The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-10-09
Yellow Trail of Broken Shells
in Kansas.
Railroads Say Transportation
Does Not Pay Well.
BIG LOSSES ON THE SANTA FE
In Last Year Company Paid
Out Nearly $4,000.
Annual Egg Production II
Kansas, S1,es9,sO4 Dozen.

The waste OF eggs in the United
States is heavy and getting to a seri-
Gus tsate, according to figures OBJ
tanned from various official sources
and compiled by H. r. Lake Of To-
peka. chief clerk to r.. ]. Parker, gen.
eral superintendent of the Santa Fe.
In connection with the huge loss in
the breakage of eggs between the pro-
ducer and consumer, Mr.. Lake has
prepared the following statement,
which is of interest to everybody and
points out what such losses mean to
the people: et
Think Of the great loss in eggs be-
tween the producer and consumer and
what that means to the people of
Kansas. which state feels Justly proud
of her egg production, producing as
1t does nearly 20 per cent of all the
eggs produced in the United States.
The figures for 1909, the last 1 have
available separated from poultry, be-
ing 81, 659, 304 dozen, or nearly one
billion eggs. which is $50 eggs or 4S.3
dozen per capita, whereas the egg
production of the United States is 2O7
eggs or 17.3 dozen per capita. So seri-
GUS, indeed, has the waste of eggs
become between the producer and the
consumer. that the United States de-
partment OF agriculture, through it's
food research labratory bureau Of
chemistry. In charge Of DR.. Mary E.
Pennington, in conjunction with the
National Poultry, Butter and Egg as
ISOLATION and the General Managers
Association Ct Railroads Of Chicago,
making special study of eggs from
the time they are laid by the hen, yes,
ineed. before they are laid, until they
reach the consumer.
In connection with the experiments
OF the United States department Of ag-
riculture. the Chicago Daily News in
its issue of June 16. 1913, said:
Trail OF Broken Eggs.
The yellow trail OF broken eggs
that annually marks the path of the
transportation lines will be wiped out
or considerably diminished IL ship
ping experiments being made by de-
partment of agriculture experts are
successful. The losses in eggs broken in
transit from the farm to the centers
of population each year amount into
millions of dollars. The tests being
some safer method of packing the
fruit of the hen industry"
They go on to quote from the de-
partment, saying: - <
1.-THE situation is growing acute, be-
cause the railroads are cl1iming that
their damage losses are such as to
| make the carrying Of eggs an unprof-
table commercial proposition"
Egg Production, United States, 1909.
United States, 1,591,311,371: Mis-
souri,. III .S16,693; Iowa, 1O9,76O.4S7;
: Ohio. 100. 500: Illinois, 1oo,11s.-
AIS; Kansas, S1,659,3O4; Indiana,
SO,755,437; Texas, 77,845,O47; Penn
sylvania, 74.729.705; New York, a.
349,034; Michigan. 59,915,851.
The Santa Fe railroad during the
year ending June, 1914, paid out in
loss and damage claims on eggs, $13,-
164.93, which was only $345.15 less
than was paid the previous year. No
matter how well a car of eggs may be
slowed or how carefully the railroads
may handle a car of eggs, this loss
of population each year amount to
appreciate extent until the packers
and shippers of eggs do their part.