What the Railways Have Done 391 



a particular bale or parcel from a possible pyramid of bales or 

 parcels warehoused for the same trader ; and (8) deliver it to a 

 given address. 



In some instances all these services are included in the 

 railway rate, a certain period of free warehousing being then 

 allowed. In other instances, or when the free period is ex- 

 ceeded, a charge is made for rent ; but the trader still saves 

 considerably as compared with what he would have to pay for 

 a separate warehouse for himself, with rates, taxes and cost 

 of cartage in addition. 



At the autumnal meeting, on October 3, 1906, of the 

 Executive Council of the National Chamber of Trade, held at 

 Bradford, it was declared, in reference to the inequality in 

 assessments for local rates, that there were in Bradford certain 

 large concerns whose business turnover amounted to more than 

 40,000 a year, while the rental of the premises they occupied 

 was not more than 100. Some exceptionally large and 

 commodious railway warehouses in Bradford are certainly 

 made use of by local traders under precisely such conditions 

 as those here in question ; and it is, probably, because of these 

 railway warehouses that the concerns alluded to are able 

 to carry on a 40,000 business in 100 premises. 



Even when the traders own extensive mills or factories they 

 often find it convenient to allow the railway company to 

 warehouse most of their raw material for them, sending on 

 supplies to them as needed, a saving thus being effected in 

 respect alike to capital outlay on land and buildings for store 

 rooms and to rates and taxes thereon. In other instances 

 goods are sent, as ready, to the railway warehouses at the port 

 to await shipment, the manufacturers once more saving in not 

 having to provide extra accommodation on their own premises 

 for the storing of goods until a large order has been com- 

 pleted or until a vessel is due to leave. 



The extent of this railway warehouse accommodation will be 

 better understood if I mention that two sets of premises which 

 constitute the Broad Street goods depot of the London and 

 North- Western Railway Company, in the heart of the City of 

 London, have a total floor space of 29,500 square yards ; that 

 the same company have at Liverpool a series of warehouses 

 with a total of about 30,500 square yards of floor space ; that 

 the Great Northern Railway Company have at Bradford one 



