Freight car loadings

Title

Creator

Libunao, Jose B.

Language

English

Source

The American Chamber of Commerce Journal Volume XXX (Issue No. 6) June 1954

Year

1954

Rights

In Copyright - Educational Use Permitted

Fulltext

June, 1954 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL 231 Molasses....................................... Plywood and plywood pro ducts .......................................... Ores, chrome.............................. Ores, iron.................................... Ores, manganese....................... Pineapples, canned................... Rattan, round........................... Rice............................................... Rope.............................................. Shell, shell waste...................... Sugar, cent, raw........................ Sugar, refined............................. Sugar, muscovado..................... Tobacco ........................................ Vegetable oil.............................. Veneer........................................... Transit cargo............................. Merchandise, general.............. 16,066 tons 15,202 tons 26 ” 15 ” 36,708 ” 41,303 ” 32,518 ” 92,121 ” 319 ” 984 ” 5,032 ” 12,444 ” 267 ” 254 ” 6,584 ” — 341 ” 447 ” 70 ” 39 ” 121,750 ” 124,703 ” 897 ” — 251 ” — 319 ” 1,624 ” 101 ” 43 ” 30 ” 680 ” 30 ” 513 ” 2,360 ” Products of forests.............................................. 9,031 Products of manufactures................................. 35,188 Merchandise less than by carloads................ 2,446 Total..................................................... 119,621 17,276 23,890 4,568 76,076 Freight Car Loadings By Jose B. Libunao Traffic Manager, Manila Railroad Company LOADINGS of revenue freight during the month of April, 1954, totaled 6,262 cars. This was an increase of 3,529, or 129.13%, over loadings during April, 1953, of 2,733 cars. The increase in the number of cars used was due to the delay in the cutting of sugar cane for the Pasudeco, Pasumil, and Central Azucarera sugar cen trals on the Northern Line and for the Canlubang Sugar Estate on the Southern Line. It may be stated that even in May, Pasudeco is still cutting cane. Revenue Carloadings by Group Commodities Products of agriculture...................................... Animal products................................................... Products of mines................................................ Class April—Tonnage 1954 70,110 432 2,413 1953 27,393 1,021 1,935 In this review there were 47 items considered, and of these 16 registered increases while 31 suffered declines. There was an aggregate increase of 61,242 tons and an aggregate decrease of 17,697 tons. The most important items which registered increases were: sugar cane, 43,255 tons; centrifugal sugar, 12,357 tons; fuel oil, 1,962 tons; and soft drinks, 1,519 tons, or an aggregate total increase of 59,093 tons. On the other hand, the important items which suffered declines were: lumber, 6,151 tons; mer chandise less carloads 2,123 tons; wood fuel, 1,850 tons; gasoline, 1,821 tons; and molasses, 1,428 tons, or an ag gregate decline of 13,373 tons. It is evident from the above figures that the increase in sugar cane is due to the greater production this season which very nearly reached pre-war level, while the increase in centrifugal sugar is due to increased exportation for the period. As a matter of fact there is plenty of centrifugal sugar which cannot be loaded on vessels, as existing port facilities cannot accommodate the berthing of ships. Mo lasses, on the other hand} showed a decline in carloadings due to the competition of barges and the lack of railroad facilities to handle this commodity. Trucks also carried a good amount of molasses via Guagua wharf. The in crease in shipments of fuel oil was due to the use of this oil in the sugar centrals as well as in other factories. The increase in soft drink shipments, on the other hand, was primarily due to the summer season. The decrease in lumber shipments was due to lower exportation. Wood fuel has been lately shipped by barges because of lack of freight cars which could be supplied for this commodity. Merchandise shipped in less than carComplete . . . Integrated Facilities— ENGINEERS—CONTRACTORS MANUFACTURERS—DISTRIBUTORS Operating: STRUCTURAL STEEL FABRICATING SHOP MACHINE SHOPS FOR CONSTRUCTION & REPAIR FOUNDRY