Railroad Transportation Statistics for the Chemical and Allied Products

Railroad Transportation Statistics for the Chemical and Allied Products Industry H. Y. TURNER

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Bureau of Railway Economics, Association of American Railroads, Washington, D. C.

It would be difficult, if not impossible, to visualize two industries which affect our daily lives to a greater degree than the chemical and allied products industry and the railroad industry. Practically everything we touch in our daily routine and even in our sleep requires the use of chemicals during some stage of its production. The railroad industry provides the transportation services essential to such production and distribution. It is only natural, therefore, that the chemical and allied products industry, with its many ramifications and requirements of rail transportation, is interested in statistics relating to the railroads, their facilities, and their services.

F e w industries are more closely regulated than the railroad industry. The act to regu late commerce which became law A p r i l 5, 1887, created the Interstate Commerce Commis sion, and delegated many powers to it. Under that act, and subsequent acts extending the authority and scope of operations of the Interstate Commerce Commission, the rail road industry practically has come to live in a glass house. Its rates, fares, and charges are subject to regulation by the Interstate Commerce Commission and various state regu latory bodies. I n many instances, the rates of pay for railroad employees have been set by government tribunals (Presidential Emergency Boards), and in emergencies organiza tions such as the Defense Transport Administration are given certain powers over rail road matters. I n fact, practically every action of the industry comes within the purview of some government agency. Of these, the Interstate Commerce Commission is the most important. In the exercise of its regulatory powers, it is but natural that the commission requires individual railroads to file numerous and voluminous statistical reports, which are sum marized and published periodically by the Interstate Commerce Commission for the use of interested parties. A list of the regularly published reports relating to rail transporta tion is given in Table I. This list enumerates 29 regularly published reports of the Interstate Commerce Commission which relate to railroad transportation. In most cases, the title of the report indicates the type of statistics covered. Two of the reports—Annual Report of Statistics of Railways in the United States, including selected data for the Pullman Co., Railway Express Agency, Inc., freight forwarders, and private car owners, and Preliminary Abstract of Railway Statistics (Steam Railways, Railway E x press Agency, Inc., and the Pullman Co.)—are, generally speaking, all-inclusive, in that they show data (on a calendar year basis) relating to all phases of rail transportation with respect to : 36

LITERATURE RESOURCES Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1954.

TURNER—RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS FOR THE CHEMICAL

INDUSTRY

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Finances Investments Securities outstanding B a l a n c e sheet Income account P r o f i t a n d loss a c c o u n t Operations M i l e a g e (road a n d tracks owned a n d operated) R e v e n u e s ( b y classes of s e r v i c e , f r e i g h t , p a s s e n g e r , m a i l , e x p r e s s , e t c . ) Expenses (by general a n d p r i m a r y accounts)


Employees a n d compensation N u m b e r of e m p l o y e e s f o r e a c h of 128 classes S e r v i c e h o u r s f o r e a c h of 128 classes C o m p e n s a t i o n f o r e a c h of 128 classes E q u i p m e n t i n service L o c o m o t i v e s b y class of s e r v i c e F r e i g h t - t r a i n cars b y t y p e P a s s e n g e r - t r a i n cars b y t y p e T r a i n performance statistics T r a i n - m i l e s (freight a n d p a s s e n g e r service) C a r - m i l e s (freight a n d passenger service) T r a i n - h o u r s (freight a n d passenger service) T o n s p e r t r a i n a n d p e r c a r (freight service), etc.

These data are shown for individual railroads, and summarized by geographic areas. The quarterly and monthly reports usually relate to some specific phase of railroad opera tions and provide interim statistics to indicate what results may be anticipated from opera tions for the current year. . A l l these reports are summaries of returns filed with the Interstate Commerce C o m mission by the individual railroads. Prior to 1916, annual returns were made on a fiscal basis (July 1 to June 30). The commission shifted to a calendar year basis beginning with the year 1916.

Groupings by Classes Beginning with the year 1911, operating railroad companies were classified for statis tical and accounting purposes with respect to their operating revenues by the Interstate Commerce Commission. L i n e - H a u l Operating Railroad Companies Class I Railroads R o a d s h a v i n g o p e r a t i n g revenues above $1,000,000 a n n u a l l y Class I I Railroads R o a d s h a v i n g o p e r a t i n g revenues between $100,000 a n d $1,000,000 a n n u a l l y Class I I I Railroads R o a d s h a v i n g operating revenues below $100,000 Switching and T e r m i n a l Companies C o m p a n i e s operate separately for joint account or for revenue, a n d performing switching a n d t e r m i n a l s e r v i c e s o n l y , s u c h as t e r m i n a l t r a c k a g e o r f a c i l i t i e s o n l y , u n i o n p a s s e n g e r o r f r e i g h t s t a t i o n s , s t o c k y a r d s , o p e r a t i n g b r i d g e s a n d ferries e x c l u s i v e l y , e t c . T h i s c a t e g o r y i s a l s o b r o k e n d o w n i n t o classes o n t h e basis of o p e r a t i n g r e v e n u e s o u t l i n e d f o r t h e l i n e - h a u l c o m p a n i e s .

Occasionally roads are reclassified—that is, shifted from one class to another. Such reclassifications, however, are not made on the basis of one year's operation alone, but only when the operating results of a road over a period of several years definitely indicate that that road does not belong to the class to which assigned.

Geographical Groupings In addition to being classified according to operating revenues, railroads are also grouped geographically for statistical purposes into three districts and eight subdistricts or regions. Eastern District,

T h a t p o r t i o n of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b o u n d e d o n t h e w e s t b y t h e n o r t h e r n a n d t h e


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ADVANCES IN CHEMISTRY SERIES

Table I.

