20 BULLETIN 1412, U. S. DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 
Requests may be in writing, although this is not always insisted 
upon by the railroads. They are addressed to the local agent and 
should specify the type of car, the equipment wanted, and the date 
it is desired. A request for a car may be made in a form similar to 
the following: 
Williamson, X. Y., July 16, 192^. 
Agent N. Y. C. R. R. Co. : 
Please place one refrigerator car on my siding by 9 a. m. July 18, for loading 
with lettuce. The bunkers must be filled with ice, and the car equipped with 
5-inch false floor. 
Yours truly, , _ 
John Doe. 
Good practice requires that after a car is placed for loading it 
be examined thoroughly to see if it conforms to the specifications 
contained in the request. The doors and hatches should fit tightly 
and the car should be in good condition otherwise. If it is not in 
good order it should be either refused or used under protest. When 
it is necessary to accept a car which, in the shipper's opinion is 
not suitable, a protest in a form similar to the following may be 
addressed to the agent: 
Williamson, N. Y.. July 18, 192^. 
Agent N. Y. C. R. R. Co. : 
You are informed that car P. F. E. 31353, placed by j^ou for loading with 
lettuce in accordance with my request of July 16, is not suitable on account 
of a broken door and leaky roof. Notice is hereby given that this car is 
loaded under protest. 
T ° UrS trUly ' JOHN DOE. 
Orders for cars and notices of protest should be written in dupli- 
cate, the shipper retaining copies for possible use in establishing 
claims for damage or loss in transit. 
DEMURRAGE 
Under existing regulations shippers are allowed 48 hours in which 
to load, after which a demurrage charge is made for each day or 
fraction of a day until the car is released. The free time is com- 
puted from the first 7 a. m. after placement on public-delivery 
tracks and without notice to the shipper. However, if a car is not 
placed within 24 hours after 7 a. m. of the day for which it is or- 
dered, free time is computed from 7 a. m. on the next succeeding 
day after notice of placement is sent or given to the shipper. On 
cars held for consignment, diversion, or reshipment, or held in 
transit on the order of the consignor, consignee, or owner, 24 hours 
free time is allowed. 
RAILROAD RILLING 
The number of packages, a word or words descriptive of the 
product, and the total weight of the shipment are entered in the 
columns provided on the bill of lading. The shipper also declares 
in writing in shipping orders and bills of lading, at the loading sta- 
tion, whether or not the shipment is to be initially iced by the carrier, 
is to be iced or reiced in transit, or is to be transported without 
reicing. If salt is desired, the shipper must state the percentage 
to be used and the icing stations at which it is to be added. The 
carrier may permit the shipper to perform the icing service at the 
loading point. 
