32 C. A. SCHENCK. 



the avowed purpose of meeting the custom tariff of Germany 

 and of France by a reduction of the freight on lumber exported 

 Into these countries. 



On American railways there is no uniform rule whatsoever as 

 to the charges (per 100 miles and 100 lbs.) made for the trans- 

 portation of lumber and of articles taking lumber rates (boxes, 

 paving blocks, pickets, piling, posts, shingles, spoke timber in the 

 rough, cooperage stock, telegraph poles, railroad ties, waggon 

 lumber in the rough). The rate for shipments in car-load lots is 

 invariably reduced. The minimum weight shippel as "a car-load" 

 is 24,000 lbs. (intra-state commerce), or 30,000 lbs., or 34,000 lbs., 

 or 40,000 lbs. The tendency of the railroads is to increase the 

 minimum weight of the "carload." 



The actual freight rates vary per 100 miles and 100 lbs. between 

 172 cents (trans-continental shipments) and 5.8 cents (intra-state 

 shipments). On an average the rates will approximate 3^/2 cents 

 per 100 miles per 100 lbs. Water competitive rates are usually 

 reduced rates. On a number of eastern roads certain species 

 (hemlock, gum, oak, cotton-wood, poplar) bear a lesser rate, 

 the rate being reduced by 1 to 3 cents per 100 lbs. over a given 

 distance. 



Black walnut, cherry, cedar and tropical woods frequently take 

 a rate per 100 lbs. increased by 3 cents over a given distance. 

 The rate of yellow pine is sometimes higher and sometimes lower 

 by 1 to 4 cents per 100 lbs. over a given distance. On the 

 whole, the lowest freight rates in the East are those charged on 

 shipments of hemlock, cotton wood, and gum. Special rates 

 are sometimes granted also for spruce. 



The cases are. getting rare in which freight rates are charged, 

 not per 100 lbs., but per 1000 feet board measure; or in which 

 the minimum load of a car is given, not in pounds, but in feet 

 board measure, or in cords. 



Freight rates charged according to weight discriminate against 

 the shipment of heavy kinds of lumber and logs (e. g. hickory or 

 beech), favouring species of light specific gravity (e. g. white pine), 

 and incidentally increase the stumpage value of the light species 

 as compared with that of the heavy species. Freight rates charged 

 per thousand feet facilitate the shipment of green lumber fresh 

 from the saw-mill and of lumber in the rough. 



