516

COMMERCE YEARBOOK

shipments being heavier during the first 6 months. A heavier movement
 of coal occurred in 1925 than in 1924. The ore shipments
fluctuated as usual, the heaviest movement coming in the third
quarter.
An important change was evidenced by increased merchandise
(less than carloads) and miscellaneous shipments. This shows more
quick order buying as a result of fast and efficient delivery by the
carrier. As compared with 1921 when the service was much slower
and not so dependable, total carloadings in 1925 were greater by about
12,000,000 cars; merchandise (less than carloads) loadings increased
over 2,000,000 and miscellaneous over 6,000,000 during this period.
This shows rather conclusively the efficiency in rail transportation
during the last few years.

Table 7.—Car Loadings (Revenue Freight), by Commodity Groups, Class I
Railways

[Thousands of carloads]

Period

Oc eee
“er cent change from
924

1924
January-March____._._.___.
APrI-InNe. coving gs
July-September. ._....__....
October-December...

1925
January-March. _...........
April-June... oo. o.oo...
July-September... ......_.
Detober-December. oo ooo.

Total

39,323
13, 208
19,812
18, 534
31. 178 |

LR 4

. 588
597
, 516
2 832

, 765
5 532
, 549
» Bay

3rain
and
orodnets


2,293
2, 453
2,276
2,571
2.300
—-1{} B

582
105
748
745

564
459
645
R32

Liveatock


1,497
1, 626
68
1,753
1.635
~~).

432
391
417
513

414
352
386
483

Forest
products


Coal

2,488
2,016
3,745
3, 667
3 741

7,975
7,384
9, 504
8, 537
3 866

+201 43.0

085
947
852
RR

2,390
1,719
2,035
2 393

085
986
885
R75

2, 272
I, 932
2,303
2 259

Merrhan-


(less
shan
car
Lots)

Coke + Ore

317
188
717
518
£24

907
1,590
2,342
1.679
2 019

{1,010
1, 826
12,165
12, 520
13. 171

4-20. 5

420.3

45.2

165
120
98
135

127
563
665
294 |

3,028
3,176
3,117
3,189

170 141 3,146
130 653 | 3,333
131 | 796 | 3,328
193 420 | 3.384

Mis
cellaneous


12, 836
14, 925
17, 295
17,239
18.821
180

3,876
4, 186
4, 586
4 641

1,073
4, 686
5, 065
t. 007

Sotirce: Ameriean Railwav Association.

RATES AND FARES

Since the reductions of 1922 no sweeping changes have occurred
in freight rates or passenger fares, and in 1925 there were few changes
of importance even in individual rates. Slight adjustments in rates
were made within restricted territories on certain commodities. For
the most part, therefore, changes in total railroad revenues during
the last few years reflect changes in volume, distance hauled, or
character of freight and passenger traffic. Freight rates in 1925 were
about 16 per cent lower than in 1921 based upon ton-mile revenues.
Had the 1921 ton-mile revenue average applied in 1925, the operating
revenues would have been approximately $730,000,000 creater.,