New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1874-08-08
THE PEACH TRADE.
FROM THE CARS TO MARKET.


peach aware OF the labor and excitement attending
the work OF bringing the fruit to the NewYork market
As 1t necessary that supply for the wholesale deal
should he hand In time for the grocers ana other
retailers 20 purchase them with tho usual market
produce O large portion OF the night has TO be en-
poyed otherwise, when the fruit reaches the hands OF
the consgnees Will be left hand at the risk OF sur
ferng great damage through the rot aud thereby be-
coming total loss In order. therefore, TO ascertain
the method adopted by large dealers in nsportng
the fruit from the cars the city, TRIBUNE reporter
recently visited the depot OF the Pennsylvania Railroad
and waited until the arrival Of thepeach train.
Atmidnight there were few tokens OF activity with
the exception OF occasional locomotive moving aoou'
drilling" and clearing the tracks OF any cars 'na'
might be standing idle on them. HAN an hour la'oi'
however o few market wagons from Newark ana New
York appeared along Grecnst adjacent to the railroad
Every ferryboat FOR the next hours added to the
number until by q this line OF wagons was over
one mile and half in length With the wagons came
the representatives OF the large wholesale dealers III
peaches and the cOnslguees TO whom STOCK had oeeh
sent and they gathered about in groups discussing the
probable time when the train would arrive ana the
quantity OF peaches expected AS the peach train has
to give way for other trains unless the line should nave
previously been cleared by orders from headquarters
nobody can tell when the train will arrive owing 10
this uncertainty the and cOnsgnees have 70 Dc
the ground after midnight so as to take out the
freight the earliest moment; consequently inauy vi
them often three hours in waiting for the
expected train. and II the morning be dark, cold or
rainy the tempers Of these often not much I'M
proved especially the Company provides no shelter
for them. Again information as TO the time Of ar
rival the quantity of peaches, the length OF the train
be ascertaned before the coming OF the Foreman Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad In whose charge Is placed
the management OF the market produce
H. ID. Symonda, the foreman, was at his post at an
early hour this OCCASION andi began to make copy
OF the freight bill, which, when completed. was placed
in a frame and hung mp outside OF the office In plain
view, that everyone could see the number OF cars
composing the train, the stations whence the fruit Is
shipped the persons to whom 1t was consigned and the
numbers OF the containing each special assignment
Every consgnee and carman able to learn at
glance the quantity OF fruit that had been sent to each
The anxious watchers were not all willing TO walt Tor
the information be written out; but putting their
heads at the Office window first asked how many cars
were In the train. to which Mr.. Symonds answered
"5i" "There work for us, then" said OF the
poying carmen to mis- subOrduates; $50 be in readi-
That is the longest train this season" "Where
is the train from 7" asked another. " Maryland and
Delaware was the answer. when will 1t be in, MI
Symondsl" the next query, and large number
gathered round to learn the A" BY o'clock,
expect" replied the foreman, still busy with
his writing. "Ob, yes" grumbled one, I'VE
have heard that before. You mean five" Mr. Symonds
any more definite information. When the copy OF the
freight bill was posted up it showed that there in
the expected train of peaches from the following
places: Clayton, 8; Wyoming, g.; Mddetown, 6; Do
yer Mount Pleasant 4; FELTON,, q Morton, 2; Towns
end various other stations, 90 The names OF the con-
sgnees showed that were sent to one five to
another, and SO on. As eacn carload averaged 500
baskets and the largest twohorse trucks would only
carry $50 baskets and the onehorse trucks
less than 100 the large number of necessary for
the removal Of the 27OOO baskets and crates may be
easily calculated. Each basket contained about 200
peaches making the arrival by this one train OF over
5,00,OO0 Of peaches.
The carmen satisfying their curiosity gathered
I'm groups and some who had no special responsibility
went to sleep in the wagons Each carman carried n
lantern at this time unghted and hanging on his arm
Finally tram quietly moved along the line; but as this
was thought 10 be one Of the drilling" locomotives,
little attention paid to 1t until Mr. symonds stepped
out from his office when of the carmen CALCULATED
There she after all, ahead OF time" In
an instant all life and motion. As 1t was
still dark the lanterns quickly lighted, and IN
a few minutes ~ long line OF lights could be seen dart
ing about on either side OF the moving traln each
man consignee anxiously searching for the names
over the OF the in order TO find which
contained his portion of the freight This fact
tanned, word quickly sent to the carmen having
charge Of the market trucks.
After making the search, some Of the dis
covered that the train consisted Of only IS out OF the
cars; that the train had been divided and that their
consignments had not yet arrived This created
feeling especially among those who anxious get
the fruit early market, and questions were quickly
asked OF the foreman when the remainder might be eX
pected. After teecraphing, Mr. symond' replied that
the rest of the train had been seat on within - minutes
after the other cars had started, and would be In
Jersey CITY This pacied the disappointed ones, while
those whose cars had arrived began unlocking tho car
doors and removing the fasenlngS Meanwhile the
carmen had hurried to the head Of Greens whore they
were for a short time stopped by train OF platform
cars that was moving along the track between them
and the peach train. Tus obstruction caused the
truck at the lower en of the line 10 crowd upon
those IN 'front.' and IL red the eXrrtions OF tho
police to prevent great confusion. In few minutes,
however. the platform train was moved out VI Inc way
and then dashed along, each being anxious
the first beside the cars ANY one who happened
in the stood good chance OF being knochci
down and the drivers being very reckless ~
their movements As natural result several ot the
long trucks became interlOche Oy tne sue 81 me etS
and the air soon rang with cafuiehs cans 10 set OUT
of the way" The assistance OF the foreman and police
required before order could DE re'oitu; "ut 80
great the Jam Caused by emyty trucks pressu
upon those loading up that the ittcr could
not get after they had been nIed aAd thls III
creased the confusion ..
sides. and after one layer OF BASKETS ha oeh placed on
the bottom of the wagon, movable boards formed
second floor upon which was deposited ahothef layer
while third row gave a Jorug for the upper ucg. Ia
this manner from $50 To $50 baskets were loaded on
horses sometimes nai diff Guilty 10 starting The vehicle
especially II wheel had dropped INTO the opening OF
the track; the space between the rails havluS been
planked convenience OF the carmen but without
due consideration for the width OF the truck wheels
Several accidents from this cause, the Efforts u
drag out OF the rut strJnlng the wheels uncl
they broke In one case pole broken un at the
hounds" 'He Is good for an hour" exclaimed a car
man W no was benlud and nearly loaded mp; Il shall
have 10 here suppose uutl he gets out Just my
luck 80 The drivers OF the smaller loaded wagons mat
were behind made desperate attempts 10 pass mas
obstacle aud the air rang WITH the counds OF ttup
"git tup" aud sect OOp" for several uluucS' WIN
out much Roadway being gained. That IS always the
way, said one boss carInau "if train 10 early,
accident like this h sure TO occur"
The cars for peacues are usually chartered for the