Publications Relating to Railroads

P r e p a r e d b y t h e B u r e a u of T r a n s p o r t E c o n o m i c s a n d S t a t i s t i c s , I n t e r s t a t e C o m m e r c e

Commission

Annual Reports 1. 2. 3. 4. 5.


6. 7. 8. 9.

Accident Bulletin, Steam Railways A n n u a l R e p o r t o n S t a t i s t i c s of R a i l w a y s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s , i n c l u d i n g s e l e c t e d d a t a f o r t h e P u l l m a n C o . , R a i l w a y Express A g e n c y , I n c . , freight forwarders, a n d private car owners C o m p a r a t i v e S t a t e m e n t of R a i l w a y O p e r a t i n g S t a t i s t i c s , I n d i v i d u a l C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s i n the U n i t e d States Freight C o m m o d i t y Statistics, Class I Steam R a i l w a y s P r e l i m i n a r y A b s t r a c t of R a i l w a y S t a t i s t i c s ( S t e a m R a i l w a y s , R a i l w a y E x p r e s s A g e n c y , Inc., and the P u l l m a n Co.) S u m m a r y T a b l e s o f t h e A n n u a l R e p o r t o n S t a t i s t i c s of R a i l w a y s i n t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s T o n s of R e v e n u e F r e i g h t O r i g i n a t e d a n d T o n s T e r m i n a t e d , i n C a r l o a d s , b y G r o u p s o f C o m m o d i ties a n d b y G e o g r a p h i c A r e a s , C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s (1940 t o 1950 o n l y ) W a g e S t a t i s t i c s of C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s S e l e c t e d S t a t i s t i c s f r o m A n n u a l R e p o r t s of P r i v a t e C a r O w n e r s

Quarterly Reports 10. 11. 12. 13. 14.

S u m m a r y of A c c i d e n t s R e p o r t e d b y S t e a m R a i l w a y s F r e i g h t C o m m o d i t y S t a t i s t i c s of C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s T o n s of R e v e n u e F r e i g h t O r i g i n a t e d a n d T o n s T e r m i n a t e d , i n C a r l o a d s , b y G r o u p s of C o m modities a n d b y G e o g r a p h i c A r e a s , C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s (1940 t o 1950 o n l y ) R e v e n u e s , E x p e n s e s , a n d S t a t i s t i c s of F r e i g h t F o r w a r d e r s S u m m a r y of Q u a r t e r l y R e p o r t s of P e r s o n s F u r n i s h i n g C a r s t o o r o n B e h a l f o f C a r r i e r s b y R a i l road or Express C o m p a n i e s

Monthly Reports 15. 16. 17. 18. 19. 20. 21. 22. 23. 24. 25. 26. 27. 28.

F r e i g h t T r a i n P e r f o r m a n c e of C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s F u e l a n d P o w e r S t a t i s t i c s of C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s M o t i v e P o w e r a n d C a r E q u i p m e n t of C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s O p e r a t i n g R e v e n u e s a n d O p e r a t i n g E x p e n s e s of C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s O p e r a t i n g R e v e n u e s a n d O p e r a t i n g E x p e n s e s of L a r g e S t e a m R a i l w a y s O p e r a t i n g S t a t i s t i c s of L a r g e S t e a m R a i l w a y s P a s s e n g e r T r a i n P e r f o r m a n c e of C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s Passenger Traffic Statistics (Other t h a n C o m m u t a t i o n ) , Separated between C o a c h Traffic a n d Parlor and Sleeping-Car Traffic, Class I Steam R a i l w a y s R e v e n u e T r a f f i c S t a t i s t i c s of C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s S e l e c t e d I n c o m e a n d B a l a n c e - S h e e t I t e m s of C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s S u m m a r y of A c c i d e n t s R e p o r t e d b y S t e a m R a i l w a y s W a g e S t a t i s t i c s of C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s Y a r d Service P e r f o r m a n c e of C l a s s I S t e a m R a i l w a y s M o n t h l y C o m m e n t o n Transportation Statistics

Carload Waybill Analyses 29.

T h e c o m m i s s i o n h a s i s s u e d a n u m b e r of s t a t e m e n t s b a s e d o n a 1 % s a m p l e of t e r m i n a t e d c a r l o a d w a y b i l l s filed b y C l a s s I s t e a m r a i l w a y s s h o w i n g , a m o n g other t h i n g s , l e n g t h of h a u l , average l o a d , a n d revenue p e r t o n - m i l e for v a r i o u s quarters a n d years, 1947 t o 1951. T h e list is t o o l e n g t h y t o be s h o w n here.

Miscellaneous Publications 30. 31. 32. 33.

A . A . R . F r e i g h t C o m m o d i t y Classification (1947 a n d S u p p l e m e n t s ) . Accounting Department, A s s o c i a t i o n of A m e r i c a n R a i l r o a d s , 3 3 0 T r a n s p o r t a t i o n B l d g . , W a s h i n g t o n 6, D . C . $ 0 . 7 5 . L C . C . A c c o u n t i n g Classifications for S t e a m R a i l r o a d s . Accounting Department, Association of A m e r i c a n R a i l r o a d s , 3 3 0 T r a n s p o r t a t i o n B l d g . , W a s h i n g t o n 6, D . C . $ 3 . 5 0 . T h e Official R a i l w a y E q u i p m e n t Register (quarterly), R a i l w a y E q u i p m e n t & P u b l i c a t i o n C o . , 4 2 4 W e s t 3 3 r d S t . , N e w Y o r k 1, Ν . Y . $ 3 . 5 0 p e r c o p y . Statistics, C a r B u i l d i n g a n d C a r Repairing (Annual). A m e r i c a n R a i l w a y C a r I n s t i t u t e , 19 Rector St., N e w Y o r k , Ν. Y .


