Middletown transcript., 1874-04-25
rhs Peach orowsrs aressanr.


Growers Association called for last Tuesday, At
Dover, was one Of the largest and best attended
meetings that have been held for some time,
showing the interest that the growers feel H.
the question Of reduced freighn and railroad
'gouging" John p. Cochran, Esq, permanent
President Of the Association, on taking The chair
stated the object Of The meeting, and In the
| course Of his remarks, suggested that the call
for the May meeting be revoked as the business
to be transacted At that meeting could be done
at this. M
Samuel Townsend, Esq, submitted a full re-
port Of the workings Of the committee on New
Routes and Markets, (mach Of which has been
hitherto published, showing the strenuous ef-
fors made by that committee TO increase the fa-
cilities for the sale of fruit. Their exertions,
however, had been rendered almost nugatory by
the grasping disposition of the Railroad Compa-
nies, all of which seem to be determined TO have
the biggest share of the fruit harvest. Mr..
Townsend argued that the railroad companies
from New York to Boston were not yet prepared
with cars to convey peaches to Boston with ad-
vantage to the growers, and that peaches could
not be sent with profit to Boston or any ether
cities beyond New York, unless put up in better
order than usual and carried in 6rst-class cars,
well ventilated. Peaches, he said, could be sent
to Boston this season by putting them in crates
and shipping by water.
| Henry Todd objected to all the propositions
made by the various railroad companies and
said he believed it would cost less to express the
fruit to Boston than To send it by freight under
the existing extravagant charges of the railroad
companies.
Mr. Townsend said that the company who
own the lighters by which it was proposed to
carry the cars around New York also own four
large steamers by which they agree to send
peaches from New York 10 Boston for 25 cts per
basket or SIS per car load, against $3.50 charged
/ by the railroad companies.
Mr.. Chamberlain, Boston commission merch-
ant, in answer TO question BY President Coch-
ran, said that city could consume from rs to 80
carloads of peaches per day, besides the amount
used by adjacent towns.
E. T. Evans argued that the New York COM
mission merchants would combine and do all in
their power TO break up direct shipments beyond
| New York He also alluded to the success
which had been met in the shipments TO the in
terror of Pennsylvania and thought that like
shipments to other places might be equally sue.
ccssful.
George W. Cummins, Of Smyrna, said that
difficulties were constantly thrown in the way o.
cheaper transportation by the officers of the p
W. & b. R. R. so as TO force the growers to pu
the fruit in crates, instead of baskets, so tha
shelving in cars might be saved. Mr.. G. spoke
Of President Hinckley of the p, W. & B. r. R..
as a sharp, smart man, but tricky and deceittu
and AS having no sympathy with The fruit grow
ers. He spoke of the 81 so car tax and said
hat though the Association through their com
mii,ee appointed for The purpose, had prevailed
upon the Legislature, at its last session. TO re-
duce the tax on the railroad from $50 900 tt
$40, 900 Mf. llincklty refused to take off th,
odious and unjust tax of 81 80 per car, but hat
only consented TO make reduction of 50 so
which still makes the peach business pay fully
one half Of the whole State tax upon the rail
roads. He further said that President H. hat
said that owing to the break made by the Hoot
last August the sum raised by the railroad fol
the tax was not sufficient and that he SHOULD
levy an additional $40, 0Co this year, making
the whole amount $50, ooO Mr. G. said that h,
hr,l endeavored 10 noint out to Mr. II the injustice
of this tax hut without avail, and the grower
must submit to II further robbery of $40, 900.
Mr.. Townsend complained of the unjust dis
elimination made against the Del. shippers il
favor of the Md shippers by the r. r. Co., an,
| cai5 ha thpr m arI
pay any part of that extra $40, 900.
Mr. Cummins then offered the following reso
luton:
Rcsoieed That neither stock nor the ordiuar
box cars are, in the opinion of the peach grow
ers, suitable for the transportation Of fruit Il
either New York or Boston markets, and nles
the usual fruit cars are furnished for the trans
portaiion of their fruit to Boston markets. ther
be no attempt to reach that market other thai
by the old routes in limited quantities.
The resolution was adopted and the repor
and resolution were then referred back to th
committee with instructions to report at mex
meeting whether or not such route us is desire
can be opened.
Mr. Townsend's resolutions were then take
up and after brief and warm discussion, al
ed as follows:
Resolred, That the peach growers of Delaware
who ship their peaches to market by the Della
ware Railroad, are opposed to paying car tax +
the Delaware Railroad or to its lessees, the P
w. h b. r. r. Co whilst said company do no
charge one cent on car loads coming from Mary
land, and if said railroad companies do not a
once stop discriminating against the Delawar
peach growers and in favor of the Maryan,
peach growers we, the Delaware peach growers
shall ask our next Legislature to pass such re
taliatory acts against the railroad companies a
will compel them to abolish this tyrannical poll
cy and treat all peach shippers alike, whethe
, they ship peaches in Maryland or Delaware.
Resolped, That the late decision of the U. s
Court at Washington, in the case of Delawar
and the p, W. h B. r. II. have decided that
, State can lay upon railroad such taxes as sh
may deem proper, and therefore if the railroad
company discriminate against the Delawar
peach shipper, the Delaware Legislature cal
pass such retaatory acts as will compel th'
railroad company TO treat all peach shippers a
like, even if the Legislature has to pass such ex
IRENE restrictions as will break up the shippin,