Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-01-28
The New Mixed Car Rate

The announcement Of the railroads serving south
western territory that a new and more liberal mixed
car rule will soon be placed in effect covering vegetable
and fruit shipments, establishing the carload rate for
each commodity contained IN the car, is welcomed by
Lower Rio Grande Valley producing and shipping in
t.rests.
In recent years development " the mixed Cat busi-
ness into the smaller markets has been rapid, notwith-
standing the fact the Valley has been handicapped by
q mixed car rate which applied the highest rate for any
commodity in the car as we'll as the highest minimum.
Under the new rule the car can carry a general mix
ture, each commodity u Ne carried AZ the regular COM
modify rate. thereby placing the commodities upon
the same basis as whine shipped in straight cars. The
nsx rule also provides for d 20.0o0-pound minimum,
which is fully as satisfactory to Valley interests As the
new rate.
Acceptance az the new provision for mixed cars AZ
the direct result Of recommendations by the state-vids
rate committee recently created by Texas shippers and
receivers, of which J. +. Blanton, traffic manager for
the Brownsville Chamber OF Commerce, Is a member.
The recommendation q this committed We're presented
10 southwestern carriers hy the Missouri Pacific and
Southern Pacific, and the carriers urged 70 accept t..
Through the combined effort of the committee and the
railroads serving the Valley The new rule was accepted
by all southwestern roads.
While the direc, saving in rates vHl amount 70
100000 70 100000 annually, the major benefit will
be derived through the opening Of new and very profit
able markets. Practically an mixed cars 20 into the
minor markets. markets which cannot handle straight
cars Of the various commodities. The high rate inn
posed under the old rule prevented satisfactory mix
lures for many Of the smaller markets. The new rule
will permit the shippers 20 supply every market with
practically every commodity desired, each commodity
going at its carload rats.
Immediate development Of additional markets is pre-
dicted by the shipping interests q the Valley. They
point out that notwithstanding the handicap w the Oh
rule, mixed car shipments from this section exceeded
5000 last year, these cars going into the smaller towns
and cities. They also predict that this season the to-
tai. which already constitutes over 40 per cent q VAL
ley vegetables shipments, will run close 70 1000 cars,
the new rule giving the small markets which are an
able to handle straight cars Of commodities the same
advantages enjoyed by the larger markets from which
the smaller towns and cities heretofore have been
obliged 20 draw their supplies. The new rule also
makes more liberal provisions for mixtures az fruit and
vegetables, which gives the small markets very liberal
rates, and which will prove an important factor in ere
ating new outlets FOR Valley grapefruit,
The Missouri Pacific and South Pacific have worked
In close cooperation with the statewide committee 10
secure acceptance of the rev rule ny southwestern car
the new rule would eut rates on the individual ship
ment, the increased volume q business that would fol-
lev development n the mixed car trade would more
than compensate for the rate reduction. They realized
that to build up the business q very liberal rate i nee
as a result Of the movement 20 open new market and
ineresse the volume q tonnage noring from tas
section.