Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1929-09-22
Lower Rio Grande Valley Provides Attractive Setting for Beautiful Homes
new rule ON
MIXED CARS
aids VALLEY
Development Of Small
er Marts to Provide
Outlet For Products
Of Field, Orchard

Development Of the small mar
kets for Lower Rio Grande VALLEY
fruits and vegetables Is expected %
show tremendous growth during the
1880 shipping season as a result
Of the recent action Of the South
western railroads in granting 70
shippers a very equitable rate on
mixed car loadings which may in
clude either various varieties Of
vegetables or fruit and vegetables
combined.
Establishment Of the new mixed
car rule, which will open many
markets to Valley products. was the
direct result of the activities Of the
Missouri Pacific and Southern Pa
cific officials who secured the ac-
~ouiescence of the Southwestern
Freight bureau. representing all
railroads operating in the South
west. and ultimately the acceptance
of southeastern and other roads.
The rule went into effect interstate
early last season. and proved Of ma
terial value in connection with in
translate shipments. but extension
of the rule interstate will open -
Valley shippers practically all the
small markets Of the Southeast and
North.
Development of mixed a ship
ments OF vegetables has been rapid
during recent years. Six years ago
mixed car shipments were less than
4 per cent Of the Valleys total; last
year the mixed cars exceeded 80
per cent of the total rolled from the
Valley. Under the old rule the mix
ed cars carried the highest rate
and the highest minimum Of any
commodity contained therein; the
new rule applies the carload rate
to any commodity. This will make
It possible for shippers TO mix both
high and low rate commodities III
the same car without penalizing
themselves In increased rates. ana
also assures that the saving on the
average mixed carS will run APP
proximately 20 per cent.
Many Small Markets
Throughout the Central West,
Southeast and Northeast there are
innumerable small markets, cities OF
10000 population and less. which
cannot assimilate straight cars OF
any commodity. They can. how
ever, use mixed cars containing sew
eral commodities. and il IS these
markets the new mixed a rule
will open to Valley growers and
shippers. Under the old rule and
rate these smaller markets would
receive their fruit and vegetable
supplies from the large distribution
centers, either by express or freight,
and the rates were often high. The
result was that Valley fruits and
vegetables going into the smaller
markets almost invariably carried q
higher retail price than IN the larg-
er centers, the price often being
prohibitive for the great mass Ct
consumers. Owing to the high ex-
press rates the dealers would order
only limited supplies; their profits
were very meager and there was no
tendency to promote consumption.
With the opening Of the next
shipping season the smaller mar
kets OF the United States will. as
a result Of the new mixed a rule.
be placed on parity with the large
distribution centers. Practically all
cities of 5000 population or over can
use the mixed cars. and 1t is con-
servatively estimated that over 40
per cent Of the Valleys shipments
will move into these markets.
Aid Fruit Distribution
The new mixed car rule. which
permits fruit and vegetable mix
lures, each carrying its commodity
rate in proportion to the volume
contained in the car. will prove es-
pecially valuable 70 the fruit grow
ers Of the Valley. Many Of the
smaller markets now receiving Val
ley vegetables will also receive VAL
lev fruit. and the new rule Is X
pected to prove OF material value
in the distribution of the products
OF the Valley citrus groves. Hereto
fore the majority Of the smaller
markets have been served with fruit
By express shipments either from
the Valley or from distribution
points.
Fruit and vegetable shippers IN
AL sections Of the Valley are max
Eng preparations to take advantage
Of the new rule with the opening
OF the shipping season. They point
out that mixed cars Of vegetables
and fruit will be moving into hun
dreds Of smaller markets, and that
the reduced rate will not only tend
70 give greater distribution 10 VAL
Icy products. but also viii have a
tendency to reduce prices In the
erzS.Ss7 markets and promote con-
ellmption. Arrangements are be-
ing made by a number Of shippers.
who heretofore have handled vege-
tables exclusively, to secure fruit
from the well established packing
houses in order to fill the expect
~ orders for mixed cars OF fruit
and vegetables.
win After Long Fight
The valleys battle for the new
mixed car rule was launched over
two year ago. Missouri Pacific and
Southern Pacific officials taking the
leadership in the effort to gain the
n-couiescence of the southwestern
roads. and it was largely through
che efforts of these carriers that the
nile was finally placed into effect
interstate. The state railroad COM
mission put the rule into effect in
fra-state early last season. but as
tfis affected shipments only 70 the
smaller markets of Texas the oene-
fits were not extensive In compari-