Freight Trains in the United States.

Travelling at an average speed of 13 miles per hour, all the freight trains in the United States move an average distance of about 1,675,000 miles. This is equivalent to 70 trains going around the earth daily.

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Railway Workshops Improvements.

A contract has recently been placed with Messrs. A. and T. Burt, Ltd., for the complete installation of Plenum heating and ventilating plants in the Railway Workshops at Hutt Valley, Otahuhu, Hillside, and Addington.

The contractors will be responsible for the design and complete installation of this work. We understand this is the largest contract ever placed in New Zealand for ventilating plant, and its construction will cover a modern system of heating and ventilating almost new to this country.

It is now a recognised fact that an efficient heating and ventilating plant is a necessary adjunct to the complete equipment of a modern workshop. In practice, such plants become a valuable asset, as the output of the factory is considerably increased when proper working conditions are maintained.

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Profits from Tourists.

According to the “News Bulletin” prepared by the Commercial and Industrial Section of the Department of Markets, Canberra, the expenditure of tourists from the United States in Canada is about fifteen times as large as before the war. About 3,000,000 cars cross the line from the United States during the year, and 8,000 to 10,000 of these cars remain more than a month. Aside from the direct expenditure of these visitors, Canada also receives the less tangible benefit of having her problems better understood abroad, and in the long run there can be no doubt that such a number of visitors will tend to encourage immigration and the inflow of foreign capital for industrial enterprises. Catering for those who vacation in the Rockies, along the lakes and rivers of Central Canada or at the seashore, is becoming an industry of no small importance.

In the midst of the season when there is the greatest influx of visitors to Canada, it is of interest to record that the 1927 tourist season was exceedingly profitable for Canada. The Highways Branch of the Department of Railways has estimated that during 1927 such visitors spent about 275,000,000 dollars in Canada as compared with 200,000,000 dollars in 1926, and 140,000,000 dollars in 1924. The expenditures in 1928 are expected to show a proportionate increase.

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Suggestions and Inventions.

The establishment of the Suggestions and Inventions Committee, in June, 1925, was a notable step forward in the history of the railways. Since the establishment of the committee more than 4,000 suggestions have been sent forward by members of the staff and public, and many of these suggestions have been adopted for the general betterment of the service. Encouraged by the knowledge that their ideas would receive the full consideration of a committee of experts, the railway staff throughout New Zealand has submitted suggestions freely, and suggestions are coming in from the public in ever-increasing numbers.

The following is a review of the work of the committee up to 11th September, 1928:—Number of suggestions received, 4,172; number recommended for adoption, 362; commendations, 274; monetary awards, 80; aggregate sum paid out, £634 7s.

With a view to facilitating the preparation and despatch of suggestions, the committee recently decided to have suitably printed forms prepared on which the suggester's idea may be readily outlined. The cards, when completed, will be deposited in special “Suggestion Boxes” which are to be provided for use at the principal stations and workshops.