Middletown transcript., 1877-07-14

ford.
I will refer, if you please, to the sew
eral clauses Of your letter Of the 22d
ult., o. numbered by you.
First-You are, | think, In error in
stating that peach rates from Middle
town to Jersey City are over 400 per
cent. III excess of corn rates between
the same stations. Our Master Of
| Transportation reports that car load
Of corn is charged $28, and car load
Of peaches $50. This, were there no
other circumstances considered, would
show that instead of the peach rate be-
ing more tnan four times the corn rate,
it Is only two and nine-tenths as much.
But the car that carries the corn can
take return freight, while the peach
car must bereturned hastily and empty.
"a return freight in the corn car, even
If it be Of fourth-class, would pay $40,
and thus the corn car run at slow
speed at convenience of the railroad
companies would earn $68 forthe round
trip, Middletown to Jersey City, and
an equal distance on return, or only
S12 less than the peach car for the
round trip.
But it must also be taken into ac-
count that many causes are at work to
render the peach traffic much more
costly than the corn traffic. / will emu
merate some Of these AS compared it
will be patent to any man Of judgment
that the higher speed Of peach trains,
the costlier construction of peach cars,
their shelf furniture, extra doors and
ventilators, the fact that the trains
must be run with extreme care and
regularity. $50 much so that we make
passenger trains yield precedence to
peach trains) and many other sources
Of expense make it essential to charge
comparatively high rates for fruit trans
transportation. And yet our charge
for a peach car from Middletown to
Jersey City and back is but $50, while
If loaded each way with frst-class
freight, 10000 pounds our charge is
S128. It is only necessary to examine
the published peach tariffs on the line
between Delaware and New York to
see that the rate per basket (say from
Seaford as a standard has been reduced
to less than one-half Of what it was in
1866. To be sure the basket is now
somewhat smaller than it then was, but
the rate per carload is little if any
more than half Of what it was in 1866.
Second-In respect to rates to dis
tant points / must refer you to the
trunk lines, which perform most Of the
service. When the F., w. & B. Rail
road Company, with short haul as
sented to prorate with a terminaD
with the trunk lines, we hardly expect
ed that even by implication we should
Be blamed, because those trunk lines,
looking to their long run to points west
Of the Ohio river, fix their rates at a
lower figure per ton per mile than the
lines between Delaware and New York
have fixed.
Third-You seem to be under the
impression that the plan substituted
for the charter car system will save the
railroad companies forty per cent. of
their expenses. But the fact is that
the chief saving is in the reduction Of
the number of cars employed in peach
business. Under the new system we
think It necessary for the p, w. & B.
Railroad Company to build only sixty
or seventy new cars this year to meet
the wants of the traffic. Under the
charter system we must have built
many more than sixty or seventy to
provide for having a large number
standing idle on side tracks, as in 1875.
IF the charter system were continued,
this company would not have consent
ed to present rates. The evils Of the
charter system were never fully devel-
oped before 1875, when many Of our
ears we're run but one trip during the
season.
Fourth-Rest assured that no thought
Of coercion" was for moment enter
tanned BY. the railroad companies in re-
spect to peach grower, commission mer-
chant, or consumer, as you seem to
think. We simply try to make it for
| the interest Of all parties to let the
basket 90 with the fruit. If the in
ducement offered by us be not enough,
I think shall favor offering more
another year. The explanation given
by railroad men to the committee of
peach growers upon this point, when
at this office, was, | think, satisfactory
to them.
Fifth think what I have written
above as to clause No. 2 renders com
ment on most of No. superhuous.
But must regret that you believe that
our charges are too high. Those prices
have been reduced one-half within
few years. On account Of low charges,
Or some other reason unknown to me,
the railroad service has been increased
from less than 1900 car loads in 1864
to more than 5000 car loads in 1873.
And under these circumstances you will
not, / think, cavil at my own belief
that the railroad companies have done
all that should have been expected Of
them in promoting the interests Of the
grower. Very respectfully, yours,
ISAAC HINcKLEY, President.
FulI Fe4t Of the Growers Second Letter.
/ To Isaac Hinckley, Esq, President
p. W. e B. r. R.-S1R: Your favor
Of the End instant, in reply to open let
ter adopted in convention June 22d,
was duly received. The expression
and apparent tone is courteous and
considerate, but we, as men little
desperate, think your reply evasive Of
our points, and not serious enough in
weight Of reason, under the present
unprecedented trying circumstances.
To preserve perspicuity we will follow
your and our division Of the subject.
/. In response to our appeal for a re-
duction Of freight rates, in accordance