Middletown transcript., 1877-07-28
pnAon GROWERS, IN CONVENTION.
The sIa.. MselIng a. Dove.

county and about half dozen came up from
below, the main part Of the audience-about
200 in number-being gathered in from the
town end vicinity. Dr. L. Adkins. of Eas-
ton, Nd was made chairman and W. E. Ap-
pIeton, Of AIiddletown, secretary. A commit
tee consisting Of Messrs Henry Ridgley, VIM.
Green, Geo. W. Cummins, Samuel Townsend
and E. R. Cochran, was appointed on resolu-
tions. Mr. Green then offered the following,
in condemnation Of the recent strikes and riots :
WHEREAS We the peach growers Of Delaware, are
the first representative body Of the citizens of this
State to assemble since the beginning Of the most ter
ribe crisis in our social and national lie which is
unparalleled in its extent and promised atrocy 10 the
annals OF any nation; therefore,
Resolred, That we recommend the Governor OF Del
aware and its citizens 20 be instantaneous in the or
ganization Of military to prevent outrages Of hke
or similar kind within borders, and to protect
property ofal kinds against this communists attack
Resolved, That we recommend every individual to
follow the example weset by the public press to
endeayor by frequent and public utterance to so
mould public sentiment to render the preparation
of such outrages neither probable or possible.
Mr.. Townsend suggested that committee
be appointed to 60 all over the United States
and ascertain who was in the wrong. It
a matter with which this meeting had nothing
to do.
The resolutions we're referred to the commit
tee.
Hon. Charles Brown was asked to give his
views on the action Of the R. R. Company, and
replied that be did not believe any better terms
than those already had could be obtained, and
that he did not think the company would make
any further reduction in freights He spoke in
favor Of shipping to the West as he thought
the New York market would be overrun.
Manlove Hayes, Esq, Treas. of the Delaware
R. R. Co in reply to Mr.. Brown said his inter
est was divided between the growers and the
railroad. His impression was that when the
first committee went to Philadelphia, they did
not ask for any stated reduction in freight. He
believed the r. w. &B Railroad was disposed
to work for the growers both in carrying and
shipping peaches. The freights have been re
duced TO one half of what they were ten years
ago. In 1866 the schedule was for the first 400
baskets from Townsend the freight would be
$I23; next 100 baskets S34.5O, and for the
next Is baskets, $3.50, makingthe total cost
Of the car load SI72 80. A car load of peaches
in 1876 from same station is charged $50, in
1877 the charge will be Ssl. Why, the freight
by junction & Breakwater Railroad to New
York is now 20 cents per basket from Harring
ton You cannot expect the railroad company
to reduce their rates to a minimum price when
they are at such expense as they have been in
the past four years.
Mr.. r. Cummins asked how it was that
growers were made to suffer as a class, and no
other class Of shippers burdened as they are. It
was no one but growers keeping up the howl
because growers were the ones who were i'm
posed upon as body.
Mr.. Hayes then read the following kilograms
which he said he though! would be interesting
. the growers. as they affected all those who 4
Intended to ship to New York:
Philadelphia, July "a, Is77.-hr. Hayes,
Dorer If the peach growers meet in Dover
o-day, please have read to them the following
dispatches from President Scott and Manager
Thompson, of Pennsylvania Railroad Every
connecting railroad by which we had planned |
o send peaches is to-day in the power Of the |
mob, who will allow no freight traffic to pass.
want the peach growers to know that in this |
Unhappy condition Of affairs we will do all in |
ur power to promote the interest of the peach |
rowers, which, in many respects, is identi- |
al with our own. Peaches arriving here |
ast night were stopped by mob law, and were /
ut upon this market to be sold for benefit Of /
Il MOI nd fha ADrl~
cute be still closed, we will sell them here un-
ess shippers order to the contrary. Our agents I
viii give. prompt information if the freight |
mbargo be raised on any connecting route.
ISAAC HNCKLEY.
WEST PHILADELPHIA, July %, ls77.-Isaac |
HiRckL-y, President: We are confdentially |
dvised that at meeting which is now being |
leld in the woods across the river, resolutions |
ave been passed that the proposed peach trains /
annot be run to New York. | suppose you /
will have to arrange for its disposition in Phil /
delphia to supply the market here but the /
hances are that the entire crop Of Delaware |
nay be seriously interfered with and l think /
ou had better let the people of Delaware un-
erstand the critical situation of things-n the |
ounry by which all transportation facilities |
re threatened. THOMAS A. ScoTT,
President Pennsylvania Railroad.
West PHILADELPHIA, July %, lS77,-Lsaac
Iinekley, President: One Of the resolutions
assed at the meeting held in the Park this
fternoon was that no peaches should pass
trough over tine Junction road tonight You
ad better take care Of the peaches by selling
hem in Philadelphia. f. THOMPSON,
ieneral Manager Of Pennsylvania Railroad.
The committee on resolutions here entered
nd stopped the debate. The following resolu-
ions were presented and adopted /
Resolred, That in consideration Of the high charges
transportation between the stations 10 Delaware \
nd Maryland, and the cities OfNew York and 9bia-
ephia is the interest of peach growers living with
reasonable distance Of water navigation to char
sr steamers and tugboats for the purpose of carry
lg their fruit to those markets.
ReSotued, That If our orchards shall continue during
he present year to be unremunerative as they have
for the past four years. il will be matter of in
crest to to uproot them, and to convert the land
ow occupied by them to the raising Of grain and
rass.
Resolved That while we incur all the risks Of grow
lg the most uncertain and precarious Of all crops-a
rop which the change Of few degrees Of tempera-
1re IN the winter, the fosts of spring may utterly
Iipe out, which the euFcuio may destroy after all
anger Of frost has passed by or which may rot down
efore our eyes when fully ripe, or become utterly
alueless from certain conditions Of the atmosphere
n the other hand operate in handling them only on
he certain and sure basis Of gain, and no matter
hether the peaches sell for five dollars or five cents
basket after they reach their market the freight
n them, like the laws Of the Medes and Persians,
nows change.
Resolred, That we earnestly recommend to tile
roEeHs this Peninsula to send nothing to market
nat will not certainly pay thenrsome profit and when
price falls below that point to let their fruit rot in
he orchards rather than permit the railroad compa
les to reap all the result OF their outlay their trou
le and their TOLL as was done in 1879.
Resolred That this iberal policy which character
es all their movements in peach trade, has been
xtended still further this year by abolishng the
lartered car system, for the simple reason as they
lege, that 10 1875 Of their cars were not used
industriOusy they thought they should have
Gen. and thereby they sustained rifling loss which
ompared to ours, was a drop to the ocean.
Resolred That regard with displeasure the offer
reduce the freight the load of peaches to
lew York so as to equalize the return freight our
npty baskets while at the same time no similar re-
ueton is made to Boston and other northern points
nd We denounce itas unworthy Of the men who have
lie charge Of the great lines which the fruit
asses.
ReSOLred, That we recommend to all peach growers
nd shippers refuse to sign the form Of contract for
iipmento of peaches prepared and offered by the p.
7. & B. R. R. officials; and that we hold them to
leir duties and responsibilities carriers