Wilmington daily commercial., 1873-01-06
THE PEACH CROp Of 1878.


/ TOWN ON SATURDAY.
In response to a call by MFR. Samuel Town
send, the peach growers of Middletown and the
surrounding neighborhood, held meeting in the
town hall Of that place ON Saturday afternoon.
Quite large number of the peach mon were
present, and an organization was effected by
calling Mr.. sewell o. Biggs to the chair, and APP
pointing Mr.. sewell Green, Secretary.
Mr.. Townsend stated that the object OF the
meeting was TO have an exchange OF views on
the subject OF freight rates, and TO decide on a
fair rate for the shipment of the peach crop TO
New YSrk and Phlladalphia for 1878 to take
measures by petition, or committees, or both,
10 lay their grievances OF high railroad taxes (of
$3.50 per car load) before the Legislature to de-
liberats on the reduction OF freights generally,
and-uf opening new routes and new markets.
Mr.. Townsend further stated the meeting was
| entirely an outside affair from the Peuinsuar
| Fruit Growers Association, and for the purpose
above stated that they might be better prepared
for the regular meeting OF the Association
in February at Dover He continued his re-
| marks and stated that it was presumed the crop
| of peaches for next season would be large one,
and it was necessary to be prepared for II by
taking early steps in the way of opening new
routes and establishing new markets, thus in
/ some manner to iavoid the exorbitant charges
i made for transportation at Jersey City. The
I meeting Of the farmers combining and working
4 for their own interest was urged, and until this
i was accomplished, he said, the hucksters OF
Jersey City would league together aud buy at.
their own prices, thereby robbing the producers,
} and finally compelling them to cut down their
| orchards and abandon the peach business entire
III y. He referred to the $50 600 tax on the Rail-
road, OF which the peach shippers paid so 900 !;
in favor of fair dealing to ALL aud OF Justice
being done to the Railroad Co. by the Legisa-
ture, and considered State tax on the company
| Of S20, 900 sufficient, which wonld enable them
| { oexempt the growers from such high rates, and
also, ,the l0-cent tax on travel. He suggested
the necessity OF the Legislature acting in behalf
| of the growers for then relief, and IL the State
a conld not regulate matters for Itself, then let
the United States authorities be appealed to. He
held that the Il. h officers had no right legally,
to dictate terms to the peach growers, when they
would not assume the right TO grant them
8 relief from high freights. They could
not afford to be robbed now as they could in
II years past, when they could obtain good prices
II for their fruit. He. had not explicit faith in
Providence providing for them in this matter,
and told those interested to not wait to see what
God would do for them, but il they would e1-
II pect anything, they must go to work, and ut
once to obtain 1t; would not advise them TO de-
70 pend on the Il. Il. companies TO do for them,
but to demand Justice, and at the same time sd-
vised judicious and harmonious action.
At the conc usion of MIR. Us remarks tn
N Secretary read petition to be presented TO the
e Legislature which in regard to taxes. high
freights&c. and asking relief from the same.
MI. Cummius then addressed the meeting
h and suggested taking up the subjects in detail
n | and tluh AfrlNlnS AT Some uenullo Gpncluhlun
n He said that certain objects set forth, had al
ready been placed i'll the hands Of Commltteei
| by the Association, and did not approve OF 60
10 ing to the Legislature and asking for diroc
n- reduction Of rates by that body 1t being injudi
10 cious. The several taxes levied on the rolling
n stock OF the H. X. Company were enumerated
and be referred to the $40 tax por car, per an
mum, in which peaches were shipped, and nj
ls lowing such car to make ton trips in a season
40 and charging 81 80 per car each trip, woull
d amount TO $500 the grower had TO pay whil'
ok the company paid but 80.
MIR. Cummins then offered the following re 40
1 luton:
II, Resolred, That this meeting consider 500 pc
" car load sufficient and much they cor4d af
as ford to pay freight from Dover to Jerso.
