Middletown transcript., 1870-03-12
THE FRUIT TRADE,
Customs, Abuses and Remedies

, ~'S" 1oihoit iioH WHICH JOur0a
we copy and publish it, at the request of
Fruit Dealer in New York. Much ha.
been said against them, let them now be
heard in their own defence:
Some peach growers have taken excep-
ton to tho point in my article on the Del
aware peach trade, that dealer is respon-
sible only for the baskets which he loses.
or, in other words. that his resp onsibiity
does not cease on the delivery of them to
the railway company. They say, and in
sist upon it, that we ought to pay for all
that is lost up to the delivery of them at
their depots. l will soon show that this
system would be ruinous to the dealer.
Baskets are an expensive feature in
marketing the peach crop, and for that
reason farmers dread the purchasing of
them. Once purchased, they think there
ought not to be any wear out or loss to
them, unless the dealer pays for it. Many
of these baskets are kept for years, and in
time become quite worn out. Yet if thew
Will hold together so as to begin the sea-
son, shippers do not care how soon they
are lost; it is so much gain to them, as
they are sure to demand the price of new
one for every one lost. Not only this,
but they will let their old baskets lie at
the depot, or along the road at any other
depot, as it is their interest to do so, par
tlcularly at the latter end of the season q:
for, as we all know, it is a rare occurrence
for them to have a regular series of this
crop, and they greatly prefer the cash to
the carrying of them over for one, two, or
three years
They are also unwilling to admit the de-
probation of value of the baskets by use. |
but always demand twenty-five cents at
least for them, because the dealers require
that amount from the buyers as deposit,
to guarantee them against loss That fact
has no bearing on the case, for the dealer
must, and does lose many, in spite of all
precaution. and it is no more than lust
that he should guard against losses: and if
the growers receive the value of their bas-
kets, it is none of their business how much
or little deposit the dealer requires from
his customers. Who ever heard of grow
ar refusing twenty-five cents for baskets
hat were not worth fifteen cents, because
they were not worth it? I never have,
md doubt if such case ever existed but
do know where q farmer has received &;
'ay for baskets that he knew were safe in
lis barn at the time he took the money,
imply because they had slipped through
he hands of his dealer without beino .
harged to him. !;
Ii dealer must be held responsible for a
ne return of the baskets to the depot, why
ot hold him responsible for the safe arriv-
OF the fruit? The point is the same. :
nd would relieve the railroad from all re- I
possibility. 1t is generally known, and !
II dealers know, that during the past n
eason, more than thousand baskets of ~
'ult have been stolen from the cars on
lelr route to the city why not make the ,
ealer responsible for them? No one pre- Y
lmes to do so nor do they undertake to n
lake the railroads pay for them, for it is q, n
nown they won't do it. And in cases r
here railroads have failed to return a /,
hole car load of empty baskets, shippers
ave not demanded pay for them, for the ec
me reason; so they think they can bring II
pressure powerful enough to make the N
'alers pay for them, and they try it, re- La
'rdless of any justice in the case 1t is 81
reason that they should because a deal m
charters the cars, for they are chartered q.
the benefit of the farmers only, and if
alers do not do it the growers would be w,
Iged to. Is it not unjust in the ex- ro
sme to demand of the dealer the safe re- 81,
rn of the baskets on that ground? or is C.
ere no cause of gratitude whatever on -
c part of these persons2 n,
GroWers sometimes complain of the wrong
skets being sent them. I admit that to in
the case, and it cannot be avoided in ma
, rush of the trade but it would be aIo
ry simple thing for the grower to sort am O
I'm out and return them Immediately to
dealer, so that he can give credit for ere
m, and return them to the proper own. a =
but the reverse is the practice very Of the
J.. They are thrown out, and nothing em
about them until shippers find they arc
charged to them; then they enter their oil,
nplaint and demand pay for them. Sow
. Well, !" says farmer, g how are we :.
know that you delivered the baskets to wb
cars?" Very easily. If you doubt col,
honesty of your dealer, unite and send VIII
agent to the city on purpose to sign a 9th
eipt for them, and keep regular ac- and
mt of them every day; at the same tbe
the agent can be very useful in noting WI
condition OF the fruit on arrivals, the It'll,
e OF the market, and many other items to I
ch are Of interest to the farmers, but lon,
which the dealer has no time to note.
is true this plan will cost the growers
ley, but they reap all the benefit deri- A
from it. and if they are unwilling to a la
It slight expense for their own bene- "L
they cannot expect dealer to do it. mar
lost of the dealers can show a correct he i
y shipment of baskets, and are willing of I
arnish an affidavit to that effect and thir
leir accounts of sales have proved cor
and satisfactory, the probability is A
the basket account is correct also at thor
that fact should command for him into
Q sign of respect instead of the title of for
ldler, simply because the baskets did ".J;