorado railroad company and the
Chicago, Rock Island & FL Paso railway,
to the effect that in the future the ca
pacity of each car will be marked as to
the minimum weight of grain that they
will carry. These minimums are larger
than have prevailed in times past. 1t
is believed with these minimums in
effect the roads will be able to secure
10 per cent better loading of their equip
ment, which simply means 10 per cent
more cars to offer the public.
A copy of the notice reads as follows:
Attention of the public is called to
the fact that these lines have given legal
notice establishing marked capacity Of
the car as their minimum weight on
grain. The only exceptions to this are
in the case of ear and snap corn, on
which minimum will be the actual
weight when loaded to the full carrying
capacity of the ear, with final minimum
of "A, 900 pounds, and on oats and barley,
on which the minimum is fixed at 10
per cent less than the marked capacity
of the car. Concerning oats, the tariff
further provides that in case cars are
loaded to their full bulk capacity and
agents attention is called to 1T, he Will
make notation on the bill of lading, and
way bill, to that effect, and in such
cases charges will be assessed on basis
of the actual weight of contents, but
not in any case less than 10000 pounds.
After careful check of the move
ment over these lines for given period,
we find that all of our equipment, and
that of our connections which we have
handled, will readily carry these min
imums, and in order to make the most
of the car supply we have determined to
place these minimums in effect and
earnestly desire the cooperation of
the grain trade in making the new rule
a success. 1t being demonstrated that
is only reasonable to ask our patrons to
load them as heavily as they can be
loaded with safety.
IF by placing these minimums in eff
feet we can, by the cooperation of the
grain dealers, secure 10 per cent better
loading of our valuable equipment Ii
simply means 10 per cent more cars to
offer to the public.
The attention of the shippers is call
ed to the fact that the grain line, as
marked in any cars is simply guide
based upon the official weight of the
different grains. Tt is not safe to figure
that grain loaded to the grain line will
necessarily be loaded to the marked ca
pacity Fluctlfati6h IN the weight of
grain may make the load either more
or less. 5e3 - tt.-
care should be taken at elevators
where track scales are not available,
to gauge the load of a car by the num-
Der of bushels put into it, based on the
prevailing weight 5of the grain at the
time of shipment as the fact that car
was loaded to the grain line will not be
sufficient Justification for the waving
of minimum in case the car is loaded
with less than it's marked capacity"