Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1929-05-26
Fragile Freight Loss
Reduction Is Sought
BY HARDEN COLFAx.

Realizing that all the kings horses
and all his men can not repair broken
egg shell, railroad executive are en-
gagged in tremendous effort to prevent
eggs and other similarly fragile freight
from being broken, damaged, spoiled,
lost or stolen during transit.
The illustration is not extreme. In
1928 railroads of the United States
paid $443, 900 in claims for loss and
damage to egg shipments, and this was
a reduction of nearly 100000 under
the total for the year Immediately pre-
ceding.
with the railroads rapidly moving
to the forefront of the elimination of
the waste campaign which. under
varying subtitles, Is reconstructing in
dustrial methods, members Of the
freight claim division Of the American
Railway Association met in Washing
ton this week to take stock Of progress
in their work and exchange ideas for
future efforts. The just settlement of
claims for losses suffered by freight
shipments has been speeded up to the
greater satisfaction Of shippers and Is
. matter Of routine. What concerns the
claim agents chiefly is prevention Of
claims.
Claims paid by railroads last year
on account Of loss and damage TO
tidy aggregate, reports to this conven-
ton disclosed, but the strides made by
the carriers in reducing this element OF
wasteful cost may be realized by COM
parison with the S119,833 900 paid in
1920 for similar claims. The sum IN
1928 was Sc per cent below that OF
1927, the lowest since 1917, and. despite
almost double the trafic and consid-
erably higher commodity values, only
~ To-
Efficiency Of operation accounts Tor
an important part Of the savings In
freight claims. loss and damage result
ing from delay in shipments being re-
duced last year 20 per cent under
1927. Prompt movement is particu-
larly important in shipments Of fruits.
melons and vegetables. While these
perishables constitute less than per
cent Of total railroad freight tonnage,
they account for 20 per cent Of the
loss and damage total.
Turning attention again TO eggs,
the studies Of the claim agents have
disclosed that improper packing OF cars
has taken q heavy toll. for three fourths
of the egg damage occurred in one.
fourth Of the total carloads. Improved
packing brought about the heavy re-
duction in this loss last year.
The railroad men have learned that
better loading Of freight cars not only
helps greatly IN reducing damage in
transit. but that 1t lowers operating and
investment charges as well. The car
riers today have in service $4,000 fewer
freight cars than they had six years
ago, but the total now in use includes
727o0O new or rebuilt in that period
which have greater capacity ana sta-
bility than their predecessors. and be-
cause Of more prompt loading and ur1-
at terminals these cars are performing
the function OF the greater number, and
doing It better. The prediction vas
made at the convention this week that
b.. 1882 the rail carriers will be trans
porting their share Of the countrys
growing freight traffic with 10000 to
l75,0oo fewer freight cars than they
had at the high point Of ownership,
Not only from the humanitarian
standpoint, but from that OF economies
the railroads are striving to cut down
the accident record also. Millions OF
dollars are being expended annually TO
Improve the safety factor at highway
crossings. In 1928 1853 persons lost
their lives in grade crossing accidents
and 1857 were injured. Crossing acc1-
dents increased 3 per cent over 1877,
but at the same time motor vehicles IN
use increased per cent. and 1t Is the
automobile which most frequently ng-
ures In such accidents.
Realizing that every penny must De
saved II q proper financial showing Is to
be made, railroad executives are stress
ing efficiency in all lines. Larger locomo.
tives are being built and are operated
on longer subjects, with larger and more
completely loaded cars. The daily aver
age movement of freight cars last year
was 313 miles, an increase Of one mile
over 1927. A further improvement IN
fuel consumption was recorded, estab-
fishing a new wv record-l27 pounds
Of fuel to haG- 1000 tons one mile.