Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1907-12-21
ON BULK SHIPMENTS.

Is meeting with dlsapproval by Shlpp-
ers. Alexander Baillie if Balfour,
Guthrie and Co., in an interview ex-
presses a negative opinion as to the
practibility of this plan.
GAS long as we have such long
distance to carry our grain, said Mr..
Baillie, "the shipment of wheat in
bulk is practically out of the question.
1t can be done from Atlantic ports.
where the haul is 5000 or 1000 miles.
but from the Pacific. where wheat for
European markets is carried about 15,-
900 miles, it is a different proposition.
1T is only bringing w what has
been threshed out in the past. If
steamers were expected to carry wheat
in bulk they would demand much high
er freights. Steamers are not built
which are designed for the grain trade
from Pacific ports alone, and conse-
uuently. in order to carry our product
in bulk, to keep the cargoes from
shifting, bulkheads and tight bins
would have to be constructed. Higher
freights would rule and it would be
difficult to engage tonnage. Insur-
ance would be more difficult on account
of the length of the voyage and the
added danger of carrying the cargo in
bulk. NJ
"From Atlantic ports much of the
grain is shipped in bulk. but even
from the River Platte ports two thirds
of the grain is shipped in sacks, and
from Australian ports it is all carried
in saks. ~
81 believe the millers would be less
against this plan than the wheat ex-
porters.
eff the grain were brought here in
bulk and sacked before shipment by
water, it would not save the farmers
anything. In afct, it would be more
expensive, as labor at tidewater is
higher than at the places where the
grain is now sacked. 1t would only be
counted in with the price of wheat, did
the sacking expense fall on the ex-
porter. | cannot see where the plan
would be feasible one. 3"
The state railway commission last
week took up the proposal and in a
call for a meeting of shippers and rail-
road men which was held before the
commission at the Tacoma hotel on
Saturday presented the advantages of
the bulk method in much the same
manner as they have been previously
urged by the grain commissioners.
At this hearing were present, in ad-
dition to representative shippers,
Henry Blakely, western freight agent
of the Northern Pacific. and M. J.
Costello, assistant traffic manager of
the Great Northern, as we'll as three
members of the railway commission.
Commissioner Lawrence presented
the attitude of the commission toward
the experiment, as follows:
"We realize that the plan to handle
wheat in bulk cannot be accomplished
in day. The time has come for a
beginning. and after an understanding
is reached with the mills and railways,
I believe that sacks can be done away
with to a certain extent. Bins will,
of course, have to be erected in East
ern Washington, and for one-half of
the amount of money expended this
year for sacks the farmers can build
enough portable bins to last them ten
years. Something like 1900, 900 was
expended for gunnies this year, and in
ten years the farmers would save in
bags alone $500, 900, 900, less the initial
cost of the bins.
''The present method of handling
wheat has so delayed the unloading
of cars as to cripple and limit the item
of transportation to about half what it
should be. The railroad commission