TURNER-—RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS FOR THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

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w e s t e r n s h o r e of L a k e M i c h i g a n t o C h i c a g o , t h e n c e b y a l i n e t o P e o r i a , t h e n c e t o E a s t S t . L o u i s , t h e n c e d o w n t h e M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r t o t h e m o u t h of t h e O h i o R i v e r , a n d o n t h e s o u t h b y t h e O h i o R i v e r f r o m i t s m o u t h t o P a r k e r s b u r g , W . V a . , t h e n c e b y a l i n e t o t h e s o u t h w e s t e r n c o r n e r of M a r y l a n d , thence b y the Potomac R i v e r to its m o u t h . Southern District. T h a t p o r t i o n of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s b o u n d e d o n t h e n o r t h b y t h e e a s t e r n d i s trict a n d o n the west b y the M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r . Western District. T h e r e m a i n d e r of t h e LTnited S t a t e s , e x c l u s i v e of A l a s k a a n d t h e i s l a n d p o s s e s sions.

The general outlines of the eight territorial regions, embraced i n the three so-called districts, are as follows :


Eastern District N e w England Region. T h e N e w E n g l a n d States. Great Lakes Region. T h e s e c t i o n of t h e C a n a d i a n b o u n d a r y b e t w e e n N e w E n g l a n d a n d t h e w e s t e r l y s h o r e of L a k e M i c h i g a n t o C h i c a g o , a n d n o r t h of a l i n e f r o m C h i c a g o v i a P i t t s b u r g h t o N e w York. Central Eastern Region. T h e s e c t i o n s o u t h of t h e G r e a t L a k e s r e g i o n , east of a l i n e f r o m C h i c a g o t h r o u g h P e o r i a t o S t . L o u i s a n d t h e M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r t o t h e m o u t h of t h e O h i o R i v e r , a n d n o r t h of t h e O h i o R i v e r t o P a r k e r s b u r g , W . V a . , a n d a l i n e t h e n c e t o t h e s o u t h w e s t e r n c o r n e r of M a r y l a n d a n d by the Potomac R i v e r to its mouth. Southern District Pocahontas Region. T h e s e c t i o n n o r t h of t h e s o u t h e r n b o u n d a r y of V i r g i n i a , east of K e n t u c k y a n d t h e O h i o R i v e r n o r t h t o P a r k e r s b u r g , W . V a . , a n d s o u t h of a l i n e f r o m P a r k e r s b u r g t o t h e s o u t h w e s t e r n c o r n e r of M a r y l a n d a n d t h e n c e b y t h e P o t o m a c R i v e r t o i t s m o u t h . Southern Region. T h e s e c t i o n east of t h e M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r a n d s o u t h of t h e O h i o R i v e r t o a p o i n t n e a r K e n o v a , W . V a . , a n d a l i n e t h e n c e f o l l o w i n g t h e e a s t e r n b o u n d a r y of K e n t u c k y a n d t h e s o u t h e r n b o u n d a r y of V i r g i n i a t o t h e A t l a n t i c . Western District Northwestern Region. T h e s e c t i o n a d j o i n i n g C a n a d a l y i n g w e s t of t h e G r e a t L a k e s r e g i o n , n o r t h of a l i n e f r o m C h i c a g o t o O m a h a a n d t h e n c e t o P o r t l a n d a n d b y t h e C o l u m b i a R i v e r t o t h e P a c i f i c . Central-Western Region. T h e s e c t i o n s o u t h of t h e n o r t h w e s t e r n r e g i o n , w e s t of a l i n e f r o m C h i c a g o t o P e o r i a a n d t h e n c e t o S t . L o u i s , a n d n o r t h of a l i n e f r o m S t . L o u i s t o K a n s a s C i t y a n d t h e n c e to E l Paso a n d b y the M e x i c a n b o u n d a r y to the Pacific. Southwestern Region. T h e s e c t i o n l y i n g b e t w e e n t h e M i s s i s s i p p i R i v e r s o u t h of S t . L o u i s a n d a l i n e f r o m S t . L o u i s t o K a n s a s C i t y a n d t h e n c e t o E l P a s o a n d b y t h e R i o G r a n d e t o t h e G u l f of Mexico.

A railroad is usually assigned to that region (and district) i n which the greater pro portion of its mileage is located. A number of railroad companies operate in two or more regions or districts, but are classified in only one region and district. The publications of the Interstate Commerce Commission showing statistical data have followed the above geographical grouping since 1926. This grouping had its origin in the rate case of 1920 and i n the arrangement of the roads under regional directors dur ing the federal control period, January 1, 1918, to February 28, 1920. Summarization of the statistical data for the regions produces data for the respective districts; summariza tion of the data for the three districts produces data for Class I railroads i n the United States. M a n y of the statistical data available, particularly those for individual railroads, are of primary interest to the roads themselves for comparison with other roads. They are also of interest to holders of railroad securities and the summaries by districts are fre quently used i n general rate cases before the Interstate Commerce Commission to i n d i cate the rate of return for the districts, as well as for other purposes.

Definition of Chemical Industry A s Class I line-haul railroads account for about 9 7 % of the total operating revenues and expenses of all steam railroads, and statistical data for those roads are more detailed, the following analysis of statistics relates to Class I line-haul railroads only. Before outlining the railroad statistical data relating to the chemical and allied prod ucts industry, i t seems desirable to define that industry. Table I I lists the commodities produced by the industry (2), as defined by the Manufacturing Chemists' Association. LITERATURE RESOURCES Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1954.

