Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1924-08-15
Western Rails
Best Ever For
Crop Shipments

Chicago, Aug. liza. PO-With
the crop movement under way the
Western Railway Association states
that it's roads are in better shape to
move the traffic than probably ever
before.
Two conditions are enabling them
thus far to handle the crop as fast as
it is offered to them, says Il statement
issued by the Association. On July Is
they had assembled and stored in the
grain loading territory about $4,000
cars fit for grain loading. This is
about 10000 more than they had as
sembled a year before. In addition,
the western roads have about one
third more of their own box cars on
their own lines than they had a year
ago.
The total shipments of grain and
gram products are now exceeding
those of last year. In the week
ended July II the total number of
cHrs loaded was Al $40, an increase of
about $500 cars over the correspond
.-..s week OF last year. In western
territory alone the number of cars of
grain and grain products loaded was
29,4S9. an increase of 2776 cars over
the corresponding week in 1928.
Some of the railways moving grain
from the winter wheat territory are
breaking all previous records.
The farmers produce vast Quanti-
ties of fruits and vegetables which
must be transported in refrigerator
cars. great deal of difficulty has
been experienced in previous years
in handling this kind of traffic be-
cause there has been such a very
great increase in it. The railways
in 1922 moved 439,27S cars of fruit,
444,S79 cars OF vegetables and $780,
SS9 cars of fresh meats, poultry.
eggs and dairy products, a total of
1,205,046 cars of perishable products.
rms business in 1928 was at least
$4,000 cars larger. There were
severe congestionS of refrigerator
cars in many terminals, and in con-
sequence, serious delays in their
movement, largely because of excess
slve detention OF them by shippers
for reconsignment and other reasons.
On April ~. 1923, there was total
of 142,21S refrigerator cars available
and on April 20, 1924, this had in
creased to 1o1,62l. On the latter date
the car builders also had orders tor
1890 refrigerator cars which were
under construction and some of
which have nov been delivered.
In consequence, the supply of cars
available for handling perishables
Will be larger than last year. In
addition, cooperative arrangements
have been made by the railways and
the shippers through the Regional
Advisory Shippers Boards, which it
is believed viii prevent such con-
gestions and delays as occurred last
year. All the larger organizations of
FRUIT and vegetable shippers are par
ties to these arrangements
,'hc unusually good condition the
railways are in to handle the coun-
uy 5 ..opS ls due to several causes,
the statement of the Association con-
tinues. One of these is the extra
ordinary expenditures that were
made last year to put all equipment
In repair. and that have been made
this year to keep it in repair. This
applies to both locomotives and cars.
Another reason is the extraordinary
expenditures that were made by the
railways last year for new equip
ment. A third reason is that the
railways now have better arrange
ments to cooperate among them
selves through the Car Service Di-
vision in the distribution and hand
ling OF cars than they. had before.
Finally, and of great Importance, are
the Regional Advisory Shippers
Boards which have been organized
within the last two years in all parts
of the country These boards which.
as their name implies, are composed
VI shippers of commodities of all
f'nfs. hold regular joint meetings
with the officers of the railways in
tnelr territories at which informa-
ton and suggestions are exchanged
by the two parties regarding the
transportation situation and the
measures that should be adopted by
poth OF them to get the most and
pest possible use from the railway
equipment that is available,