262 CORN 



provided, the farmers would be compelled to pay high storage charges, 

 which would eat up their profits. But, by building bins and watching 

 the market, they would also relieve the car shortage, which comes 

 only because every one wants to get his corn to market at once.' " 



How to Prepare Cars for Grain. Cars should be prepared 

 for grain in such a way as to prevent, if possible, any leakage in 

 transit, and to prevent rain or snow from reaching the grain-. 



There are three causes for the leakage of grain in transit, as 

 follows : 



(r) Defective car equipment. 



(2) Rough handling of equipment by railroads. 



(3) Carelessness on the part of the loader. 



The first two causes are beyond the control of the individual ship- 

 per, but the last named cause can be practically eliminated if the 

 proper effort is made by the loader. 



Shortage due to leakage in transit, causes all interested much con- 

 cern. Shipper, receiver, line of transportation, and terminal weigh- 

 master all suffer directly or indirectly. Therefore, all should do their 

 part towards eliminating this constant source of contention. 



The points to be inspected in a car, arranged in order of their 

 greatest important, as determined by leakage statistics, are as follows : 

 lows: 



(i) The grain doors; 



(2) The sheathings ; 



(3) Door posts and end posts; 



(4) End doors and windows; 



(5) Linings; 



(6) Floors. 



Be bure that your grain doors are strong enough. A safe plan is 

 to make them stronger than you deem necessary. They should be 

 well bracedy and all braces should be nailed to each and every board. 

 It is poor economy to scant this bracing. Where a vertical center 

 brace is used, put a cleat on the floor at the bottom, if possible. The 

 best and safest door of which we know, is made by placing two ordi- 

 nary grain doors with the flat sides together. The object in placing 

 the flat sides together is to prevent grain from lodging between them. 

 Under no circumstances should a door be used which is too short for 

 the opening. Spliced grain doors are most unsatisfactory and un- 

 certain. 



Patent doors, having effective lugs at the bottom, and other propei 