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Table II.


Commodity Groups and Subgroups Comprising the Chemical and Allied Products Industry (2) H e a v y chemicals F i n e chemicals Synthetic organics (including dyes a n d intermediates) Plastics, except s y n t h e t i c r u b b e r Explosives C o m p r e s s e d a n d l i q u e f i e d gases D r u g s a n d p h a r m a c e u t i c a l s (excludes p r o p r i e t a r y preparations) Industrial alcohol Solvents W o o d distillation products Insecticides a n d fungicides (agricultural) Coal-tar, crude a n d intermediates Finished coal-tar products P l a s t i c materials a n d s y n t h e t i c resins Phenolic plastics Casein a n d celluloid Synthetic, organic, a n d inorganic chemicals Industrial chemicals Carbide Sodium Ferroalloys Acids Alkalies Salts R a y o n a n d allied products Fertilizers, fertilizer materials, a n d m i x e d fertilizers Cottonseed oil Cottonseed cake Cottonseed meal Cottonseed linters A m m u n i t i o n a n d small arms E x p l o s i v e s a n d s a f e t y fuses Soap a n d glycerol Drugs Medicines P a i n t s , v a r n i s h e s , c o l o r s , a n d fillers Other chemicals a n d allied products Industrial inorganic chemicals Industrial organic chemicals Vegetable a n d a n i m a l oils a n d fats Synthetic rubber S y n t h e t i c fibers

ICC Freight Commodity Statistics The Interstate Commerce Commission's freight commodity statistics would appear to be of greatest interest to the chemical industry, in that they show, with certain l i m i tations, the transportation service rendered by the railroads to the chemical and allied products industry (as defined), measuring that service in number of cars and tons of freight transported and the freight revenue the railroads receive for such transportation service. The brief description of these freight commodity statistics, which follows, also indi cates the changes (and effective dates) that have occurred since these statistics were i n augurated. All Steam Railroads, 1888 to 1919. These statistics (in very abbreviated form as compared with present-day statistics) began i n 1888, when only 38 classes or commodities were reported b y a l l steam railroads. None of the 38 classes presented anything of interest to the chemical industry. T h e data reported were tons origi nated, and tons received from connections. Class I Railroads, 1920 to 1927. Effective J a n u a r y 1, 1920, and continuing through 1927, the number of reporting classes was increased from 38 to 70. F o r each of these classes (except l.c.L, for which tonnage figures only are available) the following data were reported : Carloads a n d tons originated, carloads a n d tons received from connections, a n d total carloads a n d total tons carried. LITERATURE RESOURCES Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1954.

TURNER—RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS FOR THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

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These 70 commodity classes included only four individual commodities of interest to the chemical industry—chemicals and explosives, cottonseed and products, salt, and fertilizers. Generally speaking, the other commodities of particular interest to the chem ical industry were submerged i n the commodity class entitled ' O t h e r Manufactures and Miscellaneous." F o r the four commodities referred to, the number of carloads originated by the railroads and the freight revenue which the railroads received from the trans portation of those commodities, are, by year, as follows :


Year

Total Four Commodities Freight revenue Cars originated

1920 1921 1922 1923

944,998 745,489 838,186 912,454

$25,375,639 18,495,281 21,147,712 23,635,272

1924 1925 1926 1927

941,989 1,052,399 1,079,522 1,075,274

24,139,428 27,293,591 28,003,247 28,877,157

948,789

24,620,916

Av.

A n itemized list of the separate categories comprising each of these four commodity classes can be found i n the 1927 issue of "Commodity Classification" (1). Because of the growth i n industry generally and to accord with such changed con ditions, there have been two revisions of the commodity classifications—in 1928 and i n 1947. Class I Railroads, 1928 to 1946. Beginning w i t h 1928 and continuing through 1946, the number of reporting classes was increased from the 70 to 157 classes. F o r the 157 commodity classes, the following data were reported. Carloads a n d tons originated T e r m i n a t i n g o n line Delivered to connections Carloads a n d tons received from connections T e r m i n a t i n g o n line Delivered to connections T o t a l carloads a n d total tons carried Freight revenue

These 157 commodity classes included 18 classes which are of particular interest to the chemical industry as defined (Table III). F r o m the reported data, it is possible to compute for those 18 classes the average tons per car, average revenue per car, and average revenue per ton, for the years 1928 to date. Class I Railroads, 1947 to Present. Freight traffic during the years 1941 to 1945 reflected the effect of wartime production w i t h its v a r y i n g degrees of influence on certain particular commodities, as a result of which a revision of the commodity classification was again desirable. Effective w i t h the January 1, 1947 revision, the number of commodity classes was increased again—this time from 157 to 262 classes. T h e data reported for each of the 262 classes are the same as shown for the period 1928 to 1946. Of the 105 new classes, some 17 additional classes are of interest to the chemical and allied products i n d u s t r y (Table I I I ) . Among these 17 new commodity classes, chemicals not otherwise specified appear as a separate class. N o t only has the number of separate classes been expanded, but the composition of each of these classes has been enlarged i n order to reflect the increasing importance of the industry to the American economy. I n the 1920 to 1927 period, chemicals and explosives combined represented only some 154 separate and identifiable types, classes, or grades of chemicals and explosives combined, while the 1947 classifica tion of just chemicals not otherwise specified represents some 311 separate categories, not including the 65 separate categories of ammunition and explosives, which are included as a distinct class in the 1947 classification. Naturally, this makes for far better defined statis tics. Thus, there are now available statistics as to cars and tons transported, tons per car, and revenue per car and per ton, as well as total revenues for 34 major commodity groups, comprising some 376 individual commodities of particular interest to the industry. LITERATURE RESOURCES Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1954.


