Middletown transcript., 1877-07-21
Another Large Meeting of the Pench
Growers.

Another Large Meeting Of the Peach
Growers.
A meeting Of peach growers convened at
Middletown, on Friday of last week, at three
o'clock, P NJ, by calling Sewell G. Biggs TO
the chair, and appointing ]. B. Naudain, Sec
retary. Besides a large number Of peach
growers, the following gentlemen, interested
in the shipment and transportation Of the
fruit, were present: Thos. H. Stanford, Bal
timore and Chic R. R.; w. 7. Block, Phila-
delphia & Reading J. E. Mitchell, agent Of
Empire Freight Line; D. Lammott, Jr., Penn
sylyania R. R.; VIM. E. Hanford and A. j.
Lusk, of the Washington Market Cartmen's
Association, New York
Mr. Samuel Townsend, after quoting from
a newspaper several sentences that were in
correct about the proceedings Of the last meet
ing, and asking the reporters present for God S
sake to write the trslh, branched off into a
historical sketch of the peach business of Del
aware. Twenty years ago, none but those
living nea. the wafer course were engaged in
the peach business About that time he
called upon Mr.. Gray, of New Castle, who
was a director of and stockholder in the Del
aware Road, and asked him about the ship
ment Of peaches by rail- and received no en-
couragement. The next year he called upon
Mr.. FELTON,, then President of the Delaware
R. R. That gentleman said he believed the
shipment by rail could be accomplished, and
when the orchards were in bearing, he sent
us box cars and we piled tier upon tier with
boards between each. soon saw this would
not answer, and he gave me permission to
make the necessary alterations sending down
the cars and materials to make alterations.
With slat-doo-s and other means of ventila-
ton, peaches were carried 10 market in
proper condition. At that time was charged
six cents a basket as venture and when Mr..
FELTON, make his calculations of profit he re-
turned me one cent per basket. From that
time The peach business began to increase,
until to-day it is enormous, and has built up
for the Delaware Road traffic that nothing
else could have equalled. have no wish 10
fight the railroad, but the peach growers must
have fair play | have nothing against Mr..
HinckIey, and the reason did not 60 in his
room when appointed on a committee was be-
cause. on one occasion in his Office he insult
ed me while | was asking about what !
thought due me for overcharged freight on
the Empire Line from Gray's Ferry but as
he knew he had treated me scoundrelly he
made some oyertures by inquiring of my
whereabouts, when the committee visited him,
and afterwards that little difference between
US was socially settled. Now about the char
ter car system. There IS certainly no other
method to equal ii. These arrangements
were also made by Mr. FELTON,, and Mr. Brown,
after seeing the workings Of the plan, declared
it the proper way The freight tariff is un-
just and unfair, even on the Delaware road
proper, but the charges demanded for going
beyond on other roads is outrageous. GEN
tlemen of other roads, why are you here TO-
day? You have brought on all tins trouble
we used your cars and wheels and have had
to pay dear price for SO doing. Why is it
that others can ship beyond New York for
twenty-five cents, while we pay fifty cents
We must 60 to the courts, and if no redress
can be found there We must 90 to the Legis-
lature, and if there we do not get justice it
would be as well to quit the business. This
will 40, Mr.. President, to preface my report
as chairman Of the committee appointed TO go
to New York and see about reduction Of the
price Of carting peaches from Jersey City to
New York.