" City, and pro rata from all stations AboEo an'
Mr. Griffith moved to amend by Substitution
$50 in lieu ef $50.
rs The resolution was adopted az Araended
th Mr. Cochran, President OF tho kTuit Grower
u Association, took the door, and suggested tn
be propriety of clear aud fair dealing with th
g. Railroad company as the only means by whel
any thing could be accomplished, and urged tin
cooperation Of everyone in the peach business ii
u the effort to secure d reduction Of Gates.
MIR h. 7. Cochran wanted to know what eotiN
ne be gained by the resolutions without an nlcOE
y porate power to legalize and sustain their ~
" | tions, without which they would be considereS
uUy "aset of jackasses.
nc MIR. Townsend differed in opinion and ealle
uu attention to the fact that by earnest aud parse
vering work in this way the rates had been n
he duced from $3.50 to 800 per carload and oil
Ia | fered the follOwing
'es Ilesolg-d, That s2j he sufficient rate per c.
ire load, OF IL 900 pounds from Dover to Pllilade
ay phia, with corresponding rates from all station
al above and below Dover, and that the rOmpau
iy- be requested to erect sheds at Broad Al
4. Prime depot, for the temporary storage
val fruit.
The resolution was adopted. Mr.. T. agaiujto,
the moor and SAID that freight was carried
Ter | cheap from Norfolk to the Northern Market,
his it was from Dover In reference to plac
m. OF meeting, he thought Dover was not a goC
ley | place to secure good attendance. and thougl
all 1t would be advisable to hereafter hold the NEE
the ings OF the Associafon alternately at Middatov
yAs | aud Smyrna
ing Mr.. j. P. FenniHaore said that in the early tlt
ced of railroad enterprises, land in the neghborhot
lily of Middletown could be purchased at sl00l5 p
yed acre that An " Eastern monopoly had Sc,
fit to build railroad through the State. there
enhancing the value of real estate, building
The iourshing towns, and making business al
md wealth for all. In consideration of all this,
ms thought they ought to be received on any COM
en- ton. He alluded to tue Gnatural adaptation
lest the soil to the production OF small fruits al
) il wonld urge the increasing Of facilities for mo
'be home enterprise, by erecting basket factori,
are and canning establishments, andthus tnrniug
the the products to account. He said that 500
y d would erect cannery building, with machine
ing to do the work, aud he was willing TO inyt
ntil | $1,000 il the other 10000 would be added.
uni MIR. Townsend, thought it was all very well
lew Mr.. Il. to be phianthropic to the r. Il, when
shipped all his fruit to Market by water, 4
was not troubled with high rates OF taxes a
freights OF the canning business he had h
some experience had let his establishments n
for the past five years, and was wiling to do |
Odd part in the canning enterprise by selng
cannery to any one who desired to 60 INTO /
Odd business but, honestly, he would warn th
against it, especially Of canning tomatoes,
Red The following resolutions were considered a
finally adopted:
Iall, ReSolued, That it is absolutely necessary
the interests OF the peach growers OF Delawt
urth and Maryland to have new routes and new mi
TO-. kets opened, and that committee Of 1--WE be
}. g. pointed by the Association to consider the N
,s. ter with the railroad officials and secure
Me- best Arrangements at the earliest practical
time, and that further the expenses incur
=, at by this committee be allowed by the Associate
and that guarantee be given Of a sGtict
Mar number OF cars per day to make train.
ReSolued That Committee of five be
at pointed to consider the propriety OF prepar
rect ali act Of incorporation for the Association,
Fell be presented to the Legislature.
Messrs. j. T. Budd, II. IL. Cummins, r. G
enth nth, Sewell c. Biggs, and H. A. Nowland W
appointed said committee.
room ReSOtUed, That a committee of three be
pointed to cooperate with the committee
/, Il. ready appointed by the Peninsula Fruit Circ
ers Association in petitoning the Legislat
arket to modify the present rate of taxes
Sewel Q. Biggs, John 7. Cochran and Sam