Middletown transcript., 1877-07-14
THE PEACH QUESTION.
Important Lettsrs on Peach Transport

Growers Committee, was sent to Pres
ident Hinckley, of the r. wv. Il B. r.
r., on the 22d ult.:
70 President Isaac Hinclley and Di-
rectors n W. e B. r.. r.:
Gentlemen We address you on the
yearly topic Of peach freights in this
manner, a. being a fuller, stronger and
more deliberate form Of communica-
tiop.
First-We ask you to give for your
road and to favor to other roadsa reduc-
ton in freight in accordance with the
financial shrinkage Of all business. Your
transportation charge from the same
point on peaches is over 400 per cent.
more than on corn. The business of
carrying peaches to New York is pro
bably / 900 per cent. greater from this
peninsula than the carrying of corn Is.
Will you not do something to change
somewhat this apparently inverted Or
der?
Second-We ask that no discrimina-
tive tariffs in favor of any route or
routes be laid, but rather that no arti-
fetal measures be undertaken attempt
ing to Influence prices, but that you
leave to the markets and the grower
unrestricted liberty to settle the sup
ply. Further, we specially request that
your and our old patrons, the consun1-
ers in Philadelphia and New York
city and tributaries, shall have the ad-
vantage Of any reduction in expenses
to be made, as well as the new and un-
reliable consumer Of the West.
Third-We ask in addition to rea-
sonable reduction in freight to allpoints,
which the times demand, that if your
company take advantage Of the great
economy to you, in doing away with
the chartered car, that the grower shall
receive fair share Of the 40 per cent.
(which you are reported as claiming)
Of the new over the old and very re-
munerative system, especially as the
experiment is made against the preju
dices and at the risk Of the grower.
Fourth-We deny the right Of the
transporter to inaugurate any measures
tending to coerce the grower, commits
sion merchant and consumer, as to the
manner in which they shall carry on
their own private business, either as to
the giving the basket at sale Of the
fruit, or in any other way. We have
always had the right for the return Of
empties in our chartered cars and un-
doubtedly paid for it, and your COM
pany cannot reasonably insist upon no
return freights, as you have always
claimed, that their comparative abb
sence was the cause Of the apparent
high charge for the carriage Of fruits.
Fifth-We understand your propo-
sition to be-: that the rates of freight
be reduced to all west Of Pittsburgh
points 80 per cent, and that the rate to
New York and beyond be not reduced
but changed, perhaps raised, your rea-
sons being that to reduce the freight
to New York would be no advantage
to the grower, as the market will be
overloaded with the present crop, and
the reduction going West, by offering
favorable inducements, will be the
scloud BY day" to attract the attention
Of the grower and generally conduce
to his benefit. For the New York
shipper it is better to have high rates,
for the Western shipper low rates. It
cannot be possible that both theories
can Be correct, assuming fair degree
Of intelligence in the grower to direct
shipments. We must repudiate such q
paternal governing theory and prac-
tice. If you undertake thoroughly to
regulate the marketyourschedule must
undergo frequent and violent changes,
and clearly involve disaster to our bu-
siness. We ask you not to know un-
fairly either places or persons. Let
the rule be, charges according to diff
Guilty and distance. Your officials
argue that the peach growers, fostered
BY the low charges Of the company,
have overplanted, and thereby brought
the interest and themselves to the
present impoverished condition, and
advise the taking up Of half the stack.
We believe that your charges are not
50 low, by a great deal, as you can af-
ford, and we also believe that every
peach to be picked this year would
bring paying prices but for the great
financial revulsion, a cause for which
we are not responsible. The greater
portion Of us have not been clamorous
III season and out Of season for reduc-
ton Of rates, but have considered that
your charges were not strictly for SER
vices rendered, but rather a partition
Of the profits between a peach railroad
and peach producers. If you could
freight when fruit cleared from 81 to
So per basket, picking and cultivating
not included, and when railroad ex-
penses were much increased by the in
fiation Of the times, how much should
charges be lessened, the tidal ebb in
railroad expenses having arrived, when
fruit clears, under the same cireum-
stances, from fifteen to fifty cents and
then great proportion kept at home
We ask you to consider fayorably our
appeal for reduction Of our expenses.
II cannot be your intention to injure
this branch Of our occupation. It il d
legitimate one and contributes much
to the general welfare, and unless un.
weighted by a just concession in freight,
theaext extreme will be to reduce the
number Of our trees too largely, again
to be followed by too great planting
/ A moderate reduction now on youl
part may obviate this and that smooth
ness and reliability may be produced
which either too great ar two little
profits are 50 hurtful to. We have
passed through our strawberry ship
ments, resulting in a loss to the grow.
ers. The market obstinately refused
to take more than one-half rs many al
heretofore and at lower prices, The