The daily gazette., 1877-07-14
FIRST EDITION!
The Coming Peach Crop.
How Shall it be Shipped
to Market?
Another Large Meeting of The
Growers.
MR.. TOWNSEND GIVES A HISTORY
OF TIE PEACH BUSINESS.

THE OLD QUESTION OF FREIGHTS AND
CHARGES-A THOROUGH DISCUS
SION OF ALL PoINTS-THE GROW
ERs RESOLVED TO SEEK THE AID
OF THE COURTS AND THE LEGIsLA-
TURE.
A meeting OF peach growers convened
at Middletown, yesterday, at 3 o'clock D.
M, by calling Sewill G. Biggs to the
chair, and appointing j. b. Naudaln sec
retary.
Besides large number of peach grow
ers, the following gentlemen, interested
in the shipment and transportation of the
fruit, were present: Thos. ii. Stanford,
Baltimore q Ohio r. R.; W. T. Block,
Philadelphia d Reading; j. e. Mitchell,
agent OF Empire Freight Line;D. Lam
mott, Jr., Pennsy r. r.; VIM. Ii.
Hanford and A. j. Lusk, of The Washing
ton Market CaItmen's Association, New
York.
MIR. Samuel Townsend after quoting
from newspaper, several sentences that
were incorrect about the proceedings of
the last meeting, and asking the reporters
present for God's sake to write the truth,
branched off into a historical sketch of
the peach business of Delaware. Twen-
ty years ago, none but those living near
the water course were engaged in the
peach business. About that time he call
ed upon Mr.. Gray, of New Castle, who
was director of and stockholder in the
Delaware Road, and asked him about the
shipment of peaches by rail, and received
no encouragement. The next year he
called upon Mr.. FELTON,, then president of
the p. w. & b. K. r. That gentleman
said he believed the shipment by rail
could be accomplished, and when the or
chards were in bearing, he sent us box
cars and we piled tier upon tier with
boards between each. l soon saw this
would not answer, and he gave me per-
mission to make the necessary alterations
senuing down the cars and materials to
make alterations. " it'll slat-doors and
other means of ventilation, peaches were
carried to market i'll proper condition.
AT that time l was charged q cents a bas-
ket as venture, and when Mr.. FELTON,
made his calculations of profit, he return
ed me cent per basket. From that time
the peach business began TO increase I'M
til to-day it is enormous, and has built
up for the DelaU are Road a traffic that
nothing else could have equalled. have
no wish TO fight the railroad, but the
peach growers must have fair play.
have nothing against Mr.. Hinckley. and
the reason l did not go IN his roum when
appolLt ID on committee Was because
Oh one occasion in his office he insulted
me while l was asking about what
thought due me for overcharged freight
on the Empire Line from Gray's Ferry
but as he knew he he had treated INT
scoundrelly he made some overtures by
inquiring of my whereabouts, when the
commtle visited him, aud afterward
that little difference between us was So
cially settled. Now about the charter
car system. There is certainly no Other
method to equal it. These arrangement:
were also made by Mr.. Fe'ton, and Mr.
Brown, after seeing the workings of the
plan, declared 1t the proper way.
The freight tariffs unjust and unfair
even on the Delaware Road proper, bu
the charges demanded for going beyond
on other roads is outrageous. Gentlemen
of other roads, why are you here to-day
You have brought on all this trouhle;w,
used your cars and wheels, and have hat
to pay dear price for so doing. Why il
+ it that Others can ship beyond New Yorl
for 20 cents, while we pay so centsP. W.
must go the Courts and if no redress caI
be found there, we must go TO the Legis
lature, and if there we do not get justic,
r it would do as well to quit the business
This will do, Mr.. President, to prefac,
my report as chairman of the commltte
appointed to go to New York and SCI
about reduction of the price OF cartin!
peaches from Jersey City to New York
Mr.. Townsend then read the com
mittees report. showing the dIfferen
meetings held with the commission
men but in all of which those con
. cernt d refused to reduce III p c.. !
paper from a committee of COIN m ssiol
men was read stating that they wei,
. of the opinion (with but one dissent
ing voice. that the price could not bt
: reduced. A letter from Edward Blan
chard, caltman in jersey City, wa
also read, and for the time createt
/; quite stir. lie said that he woul6
cart for 24 cents and that the commits
sion men were in league with cartmtn
0 as they received 90 per cent for ihei
share. A petition of some length iron
the commission men in New YuIk WA
. read, asking hat all peaches for Ne'
!, England be concentrated in New
), York and sol there, for sbipmeb
o at the expense of the Iurchasers. Th
:: remark that the request was eth
coolest thing out of cooIs," laid ihs
5, lengthy document on the table wi
y such haste, that there is no likelihoo
], OF i even seeing daylight ag in.
g On motion OF William Green th
U committee was continued.
VIM. Hanford, of New York, by re
/; quest was granted the Prev f.e of th
n floor. The gentleman said that he ha
come to Middletown In company wit
IS VIM. Luskas committee from th
Cartmen's Association of Washingto
> Market. There are many af you gent {
men who know the trouble OF geltin
your fruit to market from the car
Doubtless many of you do nCt. w
Q, have to rely upon r, liable men an
l. pay them high wages. We have I
get up about the time you are goin
n: TO bed get our horses aud 90 to Jerse
City add often wait and work all mig
- Sometimes waiting for the trains un
laIe The following morning and uot u.