Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-10-22
FIRST EDITION.
The Fruit Growers,

ANNUAL MEETING OF THE PENINaULAR ASSOCIATION,
YEsrEHDAY-DIsoussIoR ON THE PEACH CROP,
AND HOW TO MARKET 1T.
The Peninsular Fruit Growers Association met
IN the Farmers Club Room at Dover. YESTERDAY
There was but limited attendance, and no
business OF any great Importance was transacted
except M regard TO the committee on 'New Mar
ket5 and Routes"
The discussions were entirely informal. and
being unrestrained by the technicaties of parlia-
| mentary practice were trihe Disconnected
The meeting was CALLED to order al 8 o'clock
by the President, John Z. Cochran, in the chair
1t was then announced by the Secretary, ]. Alex
| ander Fulton, Esq., that this was the day of an
| nual election OF officers of the Association.
| MIR Saml Townsend said that he had few
| words to say, just then, il he might be allowed
| to proceed He spoke concerning the benefits
| which had occurred to the peach growers of the
Peninsula from the well directed efforts of the
Association, in respect to a reduction OF tariff
| and improvements in transportation.
| general discussion followed, in the course
| of which MIR. Townsend alluded TO the fact that
| there were great many growers who although
/ they reaped hll the benefits of the labors of the
| Association, did not pay anything towards the
| support of its efforts. MIR. Townsend thought
| that this was not Just, and limited that the As.
| sociatlon in order to protect itself. might be
compelled to organize all exclusive body, ma
king its arrangements only with regard to the
individual convenience aud profit OF it's own
members, and not, as heretofore, advance the
Mr.. CummIns thought that his friend Mr.
Townsend had laid too much emphasis upon the
benefits OF the Association. Although he con-
ceded that it had been of much advantage to the
marketing OF the fruit, yet that peaches had and
would pay even without making any arrange
ments for such a crop as MIR. II. had estimated
might at some PERIOD be thrown upon the mar
ket. He said his eyes had been opened, lately.
to very important fact namely, that where the
crop yields heavily one season, in any particular
locality, the yield would be lighter, II not an ac
tual failure in the same locality the next year,
and Uice Usrsu. Hence there was no fear that the
supply would ever exceled the demand to such
an extent as to qualify the statement that peach
would pay in the future He had taken cour-
age from tins fact, and intended planting more
trees in the Spring. He then spoke OF the ad-
vantages OF shipping fruit by water. He would
never consent to pay 800 per car for the ship
ment OF peaches to New York, when he can get
his grain OH for half that sum. He had tried the
water route during the recent break. and found
that 1t worked well, the fruit being delivered in
better condition, while the tariff was very consid
erably less.
Mr. Futon moved that the Association pro-
ceed to the election OF officers
On motion of Mr.. Hayes, the old officers were
reelected by accamatlon.
MIR. Townsend, chairman OF the committee on
new markets and routes made a verbal report
OF the progress of that committee. He stated
that they were not ready to make q full report.
the committee had not been over the routes
speClutu, DuL ndu ODldlneu phhsbb lUT tIAt puf-
pose and would be prepared to give a complete
report Of the arrangements which they might
make, at the next meeting OF the Association.
On motion of MIR, Hayes, the committee was
continued without further instructions.
MIR. Townsend then spoke Of the manner in
which the committee proposed to distribute the
fruit to the interior markets, supposing that
each city of $4,000 inhabitants would consume
one car or 16,UOO baskets of peaches, Boston |
taking an entire tram, and distributing at least
teu a pruyiupnra.
MIR. Fulton complained that the trains were |
not put on the road, sufficiently early and that |
they were removed too soon. Concerning the |
interior shipments, he said that peaches could |
be transported live hundred miles, provided they |
we're properly packed. Pittsburg was not quite |
that distance from Dover. That city, he said |
was an excellent market. Erie and Buffalo could |
be reached i'll from IL to 70 hours by making |
proper arrangements with the railroad thus open
lug wide market in New York State, and Wes- |
tern Pennsylvania. In regard to the Transports |
tion to New York, he said that it as nearly |
perfect could be desired, and the only question
involved III shipping to that market Was reduc. |
lion Of tarltT lhlH much could not be said of
the transportation to Philadelphia. The fruit J
was stolen ON the way to that city. He did not I
pretend to say who WAS to blame in this matter. |
The returns anG accounts this year have been |
generally satisfactory. |
Mr. Townsend said that the railroad could not |
compete with water transportation 10 Philadel- |
phla The peaches sent to that city by rail were |
stolen, as Mr.. Fulton lad stated. He dis |
posed to lind fault with the railroad company i'll |
this respect.
MIR. Cummins advanced the statement that |
New YORK was the best market in the world, from
which Mr.. Townsend vigorously dssented affirm
ing that this was true Uuly 30 far as the supply |
WAS llmtt d.
Mr. Hayes asked who the committee on New |
Routes and Markets" were expected to repre-
sent-the members of the Association, or the /
entire Fruit Growing section.
MIR II ,yuapud thOuUbt IL nnada diffar-
ence; IN either case the growers would sustain
them in any arrangements which it might be |
necessary to m Ike
After prolonged discussion of the feasibi-
ty and probable success OF the routes and mar
kets, the Association adjourned to meet in Feb
ruary next,