CHAPTER XXII 

 TRANSPORT ON LAND 



Carriage by Railway. The fruit steamers unload now at 

 Garston on the Mersey, instead of on the Manchester Ship 

 Canal. To make full provision for the new service the 

 London and North-Western Railway have expended con- 

 siderable sums in the building and fitting up of a com- 

 modious banana warehouse, including a lofty shed for the 

 reception of Jamaican oranges in season, and a suite of 

 offices to accommodate the whole of the firm's staff. The 

 bananas for the local markets are at once loaded into 

 wagons and despatched by road to their destination ; 

 while those for distant markets are packed into railway 

 vans, forming special trains. Liverpool supplies all the 

 districts north of Birmingham, and Bristol those south of 

 Birmingham. Five hundred insulated vans for the carriage 

 of bananas have been built and fitted with the latest 

 appliances, including steam-heating and vacuum-brake 

 pipes, and are used for the transport of the fruit from the 

 steamer's side by rail to certain principal centres. To 

 meet the requirements of the fruit steamers, the railway 

 company have carried out many improvements, not only 

 at the docks, wharves, and railway sidings, but even in the 

 sea-channel. The consignment in the special trucks 

 remains intact until it arrives at its destination. 



Method of Distribution. In order to meet the difficulties 

 of the smaller deliveries, and to put the towns of relatively 

 small population on the most favourable conditions as 

 regards supplies, a system of local centres has been adopted, 

 which is gradually being extended. The fruit is sent to 

 these centres in large consignments, 



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