FOR CAST IRON, BRASS & BRONZE WOOD PRESERVING PLANT K5OW-IIOW” BACKED BY EXPERIENCE SINCE HIO5 232 AMERICAN CHAMBER OF COMMERCE JOURNAL June, 1954 loads lots has decreased due to keener competition by land haulers. There is also the scarcity of money, as may be noted from the general decline in the prices of many com modities, well demonstrated by special sales at reduced prices. For the month of May the carloadings will continue the favorable trend shown in the month of April. Mining By Henry A. Brimo President Philippine Gold Producers Association, Inc. THE late Congress of the Philippines held its last regular session on May 20, 1954. On that day, it passed House Bill No. 2294, entitled “An Act to Provide for Emer gency Assistance to the Gold Mining Industry of the Philip pines, to Authorize the Appropriation of Funds Therefor, and for Other Purposes.” Passage was aided, and in fact, made possible by a certificate of urgency signed by President Ramon Magsaysay which allowed final voting to take place in both Houses without the normally necessary three readings. This bill was introduced in the House of Representa tives by Congressmen Reynaldo P. Honrado, Ramon P. Mitra, and Luis Hora. In the Senate, it was sponsored by Senator Fernando Lopez, while Senator Emmanuel Pelaez gave the introductory remarks and clarified its provisions before actual voting took place. On the previous day (May 19), House Bill No. 1862, introduced by Congressmen Antonio V. Raquiza, Erasmo R. Cruz, Eulogio Rodriguez, Jr., Jose Puey, and Lorenzo C. Teves, and entitled “An Act Amending Section One of Republic Act Numbered Six Hundred One” (re tax on foreign exchange) was also approved by Congress, resulting in relief for the mining industry from the 17% Exchange Tax. This bill benefits the base-metal mines, as the gold producers had received this exemption the previous year through the enactment of Republic Act No. 909, which legislation also gave the gold producers, as readers will recall, exemption from the Compensating Tax as well. The Subsidy Bill divides the individual gold producers into marginal and non-marginal mines, depending on whe ther the total net profit is above or below the “base profit”. The bill defines “base profit” as that profit “equal to the quotient of the total remaining capital investment divided by the anticipated lifetime of the ore reserve plus 10%; or 10% of the gross receipts, whichever is lower”. Mines thus classified as “marginal” will be allowed, at their option, to sell their newly-mined gold in the local free market (and forfeit the subsidy) or to the Central Bank, where it will receive a total of Pl 11.72 per ounce for refined gold (roughly Pl 11.00 bullion). “Non-marginal” mines have the choice of the free market or the subsidy, but in case a mine chooses the latter, i.e., sells its gold to the Central Bank, it will receive only P105.40 per ounce refined (roughly P104.68 bullion). On the day before the last Congressional session (May 20), local bullion was sold for P105.25 per ounce. The first sale after May 20, or after the bill was passed, occurred during the May 22/23 week-end and at a price P3.75 per ounce higher, or P108.00. Subsequently there was a sale on May 25 at P109.00 and two days later at P109.85, all for bullion. Heavy sales of refined were also done during this time, all at Pl 10.00 per ounce. It is likely that the price will remain around these levels for the time being, or until the subsidy takes full effect after some 60 days (30 days while it awaits the usual Presidential signature and ENGINEERING EQUIPMENT & SUPPLY COMPANY, Inc. MACHINERY • MECHANICAL SUPPLIES • ENGINEERS • CONTRACTORS AIR CONDITIONING For Offices, Theatres, Hospitals, Stores, Restaurants, Hotels, Clubs and Homes ★ ★ ★ Suppliers of MACHINERY, EQUIPMENT and INDUSTRIAL SUPPLIES For Sugar Centrals, Mines, Sawmills, Power Plants, Machine Shops and All Industrial Plants ★ ★ ★ ENGINEERING — DESIGN — APPLICATION — ESTIMATES INSTALLATION — MAINTENANCE — SERVICE — REPAIRS General & Sales Office 174 M. de Comillas Manila Tel. 3-29-21 ★ ★ ★ Operating: MACHINE SHOPS • STEEL PLATE SHOPS STRUCTURAL STEEL SHOPS • WELDING SHOPS • BLACKSMITH SHOPS • SHEET METAL SHOPS • MARINE RAILWAY Engineering Shops No. 1 Calle L. Segura & Pasig River Mandaluyong, Rizal Tel. 6-65-68

pages

231-232

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