REFRIGERATOR CARS AND COLD STORAGE FOR FRUITS. 



attention 



HE value of artificial cold air, 

 as applied to refrigerator cars, 

 cold storage warehouses, resi- 

 , dences and other purposes, can 

 not be too highly appreciated. 

 The subject has not received 

 the attention to which it is en- 

 titled, in comparison with the 

 ^iven the improvements in some other in- 

 dustries, the importance of which, as compared with 

 cold storage is insignificant. I believe that the 

 methods and appliances of cold storage are still in 

 their infancy, and that each year will bring forth 

 new and important developments. But a few years 

 ago, the man who would have put forth the idea of 

 dressing beef in the west and transporting it to 

 Europe, would have been considered erratic. The 

 same can be said of sending dressed meats from the 

 west to New Orleans, Charleston, Savannah and 

 other points in the warm climates. The refrigerator 

 car bears the same relation to perishable fruits and 

 vegetables as it does to dressed beef. Through its 

 agency the most delicate southern fruits are brought 

 to our markets in prime order, tempting to the eye, 

 and palatable. It has proved a valuable adjunct to 

 trade. Many industries are in existence, many 

 laborers are employed, and many luxuries are en- 

 joyed because of its use. The strawberrj' industry 

 of Florida depends entirely upon it. In fact, the 

 small fruit industries of the whole country are deep- 

 ly indebted to it. 



Through the use of refrigerator cars the cost of 

 transportation has been materially reduced, as is 

 also a large percentage of loss, which is quite cer- 

 tain to take place through other means of transpor- 

 tation. It is a fact, that in localities where refriger- 

 ator cars are in use for the carrying of fruits, staple 

 prices prevail. Here in Oswego, where for many 

 years the strawberry ijidustry has been one of our 

 most important agricultural interests, it was, for 

 want of proper transportation facilities, on the point 

 of decay. But the officials of the Lehigh Valley 

 and the Rome, Watertown & Ogdensburg railroads 

 saw that with proper facilities it might be nursed 

 into a large and paying business for them, and ac- 

 cordingly, these railroads put on a line of refriger- 

 ator cars, made reasonable rates of transportation, 

 placed the berries in the markets on time and in 

 good order — so much so, that since the line was 



brought into use there has not been a single claim 

 for loss. The result of this was to give a new im- 

 petus to the business. It has caused a five-fold in- 

 crease in the acreage of strawberries about here in 

 as many years, and still we are not growing as many 

 berries as we can sell at profitable prices. It has 

 also been a great aid in the shipment of pears. In 

 fact, it has been the important factor in opening up 

 the western markets for our Bartletts. 



I have, perhaps, spoken too much at length of 

 refrigerator cars ; but I have done so because I 

 consider them more important to shippers and grow- 

 ers than cold storage warehouses, for the reason 

 that nearly all fruits sell best in their natural sea- 

 son. To hold back any considerable portion of the 

 crop, in a locality where large quantities are grown, 

 would, I believe, prove disastrous five times out of 

 six. I have always contended that the time to sell 

 an article is when there is a demand for it. I have 

 pursued this course, and have found it profitable. 

 Cold storage warehouses, in many cases, are a 

 necessity, however, particularly in large cities, 

 where vast amounts of perishable matter are re- 

 ceived daily, and which is liable at times to over- 

 stock the markets, and materially depress prices. 

 It can also be of great benefit where large amounts 

 of fruit are grown, as it often occurs that by holding 

 shipments a few days a bad market may be avoided. 



The safest plan to pursue for an individual or firm, 

 in managing cold storage, is to put away none but 

 the best fruit ; hold until the more ordinary grades 

 are out of market, and then send it forward in such 

 quantities as the markets will take at a profit. Of 

 course, what I may say in the matter of holding and 

 marketing are of little importance in the general 

 management of the business. That depends wholly 

 on the good judgment of the operator, coupled with 

 experience. 



I have examined many methods of cold storage, 

 and I consider the " Wicks patent" the most desir- 

 able, for several reasons, ist. Where a refrigerator 

 is not run the season through, it is more economical 

 of ice. 2nd. The ice chamber takes up little room 

 and is On the same floor as the cooling room ; conse- 

 quently a less expensive building is required. I 

 h9,ve a refrigerator with a capacity of three thousand 

 barrels, constructed according to my own ideas, and 

 it answers all purposes. But if I were to build 

 another I would adopt the Wicks patent. 



