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MASS. EXPERIMENT STATION BULLETIN 16^. 



Cost of Local Storage. 

 The usual items in the cost of storage have been considered, but since 

 rates and methods of insurance and taxation differ in various sections, 

 a brief explanation of the figures used in our computation seems advisable. 

 The valuations of storages and equipments were furnished by their owners. 

 Five per cent, of the valuation was allowed for interest. The tax rate 

 vaiied in 1915 from S16.50 to S20 per .$1,000; hence, the flat rate of $17 

 per $1,000 was used. There seems to be no uniform principle upon which 



Fig. 24. — The first onion storage built west of the Connecticut River, 

 at South Deerfield. This storage is still used. The pile of rotten 

 onions on the left is an illustration of loss through shrinkage. 



storages and equipment are assessed for taxation, but in every instance 

 studied the assessment never exceeded 65 per cent, of the actual value as 

 given by the owners; hence, this maximum ratio was used as the basis 

 of taxation. 



Insiirance. 



The rate of insurance on buildings varies according to the location of 

 the building and the material of which it is built. The usual rate, how- 

 ever, is $1.25 per $100 per year. The total valuation of storages and 

 equipment was given as $211,000; therefore, $200,000 seemed a generous 

 estimate of the insurance carried. 



Few reliable figures could be secured upon onion insurance. A good 

 many of the onions are not insured, while others are insured only at a 

 certain percentage of their actual value. In view of this difference in 



