TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE FACILITIES 597 



should always keep in mind, however, that service is the only thing 

 the railroads have to sell and they should be willing to pay the rail- 

 roads a fair additional charge for this or any other benefit which 

 involves an extra cost on the part of the railroads, and which renders 

 the service more valuable to the shippers. 



187. CAR SUPPLY IN RELATION TO MARKETING THE WHEAT 



CROP OF 1914' 

 " BY G. C. WHITE 



Since trade journals and railway periodicals have called attention 

 to a possible car shortage, the Office of Markets has undertaken an 

 investigation to ascertain to what extent a car shortage this year is 

 anticipated by the grain trade, on what roads shortages are most 

 acutely felt, to what extent the trade keeps in touch with the roads, 

 advising prospective needs, what information is given out by the 

 roads as to ability to fill all orders promptly or steps taken to minimize 

 shortages, and whether or not the car supply keeps pace from year 

 to year with the increasing need for cars. 



The sentiment among country elevators is by no means universal 

 that there will be a car shortage; terminal elevators are more nearly 

 unanimous. As to where shortage is most acutely felt, opinions 

 differ apparently according to the particular road on which a man's 

 elevator is located. Car supply is sometimes due to the volume of 

 inbound merchandise, which, when unloaded, makes available empties 

 for outbound grain shipments. Points served by more than one road 

 testify that they can get cars even when non-competitive points are 

 suffering from a shortage. 



Information from the country elevators is, for the most part, that 

 their advice to the roads of cars needed is in the form of orders for 

 cars at the time they are wanted. Terminal elevators and large grain 

 dealers, however, have kept in closer touch with the situation and 

 have advised the carriers as far in advance as possible of the pros- 

 pective needs. 



On the part of the roads statements from officials through the press 

 are given to the public, and growers and elevator men are personally 

 advised by local agents, traveling freight agents, and other repre- 

 sentatives of all steps taken to minimize shortages. Every purchase 



1 Adapted from "The Agricultural Outlook, July 21, 1914," Farmers' Bulle- 

 tin 611, pp. 23-25. 



