i6 
Bulletin 108. 
who are loyal to their own best interests as represented by the objects 
of their association, will assure the prosperity of the industry. 
TRANSPORTATION. 
During the last nine years, 5,999 cars of cantaloupes were 
shipped out of the Rockyford district, being an average of 666 
cars per annum. In 1904 the largest number were shipped, 1,182 
cars, and in 1897 the smallest number, 121 cars. 
The transportation feature of the cantaloupe industry is perhaps 
the most important of any. In the early stages of the cantaloupe 
industry the largest cars in use measured from 32-34 feet in length, 
outside measurement. Today the predominating car is 40 feet, 
outside measurement, which allows 32 feet 5 inches inside length; 
8 feet 2 inches width and 7 feet 3 inches in height. 
The crates are loaded lengthwise and space allowed between 
each tier for the circulation of the cold air. A 40 foot car per¬ 
mits 24,000 pounds or 366 standard crates of 66 pounds each, to 
be loaded in tiers not exceeding three crates in height, except a 
few tiers near the ice box. The warm air necessary rises to the 
top of the car, and if the cars are loaded more than three tiers high, 
the top tier generally arrives at its destination in a worthless con¬ 
dition. 
It has been the experience of all receivers during the past years 
that it is not best to load cars to exceed 24,00 pounds, or 364 prates. 
The system of icing the cars in vogue at present is to ice the 
empty cars at La Junta during the night and send them on . a 
special train about 6 o’clock in the morning to the Rockyford dis¬ 
trict and stations west, or by the east-bound freight to stations in 
the Las Animas district. • 
The initial icing requires about 9,000 pounds. After load¬ 
ing, the cars are returned to La Junta and re-iced with about. 6,000 
pounds of ice. 
The melon train arrives at La Junta from stations in the 
Rockyford district about 9 p. m. After re-icing the cars they 
depart for the East on trains leaving La Junta about midnight. 
In the height of the season, the train is a complete melon train. 
During the very warm weather when the temperature ranges 
to 90 degrees and upwards, the rear vents are left open until Dodge 
City is reached. This is for the purpose of permitting the gases 
and hot air to escape from the car. Cars re-iced at Dodge City 
take an average of about 4,000 pounds of ice. The next icing 
station is Newton, Kan., where about 5,000 pounds more of ice 
are required. Argentine follows, with 4,500 pounds. 
The run from La Junta to Argentine is 36 hours. At La 
Junta, Newton and Argentine, the S. F. R. D. Co. and St. F. R. R. 
each have ice inspectors whose duty is to see that the cars are 
