Smyrna times., 1877-07-18

cial revulsiOn, n cause for which we are not
responsible. The greater portion Of us
have not been clamorous in season and out
| OF season for reduction of rates, but have
considered that your charges were not
strictly for services rendered, but rather a
partition of the profits between peach
railroad and peach producers. If you
could freight when fruit cleared from 81 to
50 per basket, picking and cultivating not
included, and when railroad expenses were
much increased by the initiation of the
times, how much should charges be les
sened, the tidal ebb in railroad expenses
having arrived, when fruit clears, under the
same circumstances, from Is to so cents
and then great proportion kept at home.
We ask you to consider fayorably our ap-
peal for reduction Of our expenses. 1t
cannot be your intention to iniure this
branch of oar occupation. 1t is legiti-
mate one and contributes much to the
general welfare, and unless unweighted by
a just concession in freight, the next ex-
treme will be to reduce the number Of our
trees too largely, again to be followed by
too great planting. \ moderate reduction
now on your part may obviate this and that
smoothness and reliability may be produced
which either too great or too little profits
are so hurtful to. We have passed through
our strawberry shipments, resulting in a
loss to the growers. The market obst-
nately refused to take 1aore than onc,half
as many as heretofore and at lower prices.
The dcplorable depression in business
affairs is most undoubtedly the cause and
morally demands recession from even
moderate profits on your part and a beney-
olent and universally mutual consideration.
Our raSpberrics are now succeeding.
Antcipations cannot help but be unfavor-
able. Your schedule as to them will
perhaps be preserved. TO our peach in
terests again we respectfully, kindly and
firmly solicit reconsideration on your part
Of a portion Of the imposts upon them.
| THE REPLY OF PRESIDENT HINcKLEY.
4 PHILADELPHIA, July ID, 1S77.-T0 Com.
i mUcc Of Peach GrowcrS :-GENTLEMEN =
: Your letter of the 22d ult., addressed to the
4 President and Directors of this Company
n was received by me OH my return from the
o North, on the 29th ult. 1t shall be laid
t before the Board at their next meeting, but
: inasmuch as there can be no meeting
6 before the 25th instant, it seems to me but
/ courteous to tell you my reasons for my
supposing that the Board will not order any
C change in the peach tariff last establish
e ed, which is, in my opinion, based upon a,
IS low rates as the companies can afford.
e l will refer, if you please, to the several
IS clauses of your letter Of the 22d ult., a,
o numbered by you.
y First-YOu are, think, in error il
e stating that peach rates from Middleton
k to Jersey City are over 400 per cent in ex
n cess of corn rates between the sam
DC stations. Our Master Of Transportation re
lie ports that car load Of corn is charged SOS
and car load of peaches $50 This, wer
a. there no other circumstances considered
IN would show that instead Of the peach rat
~ being more than four times the corn rate
to it is only two and nine-tenths as much
Of a return freight, while the peach car mus
rs be returned hastily and empty. A return
" freight in the corn car, even if it be O
x fourth-class, would pay $40, and thus tn
es corn car run at slow speed at convenienc
of the railrard companies would earn SC
s. for the round trip, Middletown to Jerse
lg City, and an lequal distance on return, O
ut only $l2 less than the peach car for tn
III round trip.
81 But it must also be taken into accoun
at that many causes are at work to rende
Ye the peach traffic much more costly tina
of the corn traffic. will enumerate some {
n these AS compared it will be patent t
ny any man ofjudgment that the higher spec
rn Of peach trains, the costler construction
at peach cars, their shelf furniture, exit
Sc doors and yentilators, the fact that tn
'r- trains must be run with extreme care an
regularity, $50 much so that we make pa
on senger trains yield precedence to peac
ed trains) and many other sources of expen,
1T, make it essential to charge comparative
nd high rates for fruit transportation. An
ps yet our charge for peach car from Mi
ice dletown to Jersey City and back is but SS
Id while if loaded each way with first-cla
ill freight, 10000 pounds) our charge is $40
nd 1t is only necessary to examine the pu
ng lished peach tariffs on the line betwet
I'D Delaware and New York to see that Il
he rate per basket (say from Seaford as
his standard) has been reduced to less thi
/ is one-half of what it was in 1866. To
,rn sure, the basket is now somewhat small
ble than it then was, but the rate per carlo
ing is little if any more than half Of what
yer was in 1866.
ate Second--In respect to rates to dista
md points / must refer you to the trunk lin
! TO which perform most Of the service. VIII
ust the p, w. & B. Railroad Company, with
md short haul assented to prorate with
ess. terminal) with the trunk lines, we hare
her expected that even by implication
ges should be blamed, because those tru
- | I;pae looLino io their long run fo moi,