RAILWAY RATES 317 



Railway Carriage of Timber. This is a matter of great 

 importance to all who are interested in the production and 

 utilisation of timber. For the cheaper the freight, the less local 

 should be the market for timber; and, consequently, better 

 prices might be anticipated in any sale of timber. The cost of 

 transporting timber, whether by road or rail, to a consuming 

 centre, is one of the chief factors in determining its price. 



The cost of carriage by rail is, roughly, id. per foot 

 (q. g.) per 16 miles including the cost of loading, but not of 

 unloading. It is, however, subject to very great variations 

 governed by competition with other lines, facilities for 

 loading, etc., etc. 



Within recent years much has been heard about the 

 difference in railway rates on home-grown and imported 

 timber ; and the railway companies are constantly accused 

 of attempting to penalise the trade in home-grown timber, 

 whilst fostering the trade with foreign countries. 



However, the case against the railway companies is not 

 really so bad as some over-zealous champions of the cause 

 for the home producer would lead one to believe. For the 

 rates per measured " ton " in round timber and converted 

 or squared timber are not directly comparable. But, that 

 discrepancies per actual ton weight do arise, and often 

 very considerable discrepancies, cannot be denied. Though 

 to what extent they can be justified, on the ground of 

 " through rates," or of having a large constant quantity 

 to handle, or of being more easily handled, or of a given 

 weight requiring less stowage room, 1 (as is the case when 

 converted timber is carried instead of " round " timber) is 

 a very difficult question to decide, impartially. 



In order that this question may be more fully understood, 

 it is necessary to consider, in some detail, the methods 

 adopted by the railway companies in arriving at the weights 

 of timber, and to contrast some actual rates per measured 

 " ton " with the proportional rates per actual ton of foreign 

 and home-grown timber. 



1 There may, however, not be much difference if the round timber 

 is green and the converted timber is seasoned. 



