DEMURRAGE INFORMATION FOR FARMERS. 21 



to impose a demurrage charge sufficiently high to make storage in 

 cars clearly unprofitable. 



These statements are made as applicable to every class of cars, 

 but it is recognized that refrigerator cars present some exceptions to 

 the general rule. The fact that the lading of these cars is so fre- 

 quently under refrigeration and that so many consignees are not 

 provided with refrigerated storage space of their own increases the 

 tendency to hold shipments in cars until sale is effected. The cost 

 of renting refrigerated storage space, the cost of hauling to and from 

 such plants, and the deterioration due to the hauling and to changes 

 in temperature during the hauling are to be considered as against 

 the demurrage charge. With the purpose of increasmg its perish- 

 able tonnage, if not of monopolizing the carriage of perishable to 

 some market, there are instances of where a carrier has in the past 

 offered unusually liberal concessions to dealers in the matter of track 

 sales privileges and the detention of refrigerator cars. Such prac- 

 tices discouraged the providing for themselves of storage space by 

 dealers and consignees at a time when it could have been more cheaply 

 provided than at present. The withdrawal of former concessions 

 and the imposition of more rigid restrictions now are protested with 

 some show of justice by interested car users. 



On the other hand refrigerator cars are not in demand the year 

 round to the extent that other classes of cars are. The tendency is 

 to limit more closely purchases of them, and the supply of refriger- 

 ator cars is possibly more inadequate than the supply of any other 

 class of cars. The contention that the perishable nature of its con- 

 tents fixes a very brief maximum period that a refrigerator car can 

 be held at destination under load is as forcible an argument for releas- 

 ing the car all the more quickly as for allowmg the maximum possible 

 time at the ordinary demurrage rate. While it is being held imder 

 load at one market destination perishable commodities are ripening 

 at many originating points of production and spoiling for lack of a 

 refrigerator car in which to transport them to other markets in need 

 of them. 



Refrigerator cars are now paj^-ing the nominal demurrage charge 

 of $1 p<',r day and, in some cases, additional charges for track storage. 

 The proposal to impose higher and other charges, in addition to 

 track storage and ordinary demurrage, as a penalty for the detention 

 of refrigerator cars, is a move in the right direction. It will do more 

 than anything c'lse to solve th<^ problem of shortage of ^(^frigorator 

 cars. It will also give an impetus to the erection by municipalities, 

 railroad companies, and private capital of terminal markets with 

 truck connect ions and ample cold storage faciliiios. Told storage for 

 perishable commodities is necessary and the economy of providing it 