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Table III.

Railroad Commodity Classes Related to Chemical and Allied Products Industry New Number (1947 to Present)

Old Number (1928 to 1946)

Commodity Class Is of Particular Interest

35 37 39 47 341 343 345

91 100 101 160 380 390 391 J 440 \441 460 462 472 640 660 661 662 691 698

Cotton linters, n.o.i.b.n.a and regins Cottonseed Cottonseed meal and cake Vegetable oil cake and meal, except cottonseed Salt Phosphate rock, crude (ground or not ground) Sulfur (brimstone) Rosin Turpentine Cottonseed oil Vegetable oils, n.o.s.ft Molasses, blackstrap and edible molasses Fertilizers, n.o.s. Alcohol, denatured or wood Sulfuric acid Explosives, n.o.s. Paints in oil and varnishes Soap and washing compounds


417 511 517 757 539 535 529 631 547 769

a

1947 to Present

Other Commodity Classes

509 513 523 525 527 531 533 537 541 543 545 549 551 553 627 731 771

Gases, other than petroleum, n.o.s. Linseed oil Rubber, crude, natural and synthetic Rubber goods, n.o.s. Chemicals, n.o.s. Acids, n.o.s. Sodium (soda) products Blacks, n.o.s. Insecticides and fungicides, n.o.s. Tar, pitch, and creosote Tanning material, n.o.s. Plastics Cellulose articles, n.o.s. Drugs, medicines, and toilet preparations Tires and tubes, rubber Synthetic fiber and yarns (rayon or nylon) Matches

Not otherwise indexed by name. & Not otherwise specified.

In addition to the statistics thus far described data are also available'for the years 1940 to 1950 by geographic areas. These data show tons originated and tons terminated for each of the commodity classes for 42 states separately, the New England states com bined, and the District of Columbia and Canada. These geographic area statistics pri marily provided data as to the principal states of origin for the 262 reporting commodity classes (1947) as well as data with respect to the consumption, by states, of those same commodities. However, the reports from which these data were compiled were discon tinued as of January 1, 1951.

Carload Waybill Studies Supplementing the freight commodity statistics, the Interstate Commerce Commis sion, in 1947, initiated a series of carload waybill studies. As a basis for these studies, Class I railroads were required to file copies of selected waybills covering carload ship ments. The selection of waybills is based on a continuous sampling method, by which each railroad furnishes copies of its audited waybills whose serial numbers are " 1 " or with digits ending in " 0 1 " . The plan is designed to produce a 1% sample of all carload traffic terminating on Class I railroads. These waybills are processed by the commission to provide information for a con tinuing analysis of the flow of traffic by commodities, type of rate, average haul, and aver age revenue per ton-mile. Some 120 statements have been released by the commission's Bureau of Transport Economics and Statistics, based on the 1% samrjle of waybills cover ing the movements of carload freight. As illustrated, Table I V shows the kind of i n formation that is available on commodity classes of interest to the chemical and allied products industry. Such data are, of course, subject to the infirmities inherent to any 1% sample. LITERATURE RESOURCES Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1954.

TURNER—RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION

Table IV.

Classification No.


35 37 39 47 341 343 345 415 417 509 511 513 517 523 525 527 529 531 533 535 537 539 541 543 545 547 549 551 553 627 631 731 757 769 771 α

43

STATISTICS FOR THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Carload Waybill Analyses, Terminations in 1950°

Commodity Cotton linters Cottonseed Cottonseed, meal, cake Vegetable oil cake and meal, except cotton seed Salt Phosphate rock Sulfur Veneer, plywood Rosin, turpentine Gases not petroleum Cottonseed oil Linseed oil Vegetable oils, n.o.s. Rubber, crude Rubber goods, n.o.s. Chemicals, n.o.s. Sulfuric acid Acids, n.o.s. Sodium products Alcohol, n.o.s. Blacks, n.o.s. Fertilizers, n.o.s. Insecticides Tar, pitch, creosote Tanning materials, n.o.s. Paint, putty, varnish Plastics Cellulose articles Drugs, toilet preparations Tires, tubes, rubber Explosives Synthetic fiber Molasses residual Soap, cleaning compounds Matches

Tons per Car

Average ShortLine Haul, Miles Per Per ton car

Average Revenue Per shorl line tonPer mile, car cents

19 32 34

589 261 393

550 249 408

$21.2 167 201

1.91 2.02 1.52

28 39 57 65 32 27 29 31 28 28 36 16 36 55 37 46 27 30 41 24 43 33 28 19 11 21 16 39 19 48 23 16

336 377 285 316 1554 643 419 572 735 1092 710 1173 779 161 630 444 626 1048 300 818 342 441 695 594 1373 125Γ 667 932 632 537 773 748

331 403 296 346 1499 637 421 567 742 1063 691 940 746 164 607 449 621 1022 296 849 357 437 686 527 1304 1338 635 925 627 546 742 734

156 226 163 209 536 293 348 338 412 419 569 499 520 210 502 366 382 695 180 465 290 387 430 397 424 665 305 1919 365 373 387 352

1.65 1.55 1.01 1.02 1.07 1.67 2.89 1.93 1.97 1.35 2.24 2.65 1.87 2.38 2.18 1.81 2.27 2.21 1.48 2.41 1.98 2.65 2.22 3.58 2.87 2.53 2.94 5.32 3.02 1.46 2.22 3.02

Statement 5131, June 1951, Interstate Commerce Commission.

