The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-27

THE cold storage warehouses In the
East are depots of distribution for West
ern products" says Mr.. Starr. The
natural point of expansion Of cold stor-
age facilities Is at or near the point OF
source Of supply. as Il is the axiom Of
the trade that the sooner the perishable
commodities arc refrigerated. the better
Il is for the produce, This dictates ex-
pansion in the Vest. mainly about Chi
cago.
IN Greater New York and Jersey City
In 1911 there were :l.95s,s00 feet OF
cold storage capacity. This has bee
increased In four ear by $500. 900
cubic feet. and projects now nuder way
will still further Increase this by 9.000.-
900 cubic feet. or almost AS much AS
the growth of four years. This increase
bears no proportion to growth OF popu-
lation or to the natural increase in de.
mand for space"
Mr.. Starr reports that the figures Of
increases in Chicago cannot be given
accurately because OF the policy Of the
meat packers In refusing information
with regard to establishments within
stockyards. The packers have made
large extensions In their cold storage
capacity. however. The plants are re-
ported to have a capacity OF more than
1900, 900 cubic feet. According to the
cold storage blue book in 1911 there
were In Chicago 1880. 900 cubic feet Of
cold storage capacity. The blu book
for 1915 lists 81. 1000, 900 cubic feet for
the same territory. an Increase of 15
per cent. In four years. II Is known
that various large expansions are planned
In Chicago and other Western cities.
Taking into consideration the expan-
sion that has occurred in the West and
also In the East In the last few years."
SAYS Mr.. Starr. there Is a question
whether In normal times there may not
be danger of too great expansion in the
East. II is true that the added capacity
is at present comfortably flled. There
has been IA sudden but temporary jump
in the storage Of meats and other conf
modities Intended for export. because Of
the lack OF shipping facilities. This
bulge in commodities has amounted to
over 800 per cent. In some cases. II II
were not for this. the present warehouse
space al the port Of New York would
be sufficient for several years.
The Increase In capacity should be
regulated to meet the needs Of normal
growth In business. not the incidental
consequences Of disturbed conditions
abroad.
~ am inclined to sound a ote Of
warning and to question whether, II the
nro,ects now announced are carried out.
there will not be eventually a rate war
that will cut the heart out of the busi-
ness. Experience has shown that when
ever an excess of space IL offered ruinous
rates are made.
moreover, the cold storage trade
must take into account the present policy
OF the packers. which IL to build chains
OF refrigerating warehouses;, to which
they consign perishab'e goods that in
the past have gone to public warehouses
and which In some instances compete
with the public warehouses for business.
"Another factor that must he taken
into consideration IL the conversion OF
breweries In localities where they can no
longer operate for The purpose for which
they we're erected into refriEerating
plants. Those breweries are already
equipped with the necessary cold storage
machinery. This IL bound to have q
profound effect on the industry"