The St. Mary banner., 1908-01-18
railroads
SYSTEM
OF
CROP
REPORTS.
OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
f,v ROADS FOLLOW GROWTH
..reaEALS As CLOSELY AS
10 GOVERNMENT
BUREAUS.
u.,s Facts Are Gathered.

rsuls rather than OF predictions
,liue the probable outcome of the
lat d the cOuntry's farmers. This
Y :. not only Of the reports issued
nh a, government bureaus. but as
y Il the reports privately com
! sor the information of the man,
!, u,cts of the great railroad sys.
= vhich must needs keep in touch
2 the course Of events in the agri-
nj districts in order to be pre-
: for the traffic supplied by these
~ ids as well as to be informed
,cl riding the general course Of busi-
vhich is so closely connected
uc the outcome OF the crops. Quite
q ntly these railroad reports on the
" dtions OF the crops were brought
nineptly before the public owing
he mart which the crop reports OF
= Illjnois Central played in the con-
|ersy between the present manage
Of that road and former Presi-
Stuyvesant Fish.
na reports which the Illinois Cen
SUPPLIES to its directors cores
led closely to the crop reports
Darel by many Of the other large
!, eus. Naturally 1t is the weston
Dads which pay most attention to
crops, for they are more direct
ependent upon the outcome Of the
than are the railroads in the
bads like the St. Paul. the Atchi.
the Great Northern and to a
Ter or lesser extent all the rail.
b which serve the agricultural
ktts, keep close watch on the
ing, the growth and the harvest
a the crops. These reports are
sfed very much as are the gov.
! lent reports, the local agents Of
I nilroads taking the place of the
representatives Of the Depart.
I / Of Agriculture. These reports
gathered by the Division Super
adents and in turn transmitted to
headquarters Of the railroads,
fe they are scanned carefully for
Light they throw on the probable
ENDS Of each section for equip
7 to handle the output of cereals
!, sther staples and on the general
pects Of the business OF the rail-
: lese crop reports thus serve a
practical purpose IN the opera
OF railroad. If it is seen that
crop Of wheat or corn or some
e product promises to be especial
eountiful in some particular Sec
me omcers Of the railroads lay
plans accordingly and look
. 70 supplying to each section,
ne time for moving the crops
~ the equipment which may be
med. II the general crop outlook
NE line Of any railroad is very
- equipment is frequently or
h . view to keeping the road
Wepared to handle this tra4flc.
ae crop prospects are bad orders
- equipment are likely to be
sova to q minimum.
.1 y true OF the reports on the
= crops is true in a more limited
= o. many other reports which
Uce'ved by the railroads. The
sAich have a large traffic in
aa'e to keep very close watch
size Of the crops. In the
iruit, In fact, adequate equip
Nlnce is even more important
me case Of cereals and other
- like cotton, which can be
1oned. while fruit would suf-
y oy any delay in shipment.
tput. say. Of berries in any
section varies SO greatly
eae season to another that day
reports are necessary at some
" order to keep the general
OF a road informed Of the
requirements Of each sec
refrigerator cars. in which
d early vegetables are trans
liom the southern States to
!nern markets. or from the
"a fruit farms to the east.
= actual gathering OF these
ue railroads are put to only
s4penses for the reason that
Is done by the ra;!r. no en-
= conjunction with their other
aore, probably. is spent IN
ne these reports, which in
0ses are sent by telegraph.
. actually compiling them.
;. Hill, while president of
Northern. gave much atten-
me gathering Of crop reports.
MS direction the agents nf
at Northern We're trained to
cn Of the course Of the crops
Keep their superiors inprmed
suent intervals. In the early