TRANSPORTATION OF TRUCK CROPS 95 



from 5 to 8 cars a day, and in 1895 from 40 to 50 cars per day. 

 This illustrates the early development of many districts of the 

 South now noted for their truck shipments. In some cases, 

 as at Crystal Springs, the industry began as an experiment in a 

 shipment by farmers of the small surplus of their garden product. 

 This was found profitable and led to further shipments. 



"In all sections the trucker is dependent on transportation facil- 

 ities for increase in his industry. He needs cheap rates and rapid 

 transit ; but improvement in carrying facilities is even more im- 

 portant than increase of speed, and of equal importance with less- 

 ened cost of transportation. This improvement is especially manifest 

 in ventilated and refrigerator cars, the former being constructed 

 like ordinary box cars except that they have lighter springs and 

 openings in the ends and sides to provide for circulation of air. 

 These openings are covered with fine wire netting. Cars of this 

 type of construction answer perfectly for carrying hardy vegetables, 

 such as watermelons and potatoes, as well as the more delicate kinds, 

 for short distances. 



" To meet the needs of the more perishable fruits and vegetables 

 for long transit, the refrigerator car has been evolved. After many 

 years of discouraging experiment the first successfully refrigerated 

 car of strawberries was shipped into Chicago in 1872. In the 

 spring of 1888 strawberries were successfully shipped from Florida, 

 and in June of the same year a carload of ripe apricots and cherries 

 was successfully sent from Suisun, California, to New York without 

 re-icing. From a beginning of 6 cars in 1887, 60 cars were oper- 

 ated in 1 888, and 600 in 1 891 . In 1901 it was estimated that there 

 were operating in the United States, Canada, and Mexico, upwards 

 of 60,000 refrigerator cars, or nearly one twentieth of the whole 

 number of freight cars in use. This total includes the cars used in 

 carrying the products of the meat, dairy, beer, and other industries, 

 and it is impossible to say just what proportions of the whole were 

 used in fruit and vegetable transportation. Yet the total is so large 

 that if not more than one tenth of these cars were so used the in- 

 crease would still be enormously great. These cars are operated 

 by some 50 or more companies, but the operations of many of 

 them are not extensive, and the larger part of the business is 

 controlled by a few large lines. Many of the railroads are now 



