Delaware tribune. [volume] (Wilmington, Del.) 1867-1877, 1870-04-28
The Peach Trade.

RATES of FREIGHT ON THE DELAWARE RAILROAD.
We print, below, the resolutions offered by
Robert II. Cummins, of Smyrna. at tho meet
ing of the Peninsular Fruit Growers Association,
at Dover, on tho 10th inst. They represent, it ls
alleged, the views of large number of peach
growers and hence are OF public interest. 1t
will be seen that their gist simply is that 300. is
enough freight on carload Of 800 baskets o
fruit from Dover to Jersey City (about 165 miles
The resolutions are as follows
WHEREAS, The citizens of Delaware during the
last ten years have invested large sums of money
10 the purchase of peach trees and planted thou.-
ands oi ncres of their best land In orchards, the
proper cultivation, care and attention of which,
involve very large additional outlay of capital,
and
WHEREAS, These orchards have been chiefly
planted along the line of the Delaware Railroad
with view Of shipping the fruit IN the markets
Of Philadelphia and New York. by said Railroad, (
| which shipments of fruit have been source of
| enormous revenue to the Railroad Companies,
| amounting to between five md six hundred
thousand dollars, during the past season of about
two months. and
WHEREAS, The rates of freight charged by the
Delaware r. r. Co., heretofore have been exor-
bitant and onerous to the peach growers, which
freight has been equal TO about one half the price
the fruit sold for In New York, and frequently
taking the whole shipment of fruit to pay the
freight charged therefore,
hesolved, That while we fully recognize the
many advantages Of the Delaware Railroad to
the citizens OF Delaware as means of travel and
sure and speedy mode of shipping their pro-
ducts to the great markets where remunerative
prices may be obtained, we also realize the great
advantage the peach growers and farmers are to
the Railroad Companies. Their interests being
mutual and advantages IDENTICAL we therefore
hold as an axiem that the interests of both ths
peach growers and Railroad Companies should
be consulted and mutual, satisfactory and
| friendly understanding should exist between all
parties interested.
Resolped. That hitherto the Delaware Railroad
CO ,mpany and its connections hive charged the
| peach growers and shippers exorbitant rates OF
| freight. That much of the fruit shipped to New
| York, during the late season would not pay the
freight. That the conditions exacted of the peach
growers and shippers were such as to relieve the
said Railroad Companies of all liability as COM
mon carriers, thereby throwing all the loss or
damage, if any there might be by neglect or ac-
cidenfal delay on the peach shipper.
| Hesoired, That while we are iully aware Of the
heavy expense and outlay, the Railroad Compan-
les isust necessarily be subjected to 10 order to
in so short time, running their trains at express
| speed, day and night, we are also fully convinced
| that the sum of zone hundred dollars" for car
load of fruit Of 1000 pounds or 500 baskets to
New York, from Dover, is amply remunerative
| to said Railroad Companies, and would be en-
tirey satisfactory to the peach growers and ship
pers during the coming season.
Resoiped, That copy of these resolutions bs
presented to the officers Of the various railroad
companies interested, and that the Executive
Committee OF this Association be and are hereby
instructed 10 negotiate with said railroad compa-
MES for the hire of cars for transportation Of fruit
during the coming peach season, at 800 per car
of 16 900 pounds, or 500 bushels, from Dover to
New York. and pro rate from all other stations
along the Delaware Railroad.
The resolutions were voted down by the
Convention.