BUREAU OF MARKETS. 481 



the service was given in Service and Regulatory Announcements No. 28 

 of the Bureau of Markets. 



The services of the inspectors have been used extensively by the 

 United States Food Administration and its State and local adminis- 

 trators, and by the Army and Navy in connection with the purchase 

 of supplies. The value of the service has been generally recognized 

 by various officials and officers. The certificates issued by inspectors 

 have been used as a basis for the settlement of the damage claims of 

 shippers and receivers. 



This service has had a beneficial effect in speeding up the movement 

 of perishable foodstuffs, because, owing to its operation, it has been 

 possible to release cars more promptly and to prevent a large number 

 of rejections and diversions. Although it is new, and for that reason 

 has not been fully utilized by those to whom it is available, it already 

 has received widespread and cordial indorsement from shippers and 

 receivers, transportation companies, and others interested in the dis- 

 tribution and marketing of farm products. 



MOTOR-TRUCK SERVICE WORK. 



In view of the difficulties which probably will be encountered in 

 important shipping sections during the period of heaviest crop 

 movement, it has seemed desirable to institute an experimental 

 motor-truck service to supplement existing transportation facilities. 

 Because of the difficulty of obtaining experienced men, this work 

 has been confined thus far to New Jersey, western New York, and 

 northern Ohio. A comj)lete survey has been made in each of these 

 districts to ascertain their trucking facilities, and arrangements have 

 been made whereby motor trucks can be placed in producing dis- 

 tricts during periods of heavy crop movement, in order to facilitate 

 the rapid transportation of farm products to market. Lists of 

 available motor trucks are on file in Philadelphia, Buffalo, and 

 Cleveland, and over 200 motor-truck operators have listed their 

 trucks with the bureau's Philadelphia office alone. Trucks have been 

 diverted to producing districts for short periods, but it is not expected 

 that the valuable features of this work will become readily apparent 

 to producers until the heavy crop movement takes place later in the 

 season. This work has developed from the investigational work 

 regarding motor-truck marketing described elsewhere in this report. 

 Like those investigations, it is under the direction of Mr. J. H. Collins. 



COLD-STORAGE REPORTS. 



The cold-storage reports issued by the bureau have been much 

 expanded and now include data for 44 commodities. These reports 

 are issued monthly or oftener and are based on information received 

 from 1,310 cold-storage plants and meat-packing establishments, 

 practically all of those in existence in the United States. The primary 

 commodities now being reported upon are apples, butter, cheese, eggs, 

 fish, lard, meats, and dressed poultry. The authority contained in 

 the food production act has greatly facilitated the department's 

 work in securing these reports. 