Table V.

Instructions and Definitions Applying to Reporting of Freight Commodity Statistics to Interstate Commerce Commission

A " c a r l o a d " s h a l l c o n s i s t of a s h i p m e n t of n o t less t h a n 10,000 p o u n d s of o n e c o m m o d i t y . A m i x e d c a r l o a d s h a l l b e t r e a t e d as a c a r l o a d of t h a t c o m m o d i t y w h i c h f o r m s t h e m a j o r p o r t i o n of the shipment i n weight. I f a single s h i p m e n t is loaded i n t o more t h a n one c a r , each c a r used shall be r e p o r t e d as a c a r l o a d . I f m o r e t h a n o n e " c a r l o a d " s h i p m e n t is l o a d e d i n t o o n e c a r , e a c h s h i p m e n t s h a l l b e r e p o r t e d s e p a r a t e l y as a c a r l o a d . A l l s h i p m e n t s w e i g h i n g less t h a n 10,000 p o u n d s s h a l l be included i n less-carload freight. " O r i g i n a t e d o n r e s p o n d e n t ' s r o a d " m e a n s : (a) s h i p m e n t s o r i g i n a t e d d i r e c t l y o n r e s p o n d e n t ' s r o a d ; (6) s h i p m e n t s r e c e i v e d f r o m w a t e r l i n e s a n d h i g h w a y m o t o r t r u c k l i n e s , e x c e p t w h e n i d e n t i fied as h a v i n g h a d p r e v i o u s r a i l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ; (c) s h i p m e n t s w h i c h r e c e i v e d first l i n e - h a u l o n r e spondent's r o a d , b u t originated o n s w i t c h i n g lines connected d i r e c t l y or i n d i r e c t l y w i t h respondent's r o a d (d) i m p o r t t r a f f i c r e c e i v e d f r o m w a t e r c a r r i e r s ; a n d t r a f f i c f r o m o u t l y i n g possessions of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s ; a n d (e) o u t b o u n d f r e i g h t w h i c h h a s b e e n a c c o r d e d t r a n s i t p r i v i l e g e s . "Received from connecting rail carriers" means: (a) a l l s h i p m e n t s r e c e i v e d d i r e c t l y f r o m c o n n e c t i n g r a i l c a r r i e r s ; (b) s h i p m e n t s r e c e i v e d f r o m w a t e r l i n e s a n d h i g h w a y m o t o r t r u c k l i n e s , w h e n i d e n t i f i e d f r o m i n f o r m a t i o n o n w a y b i l l s o r a b s t r a c t s as h a v i n g r e c e i v e d p r e v i o u s r a i l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ; (c) s h i p m e n t s r e c e i v e d f r o m c o n n e c t i n g r a i l c a r r i e r s o p e r a t i n g i n C a n a d a o r M e x i c o ; (d) l a k e c a r g o c o a l r e c e i v e d a t u p p e r l a k e p o r t s ; (e) i r o n o r e r e c e i v e d a t l o w e r l a k e a n d S t . L a w r e n c e R i v e r p o r t s ; (/) t i d e w a t e r c o a l f r o m A t l a n t i c p o r t s . " T e r m i n a t e d o n l i n e " m e a n s : (a) s h i p m e n t s t e r m i n a t e d d i r e c t l y o n r e s p o n d e n t ' s r o a d ; (b) s h i p m e n t s d e l i v e r e d t o w a t e r l i n e s a n d h i g h w a y m o t o r t r u c k l i n e s , e x c e p t w h e n i d e n t i f i e d as t o r e c e i v e f u r t h e r r a i l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ; (c) s h i p m e n t s w h i c h r e c e i v e l a s t l i n e - h a u l o n r e s p o n d e n t ' s r o a d , b u t a r e d e l i v e r e d t o s w i t c h i n g r o a d s c o n n e c t e d d i r e c t l y o r i n d i r e c t l y w i t h r e s p o n d e n t ' s r o a d ; (d) e x p o r t t r a f f i c d e l i v e r e d t o w a t e r c a r r i e r s a n d s h i p m e n t s t o o u t l y i n g possessions of t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s . " D e l i v e r e d t o c o n n e c t i n g r a i l c a r r i e r s " m e a n s : (a) a l l s h i p m e n t s d e l i v e r e d d i r e c t l y t o c o n n e c t i n g r a i l c a r r i e r s ; (6) s h i p m e n t s d e l i v e r e d t o w a t e r l i n e s a n d h i g h w a y m o t o r t r u c k l i n e s w h e n i d e n t i f i e d f r o m i n f o r m a t i o n o n w a y b i l l s o r a b s t r a c t s a s t o r e c e i v e f u r t h e r r a i l t r a n s p o r t a t i o n ; (c) s h i p m e n t s d e l i v e r e d t o c o n n e c t i n g r a i l c a r r i e r s o p e r a t i n g i n C a n a d a a n d M e x i c o ; (d) l a k e c a r g o c o a l d e l i v e r e d t o L o w e r L a k e a n d S t . L a w r e n c e R i v e r p o r t s f o r t r a n s s h i p m e n t b y v e s s e l ; (e) i r o n o r e d e l i v e r e d t o U p p e r L a k e p o r t s f o r t r a n s s h i p m e n t b y v e s s e l ; a n d (/) t i d e w a t e r c o a l t o A t l a n t i c p o r t s . " G r o s s f r e i g h t r e v e n u e " m e a n s r e s p o n d e n t ' s gross r e v e n u e f r o m f r e i g h t w i t h o u t a d j u s t m e n t f o r absorptions or corrections.


