Middletown transcript., 1870-02-26
For the Middletopn Transcript.

ty. l happened to be that individual,
and therefore write this communication,
and wish every peach grower in this coun-
ty to read it, especially the growers of the
two lower hundreds, who grow large guam
titles and ship them by Rail Road to the
New York market. Our Association is
divided with regard to the best, or cheap
est way. to ship peaches to New York
those along the water trying to use the
influence of the Association to open up
water route. l have no complaint to make,
however, against those growers who live
near, or propose to ship by water, Qhey
pocketing the loss on arrival in New York,
of fruit in bad condition.l But, I have
complaint to make against those whose
interest it is to ship by Rail Road. for not
attending the meetings and having the
constitution amended, so that meetings
could be held at Middletown, Milford,
Seaford, or Georgetown, as well as at Do
yer, the yearly meeting to be still held at
Dover. This Association has done great
deal for the grower, but much yet remains
to be done, to insure the profits to the
grower.
The peach commission men of n York,
are sharp, shrewd set of men, who thro'
their agents controlled the peach business
whilst the growers confined their ship
ments to Philadelphia but when the
growers along the line of the Delaware
Rail Road broke past that Philadelphia
monopoly and shipped to Jersey City and
made it the great distributing point, they
took position, that with the proper fore
sight and independence, can always keep
the control of the business in their hands.
For this purpose [ helped to get up the
Peninsular Association, to combine the
growers together. We last year got the
freight by Rail Road reduced to S135,
State Rail Road tax included, for one car
load of peaches of 49, 900 lbs. from Dover
to Jersey City. with return of empty cars
and baskets included, which with our
standard of 80 lbs. to the basket, gives
533 baskets of peaches for each car load
from Dover, less above and more below
that point
Now it is proposed, and some interviews
have been held, between some of the COM
mittee and the President of the p W, &
B. R. II. Co. on the subject of reducing
and making the freight from Dover 800
for one car load of 16, 900 lbs. The said
President, whose Company operates the
Delaware Rail Road, stated that he would
be willing to enter into such an arrange
ment, but that we the peach growers must
get the consent of the Camden and Amboy
and n j. Rail Roads. This the commit
tee have not yet done, nor have they yet
had consultation with said companies,
and | as one of the committee appointed
to act on this matter, suggest an early
meeting with the Presidents Of those roads,
and urge the following points for the COM
mittee to demand: First, reduction of
freight, so that the whole cost of car load
of peaches of 10000 lbs. from Dover to
Jersey City, shall not exceed 800, other
places in proportion, and the empty cars
and baskets to ho returned free of charge,
and their cars to be as well ventilated as
those of the p. w. & b. Il. r. Co. ID,
the G. 4 a. Co. shall designate an agent
or agents at Jersey City, whose duty it
shall be to be present at the arrival of ev-
cry peach train, and when called on by
any agent or commission man who is au-
thorized to take charge of the peaches in
any car, and if any peaches, baskets, or
crates, should have been taken or stolen
out of said car, the said Rail Road agent
or agents shall give a certificate of the fact
to the commission salesman of the peaches
for him to hand over to his employer, the
shipper, to collect from the Company for
all such losses. Sd, the said G. X A. Co.
shall direct proper persons in their employ
to receipt for all empty baskets to be re-
turned to the peach shipper, This mid
dle-man will protect both shipper and sell
Ter. 4th, the said committee should also
insist on the G, & A. Co. putting up long
sheds at Jersey City, so that the wholesale
peach trade could be accommodated and
further, l propose that the Committee on
Consignments and Sales proceed to New
York at as early day as possible, and
request the Peach Commissions men to
meet the Committee at some public hotel
or hall, and that the Committee tell these
commission that they should not, af-
ter peaches were sold or engaged at Jer-
sey City. charge the shipper carriage to N.
York; and for this Committee to draw up
an instrument of writing plainly cmbody-
ing the determination of the growers, and
ask all peach salesmen who were in favor
of this measure to sign their names to said
instrument, so that the Committee could
report it at the next meeting of the Peach
Growers. And further, carriage on all
peaches not sold in Jersey City, but had
to be taken over to the market stands to
be retaicd, should be paid for by the ship
per. Said Committee should also call on
the Rail Road managers and owners of the
Jersey City Ferry, and insist on the ferri-
age on peaches being reduced and charged
the same rates as other horse-loads of stuff.
Now the rates are 30 per cent higher on
peaches than other stuff, although the said
Company gets profits on the peaches
freighted over its road.
1t is important that the Committee on
Transportation and on Commissions and
Sales, should act during the early part of
next month, March and should there