TRANSPORTATION AND STORAGE FACILITIES 601 



primary storage points are still located near the terminals. But the 

 secondary and tertiary hauls from the primary storage points and 

 from subsequent distributing points have increased most substantially, 

 increasing, of course, the cost to the consumer. 



Nor is this the only effect which the increase in the food traffic has 

 had on the cost of delivering it. As a result of the greater quantity 

 of this traffic in proportion to the terminal facilities, it is probably 

 true (although accurate information is not obtainable) that consider- 

 able expense results from the delay to trucks at terminals while await- 

 ing an opportunity to take delivery of their freight. This tune must, 

 of course, be charged against the commodity to be delivered. 



Waste similar to that of competitive distribution is also found in 

 the competitive assembling of many foodstuffs at initial shipping 

 points, although this condition is probably less obvious because more 

 widely scattered. Many buyers and commission men conduct their 

 business in the various fruit and produce districts where such com- 

 modities as apples, peaches, cabbage, and celery originate, as a result 

 of which shipping facilities, warehouses, and storehouses are duplicated 

 and much expense and delay in the switching and handling of cars 

 results. Furthermore, numerous shipments are made in less-than- 

 carload lots at rates higher than would be applicable were all of the 

 shipments in carloads, while the holding of the cars until a full load 

 can be secured conduces to the uneconomical use of railroad equip- 

 ment. 



Frequently a shipper, in order to make sure that Jiis shipments 

 will be fully protected, will order the maximum number of cars which 

 he may need, as a result of which some when tendered may be rejected 

 or held on tracks under demurrage which also conduces to uneco- 

 nomical railroad operation. Indeed, the present unorganized method 

 of assembling and forwarding foodstuffs from points of production 

 produces acute competition for transportation facilities, often result- 

 ing in great hardship upon individual shippers and imposing a burden 

 upon the carriers largely in excess of that which would be necessary 

 under more economical methods. 



We have already indicated how few rail terminals there are in 

 New York City. The majority of deliveries are made at piers which 

 are reached either by floating cars and placing them upon tracks on 

 the piers by means of float bridges or by transferring freight in bulk 

 by means of lighters, in which case the lighters are tied up alongside 

 the pier where delivery is to be made and the freight unloaded on the 



