Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1913-05-16
Refrigerator Cars

Refrigerator Cars
A feature OF the apple transporta
ton, which increases It's cost, Is the
character OF the equipment required for
handling 1t; refrigerator car costing
about twice as much as flat car ana
about one-thlrd more than a box car
Box and flat cars are adapted TO the
transportation OF SO many different
products that they are IN use practlc-
ally the year around; on the other
hand the business for which retrlger-
alors are provided and the cars adapt
ed is of such an intermittent character
that they can not be used to anything
like the same full extent. Another dis
advantage OF that class Of cars is that
they are not as promptly returned by
foreign lines as other cars, and this
means that we must provide a larger
number Of retrigerators In proportion
to the tonnage handled than for other
cars, thus requiring larger invest
ment. 10 illustrate: in the period from
December st TO December 3lSt, 1912,
We moved 3o4 refrigerator cars con-
signed to points in New York, Penn
sylvanla, Maryland, and New Jersey;
The average time these cars took for
round trip, counted from the date they
were loaded in the Yakima Valley up
tc the date they were ready to be again
loaded In the Yakima Valley was 70
days, which figures exactly five
round trips per year, but as the bulk
OF The apples have so tar been moved
In the 80 days from October LIST to De-
cember 3lst, it means that at the time
Tie cars are needed, we can only figure
with safety on refrigerator making
one trip, excepting tor few loaded in
the beginning of the season, some of
which get back in time for second
load. Last year the Northern Pacific
purchased loo refrigerator cars, and
has placed orders this year for ll2o
additional. Doubtless most of you
have seen and examined these new
cars, which we believe to be the best
ever constructed.
l have gone into the transportation
question at some length, as | thought
that 1t would be a mistake to encour-
age you to hope for a reduction in this
part of the distribution expense, and
believe upon full investigation you will
IND that this item is the most reason
able OF all the various items that go to
make up the cost of distribution. In
answer to the suggestion that the rail-
roads should help out the industry by
making low rate upon your inferior
apples packed in barrels, my opinion is
that it is impossible to make any rate
that will meet the situation. For IN
stance in the ST. Paul Dispatch OF the
4tn instant appears an advertisement
OF one of the leading retail grocers Of
Ierlng western apples at 90 cents per
box; if the railroad company hauled
These apples for nothing, there Is
question whether, after deductlng the
other distribution expense, including
the retailers profit, there would have
been anything left for the producer
and this is not unusual or extraordl-
nary. | have been watching the situa-
ZION locally in st. Paul for several
months past and there has never been
time when inferior apples, either
eastern or western, could not have been
bought at retail at little more than
The freight charges on the western APP
Pies, corroborating what have already
said, that the poorer varieties and poor