Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-07-02
TRUCKMEN'S TROUBLES.
A Ringing Protest from AIachua
CounTY-LabOr Wasted and Hopes
Blasted-WhO IL RespOnsible p
The Newly Formed Protective
Association.

MELRosE. June 25.-Editor Morning Ne,es:
We, the citizens of Melrose and vicinity, feel
ing greatly aggrieved by the manner in which
our efforts have been rewarded-in growing
and shipping early vegetables to the markets of
New York, Philadelphia and Baltimore the
present season, and honestly believing that we
have been unfairly dealt Within many in
stances, at least-take this public method of
denoHncin0 the whole system as it has hitherto
existed as a warning TO those Of our fellow
citizens who may contemplate engaging in the
business hereafter. that they may avoid the
disheartening recurrence of the past seasons
experience, by adopting more efficient
methods for the transportation and sale of
their products, or abandon the whole enter
prise as impracticable. 1.-THE laborer is worthy
of his hire and food producers, of all others,
are eminently entitled to the benefit OF this
great law of political economy.
We know from private letters and other in
fallible sources that Florida vegetables the
past spring have sold very high North; that is.
to those who consumed them, and we know
that those who planted and grew them, under
the most unpropitlous climatic conditions ever
known to the history of Florida, as a rule. re-
ceived absolutely nothing for them. Then
where has the money gone to Z
The Northern mails throughout the entire
spring have been filled with handsomely gotten
up price current cards from commission mer-
plates and letters Of encouragement, giving
such hattering accounts Of the high prices
ruling in their respective markets. as to revive
the dropping spirits of the most unbeleving
and to restore confidence in those who have
been repeatedly disappointed in previous sea-
sons; and every poor fellow who had a
little patch and could strain his credit for guano
to fertilize 1t; and even farmers-neglecting
corn and cotton-went to gardening, and late
and early the plow and the hoe have been busy
at work. Planting and working and picking
and packing beans, cucumbers and tomatoes
potatoes and cabbage for the Northern mar
kets kept everybody busy Hopes ran high
and jolly good spirits prevailed until returns
began to come in, and generally after the
whole crop had been shipped (the mails are
very tardy in bringing returns), when, alas
ye gods, what a change come over the spirit of
the scene. Long faces, angry growls, cuss
words and comical grins according to the diff
ferent temperaments of the victi ns) took the
place of the buoyant hopes and jin0lfng fan
cies so lately prevalent, and discomfort reigned
triumphant
your cabbage brought only enough to pay
''Your cucumbers received: market glutted;
We send you So net: sold twenty-five
crates
Tomatoes too green; won't pay expenses
tomatoes too ripe; received in bad order"
"Your vegetables were twelve days making
New York; very bad order; won't pay ex-
penses."
Your vegetables did not pay expenses;
please remit ~ 81, " and, with occasional ex-
ceptions, so. all the way through. the glad It'd
ings we have so patiently waited for have
reached us. One poor fellow rejoices in five
cents per crate net and another in enough to
pay for his seed. bought of McMillers q MflIers.
0he best in the market) He is the envied
grower in the country.
Now, we have right to demand an explana-
tion of this fearful discrepancy between re- |
turns made on actual sales and prices quoted |
in the newspapers, and on regular prices |
current cards, published aud sent out through |
the whole country, of the same dates.
We don't expect inferior stuff to bring supe- |
rior prices, and every man who has engaged in |
the business here this season has been so |
thoroughly impressed with the Importance of |
packing his crops in good order that unusual |
care has been taken in handling all products |
that have been shipped.
It is clear, then. that after we have grown |
vegetables packed and shipped them by trans |
portation lines promising careful handling and /
speedy transit to their respective consignments,
our labor and responsibility in the transaction
ceases, as well as ali power to control prop
erty right in the business, and the whole thing |
becomes a matter OF trust, but without a |
shadow OF guarantee for its fulfllIment And |
as Tony Weller said about marrying "a vidder d /
you see the CONSCIENCE"
Here we have a climate which justides plant
ing one month in advance of the CarOliDas and
two months before the market gardeners of |
the North can venture to put their seeds in the
ground, and IL we could get only the prices
that rule the general markets there during the
height OF their vegetable season, plus the cost
OF transportation, we could supply, with a GER
tainty, all those early vegetables and small
fruits to the great cities Of the North by open
air culture, which they can only perfect under
glass az the same time, and sell as Injuries at
high prices
But as we have no such guaranty. and as
we cannot afford to work for nothing the
only course left us, unless we can have an
protection for this branch Of indus
sry, is to lose all the advantages Of our supe-
nor climate, ignore the business entirely, and
retire on hog and hominy.'' We are 10th
Q believe that the great coast cities Of the
North. and with their millions of inhabitants |
1ow so accessible by the recent improved |
'outeS OF transportation can be so overlooked |
With early vegetables from East Florida as to |
Justify their being sold for less than the seeds
cost which grew them. II we allow this as an |
mpossibiity and fits true that our mere hants
lave done US justice in thsir sales, and that
ne trouble lies in the inferior condition of the
Dock When recelved-from tardy and abusive |
transportation, as some allege-let it be ascer-
aimed TlO10. before other deluded diggers in |
mother earth are victimized, that new lines
nay be adopted and new markets chosen. or
he business abandoned.
But IL the injury emanates from the willful
INJUSTICE or gross mismanagement OF those en-
ruSted with our conSignments, then let new
Methods be adopted with effectual guarantees
or the protection Of the hard working produ-
'eEs from such gross and Wholesale imposition.
lotice In the At0chu0 Advocate, new paDer :
4 decided promise, published In GainesViiIa
ia that an association has been Organized |
, ,mI62raaeing 70 the entire county Of Alachua.Judge
!. Il. King PRESIDENT, ITO foster Agriculture |
egetables fruit and stock growing, rapid and
heap transportation, immigration etc"
IS many OF the most prominent and inffueu-
lal men Ia the county are named as Vice
residents ana placed on the different commit
ees. we expect decided action with positive re-
he above article. Az