A few weeks ago there was considerable exchange in this group on the topic of grain doors for boxcars. Herewith some 1945 C&S correspondence on the topic.
On Feb. 2, 1945, general manager J.D. Walker wrote division superintendent E.P. Stine in Denver:
"Attached is copy of circular letter dated January 30th, from Manager Howard of the Western Weighing and Inspection Bureau, with reference to conservation of grain doors, with which he enclosed a proposed circular to Agents and others concerned with the handling of grain doors.
"It would appear from Mr. Howard's letter that here is a good opportunity to make a substantial saving for the railroad. Wish you would please issue a circular to your Agents, and others concerned along the lines suggested by Mr. Howard, letting us have copy of same for our files."
The Jan. 30 letter from Western Weighing and Inspection Bureau manager J.H. Howard came from the bureau general office in Room 460 of Chicago Union Station and was adddressed to chief operating officers of member lines:
"As you know, grain doors are difficult to obtain at the present time and their cost has increased materially -- the average price for twenty inch doors at Chicago now being $1.78, at St. Louis $1.54, and comparable prices in other territories.
"In checking grain weights and reclaiming grain doors it has been noted that in many recent instances cars have been coopered with from twenty to thirty or more grain doors, although in a number of cases one-half the number would have served the purpose.
"No doubt this situation is brought about to a great extent from lack of supervision at the thousands of small elevators which are remote from railroad stations or at points where no railroad agent is stationed and also, due to the existing car shortage cars are loaded which are not fit for grain and grain doors are used to cover broken walls and floors.
"With a view of reducing expenses and conserving grain doors and lumber, I suggest the matter be brought to the attentionof your agents and others concerned by a circular, somewhat along the lines of the attached.
"In order to assist as much as possible I have instructed our representatives to be ont he look-out for instances where grain doors are used in excess of the actual requirements and report such cases to me so that they may be handled at point of origin and this practice eliminated on subsequent shipments."
The accompanying suggested circular to "Agents and Others Concerned" --
"The price of grain doors has increased materially in recent months and the average price for twenty inch grain doors in the chicago territory is now $1.78 each, at St. Louis $1.54, and comparable prices in other territories. Furthermore, it is increasingly difficult to procure grain doors and it is important that this material be conserved to the fullest extent possible.
"It has come to my attention that in many instances the number of grain doors used for coopering cars is in excess of actual requirements. Frequently from 20 to 30 doors are used for side door protection when approximately one-half that number would have served the purpose. In other instances, grain doors are used for lining broken walls or covering holes in floors of cars which are not fit for grain loading and should not be used for this purpose, but are loaded on account of the existing car shortage.
"Since grain is loaded at thousands of elevators, many of which are remote from railroad stations or at points where no railroad agent is located, the use of grain doors is difficult to control and the above situation is, no doubt, brought about to a great extent by lack of supervision.
"The excessive use of grain doors not only results in depreciation to the doors themselves, but where the cars move off our line the doors become the property of the destination railroad and are a total loss to our railroad. You can, therefore, readily understand that if from ten to twenty more doors than are necessary are used it results in a loss to our line of from $15.00 to $35.00 or more.
"Therefore, please make a check of the procedure followed by elevators and mills at your respective stations with a view of determining that they have familiarized themselves with the proper methods of coopering cars for grain loading and that they understand that cars which are not fit for grain should not be used for this purpose, nor should grain doors be used in preparing cars for grain loading except for side door protection.
"Please give this your prompt attention as it is extremely important that grain doors and lumber be conserved to the fullest extent possible and our expenses for this material be kept at a minimum."
C&S-FW&D motive power superintendent John "Jack" Pfeiffer had received a carbon copy of Walker's letter and on February 5 addressed the general foremen at Denver and Trinidad, W.F. Kascal and G.M. Mitchell on the subject:
"For your information, I am attaching hereto copies of circular letter dated january 30, from Western Weighing and Inspection Bureau and notice to Agents regarding the misuse of grain doors.
"While the Mechanical Department is not primarily involved with the dutyof applying grain doors to cars, I am sure that car inspectors are in a position to observe cars in which grain doors have been left so that those concerned can be notified to remove them.
"There is quite a bit of money involved in reclaiming these grain doors and it is to our advantage to do so wherever possible."
The file concludes with the bulletin to agents issued by the Santa Fe's Colorado Division superintendent, J.E. Lester, at Pueblo on February 8, 1945 under the straightforward title, "Grain Doors." This bulletin was issued to all agents on the Joint Line between Denver and Pueblo, as well as to agents on all other Santa Fe lines within Colorado and portions of Kansas and New Mexico:
"The price of grain doors has increased and conserving grain doors and lumber, therefore, has become an item of very great importance to our railroad. We are paying $1.54 for 20" grain doors in the Kansas City territory and comparable prices in other territories. Furthermore, it is increasingly difficult to procure grain doors.
"It has come to my attention that in many instances the number of grain doors used for coopering cars is in escess of actual requirements. Frequently from 20 to 30 doors are used for side door protection when approximately half that number would have served the purpose. In other instances, grain doors are used for lining broken walls or covering holes in floors of cars which are not fit for grain loading and should not be used for this purpose, but are loaded on account of the existing car shortage.
"Some grain is loaded at blind sidings, where staion employes do not have a chance to supervise, and where this is done, the operators of these elevators should be advised in regard to the very urgent need for preserving our grain door supply.
"The excessive use of grain doors not only results in depreciation to the doors, but whent he cars move off our line the doors become the property of the destination railroad and are a total loss to ours. You can, therefore, readily understand that when ten to twenty more doors than are necessary are used it results in a loss to our line from $15.00 to $35.00 or more.
"Accordingly, please make a check of the procedure followed by elevators and mills at your respective stations with a view of determining that they have familiarized themselves with the proper methods of coopering cars for grain loading and that they understand that cars which are not fit for grain should not be used for this purpose, nor should grain doors be used in preparing cars for grain loading except for side door protection.
"Please give this prompt and constant attention as it is extremely important that grain doors and lumber be conserved to the fullest extent possible and our expense for this material be kept at a minimum."
The clerk who edited WW&IB manager Hansen's suggested circular or bulletin for Santa Fe superintendent Lester did a fine job of improving on the original! I found no copies of the bulletin as edited and distributed by the C&S -- or by the Q.
Hol
__._,_.___
![]()
__,_._,___
|