44


Utilization of Freight Commodity Statistics In order properly to use and interpret the freight commodity statistics, certain i n structions and definitions of the Interstate Commerce Commission should be kept in mind. These definitions are reproduced i n Table V . Certain tables i n the annual tabulation of "Freight Commodity Statistics'' published by the I C C are also recommended because they show such statistics as tons per car by commodities, revenue per ton by commodities, and relative importance of the various commodities. Table V I gives the titles of these tables. Table VI.

Tables Presented in Interstate Commerce Commission's Freight Commodity Statistics for 1 9 5 0


T a b l e 1. T a b l e 2.

T o n s o r i g i n a t e d a n d f r e i g h t r e v e n u e , b y g r o u p s of c o m m o d i t i e s a n d b y d i s t r i c t s T o n s of r e v e n u e f r e i g h t o r i g i n a t e d a n d t o n s t e r m i n a t e d i n c a r l o a d s b y classes o f c o m m o d i ties a n d b y geographic areas T a b l e 3. F r e i g h t traffic o r i g i n a t e d , f r e i g h t t r a f f i c t e r m i n a t e d , t o t a l t r a f f i c c a r r i e d , a n d f r e i g h t r e v e n u e , b y i n d i v i d u a l classes of c o m m o d i t i e s a n d b y r e g i o n s T a b l e 4. A v e r a g e l o a d p e r c a r o r i g i n a t e d , b y i n d i v i d u a l classes of c o m m o d i t i e s a n d b y r e g i o n s T a b l e 5. A v e r a g e r e v e n u e p e r t o n o r i g i n a t e d o r p e r t o n t e r m i n a t e d , b y classes o f c o m m o d i t i e s T a b l e 6. R e l a t i v e i m p o r t a n c e of v a r i o u s g r o u p s of c o m m o d i t i e s , r a t i o s o f g r o u p t o t a l s t o g r a n d t o t a l , tons carried, a n d freight revenue, b y i n d i v i d u a l r a i l w a y s T a b l e 7. T o n s of r e v e n u e f r e i g h t a n d f r e i g h t r e v e n u e f o r e a c h C l a s s I r a i l r o a d b y i n d i v i d u a l classes of c o m m o d i t i e s T a b l e s 4, 5, a n d 6 c o n s i s t of c o m p u t e d a v e r a g e s d e r i v e d f r o m t h e b a s i c s t a t i s t i c s . T h e s e a v e r a g e s include tons per car originated, revenue per t o n originated a n d terminated, b y c o m m o d i t y classes, a n d also t h e r a t i o of t o n s c a r r i e d a n d f r e i g h t r e v e n u e i n t h e m a j o r p r o d u c t groups t o t h e g r a n d totals for a l l traffic h a n d l e d . T h e ratios serve t o show t h e r e l a t i v e i m p o r t a n c e of t h e v a r i o u s m a j o r c o m m o d i t y classes. T a b l e 2 as i s s u e d for 1950 i s t h e l a s t s t a t e m e n t of t h i s series, t h e r e p o r t i n g of t h e s e d a t a h a v i n g b e e n discontinued.

When commodity statistics of railroads i n a particular area, district, or region are combined, they point up the peculiar production and traffic characteristics of areas which may have a bearing on such matters as freight car distribution. When the annual statis tics of all railroads in the country are combined, a comprehensive picture of the producing and consuming areas is obtained as well as a clearer understanding of the vital part played by railroad transportation in the economic life of the nation. These statistics are used extensively by the Interstate Commerce Commission i n its general regulatory functions, particularly i n connection with analyses of rate structures and related matters, and are also utilized in the commission's cost formulas i n various ways. These statistics are also used by the United States Department of Commerce as source material in research problems in trade analyses and studies, as well as by industry and the public i n rate cases and similar pioceedings, and by other government agencies for a variety of purposes. While the freight commodity statistics may sometimes be used i n connection with national production figures, such uses should always be made with caution. Railroad freight commodity statistics are not intended to reflect commercial production, but only to show the tonnage of the specified commodity classes offered for rail transportation. Keeping this important consideration i n mind, Table V I I shows for the 34 major commodity classes, of particular interest to the industry, the number of cars originated, tons originated, and the freight revenue as well as the tons per car, revenue per car, and revenue per ton, for 1950, the latest year for which complete data are available. A s shown on Table V I I , 2,074,887 carloads were originated, representing 83,788,318 tons of freight. F o r transporting this freight, the railroads received $709,000,000. The average revenue per car ranged from a low of $157.52 for vegetable and nut cake and meal to a high of $2171.88 per car for ammunition and explosives, the average for the 34 classes as a whole being $341.72. F o r each ton of freight transported, the railroads received $8.46, as shown in the bottom line of the last column. The transportation of many of the chemicals and/or chemical products involves LITERATURE RESOURCES Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1954.

45

TURNER—RAILROAD TRANSPORTATION STATISTICS FOR THE CHEMICAL INDUSTRY

Table VII.

Carloads and Tons Originated and Freight Revenue for Calendar Year 1950

(34 freight commodity classes of interest to the chemical and allied products industry) No.

