Was Vernal unusual in the overall volume of shipments, or is it just this load of bricks that makes it stand out?
The article says, "Many building materials, including cement, plaster, nails,
and other hardware, poured into town. Meanwhile, all the merchants in town received merchandise for their stores via Parcel Post. In September 1916, a train carload of twelve tons of canned tomatoes — 9,720 cans packed in 486 cases — arrived at the Vernal Post Office for area stores."
Did this happen in lots of smaller places in the country, or was Vernal special? If so, why? What was happening in Vernal that would need such a crush of goods?
The article says, "Many building materials, including cement, plaster, nails, and other hardware, poured into town. Meanwhile, all the merchants in town received merchandise for their stores via Parcel Post. In September 1916, a train carload of twelve tons of canned tomatoes — 9,720 cans packed in 486 cases — arrived at the Vernal Post Office for area stores."
Did this happen in lots of smaller places in the country, or was Vernal special? If so, why? What was happening in Vernal that would need such a crush of goods?