Commodity

35 37 39 47

Cotton linters, oils, and resins Cottonseed Cottonseed oil cake and meal Vegetable and nut cake and meal, n.o.s. Salt

341 343 345 417 509


511

Phosphate rock Sulfur Rosin and turpentine Gases, other than petroleum, n.o.s. Cottonseed oil

Tons Originated

Freight Revenue

Tons per Car

Revenue per Car

Revenue per Ton

48,624 8,228 33,939

965,940 255,113 1,142,739

$11,600,946 1,339,723 7,338,250

19.9 31.0 33.7

$238.58 162.82 216.22

$12.01 5.25 6.42

24,430 98,547

692,743 3,712,145

3,848,304 31,140,674

28.4 37.7

157.52 316.0

5.56 8.39

357,460 81,798 25,624

20,513,437 5,296,566 690,918

58,402,463 18,563,366 8,836,833

57.4 64.8 27.0

163.38 226.94 344.87

2.85 3.50 12.79

58,278 35,026

1,696,125 1,057,832

20,160,916 12,589,863

29.1 30.2

345.94 359.44

11.89 11.90 14.34 15.16

Carloads Originated

10,965 19,782

314,258 566,441

4,507,193 8,586,953

28.7 28.5

525 527

Linseed oil Vegetable and nut oils, n.o.s. Rubber, crude, natural, and synthetic Rubber goods Chemicals, n.o.s.

411.05 434.08

39,718 3,603 182,635

1,400,505 62,436 5,996,588

22,688,843 2,040,159 95,192,942

35.3 17.3 32.8

571.25 566.24 521.22

16.20 32.68 15.87

529 531 533 535 537

Sulfuric acid Acids, n.o.s. Sodium (soda) products Alcohol, n.o.s. Blacks, n.o.s.

64,282 33,222 192,696 29,095 18,469

3.462,975 1,248,241 8,606,399 779,211 557,118

13,686,548 15,145,711 69,386,688 11,234,673 13,794,210

53.9 37.6 44.7 26.8 30.2

212.91 455.89 360.08 386.14 746.88

539 541

Fertilizers Insecticides and fungicides, n.o.s. Tar, pitch, and creosote Tanning materials, n.o.s. Paint, paint material, putty, and varnish

360,398

14,776,444

80,931,242

41.0

224.56

3.95 12.13 8.06 14.42 24.76 5.48

10,619 57,591 7,268

248,680 2,443,351 230,015

5,086,683 15,947,075 2,631,513

23.4 42.4 31.6

479.02 276.90 362.07

20.45 6.53 11.44

46,187

1,275,905

21,331,953

27.6

Plastics Cellulose articles, n.o.s. Drugs, medicines, and toilet preparations Tires and tubes, rubber Ammunition and explosives

560 2,455

10,118 34,384

265,881 985,648

18.1 14.0

461.86 474.79 401.49

26.28 28.67

7,608 78,622 38,705

164,726 1,241,781 1,498,083

5,200,126 25,861,457 84,062,494

21.7 15.8 38.7

683,51 328.93 2171.88

31.57 20.83 56.11

8,123 28,293

157,728 1,321,379

2,813,042 9,897,611

19.4 46.7

346.31 349.83

17.83 7.49

56,589 5,448

1,282,641 85,353

21,636,332 2,296,096

22.7 15.7

2,074,887

83,788,318

709,032,411

382.34 421.46 341.72

16.87 26.90 8.46

513 517 523

543 545 547 549 551 553 672 631 731 757 769 771

Synthetic fiber and yarns (rayon or nylon) Molasses, residual Soap and cleaning and washing compounds Matches Total

16.72

hazards to the railroads, i n that some products are explosive, while others are flammable, corrosive, or contaminating. M a n y chemical companies own or lease their own special types of cars for the transportation of these products (both inbound and outbound). Details as to the number and kinds of these privately owned cars may be found i n the quarterly publication The Official Railway Equipment Register. A quick check of the January 1951 issue indicates that more than 9000 freight cars are owned b y chemical companies and possibly 25,000 privately owned cars are used i n chemical service. These cars are predominantly tank cars, many of them of special construction to meet particular needs such as the handling of acids. For the freight transported i n these privately owned freight cars, the railroads col lect the published tariff charges for the shipment, but pay the owners of the car a specified rate per mile for both the loaded and empty movement of the car. For some industries, the freight commodity statistics provide some basis for estimat ing the amount of rail transportation requirements. B u t for an industry with ramifica tions as extensive as those of the chemical and allied products industry, such an estimate would be impossible. However, utilizing the 34 major commodity groups listed i n Table V I I as a minimum, the railroads in 1950 provided the industry with transportation serv ice for 2,074,887 carloads of freight, containing 83,788,328 tons of freight, for which they received $709,032,411 i n gross freight revenue. This amount represents more than 9 % of the gross freight revenues collected by all Class I railroads on all carload freight handled. If to these figures could be added the freight charges on that portion of the general LITERATURE RESOURCES Advances in Chemistry; American Chemical Society: Washington, DC, 1954.

46


or basic commodities used by the chemical industry, such as coal, petroleum products, iron and steel products, lumber and lumber products, glass and glass products, and paper and paper products, the gross freight revenue figure of $709,000,000 could well be raised to a billion dollars or more. In short, the chemical and allied products industry makes much greater use of rail road transportation service, and depends upon such service to a much greater degree, than is indicated i n the summary of the 34 major commodity classes.


Literature Cited (1) Association of American Railroads, Washington 6, D. C., "Commodity Classification," 1947. (2) Manufacturing Chemists' Association, Washington, D. C., "Chemical Facts and Figures. Use ful Information and Statistics Relating to the Chemical and Allied Products Industries," 3rd ed., pp. 1, 290, 1950. RECEIVED April 22, 1952. Accepted October 20, 1952. Presented before the Division of Chemical Literature Symposium on Literature Sources for Chemical Market Research, at the 121st Meeting of the AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY, Buffalo, Ν. Y.


Railroad Transportation Statistics for the Chemical and Allied Products

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