Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1881-06-25
Nuw Yopr lime 18th 1se

NEW YORK, June 18th, 1881.
DEAR SIR-You are respectfully invit-
ed to attend a meeting of the transporta-
| ton agents and consignees of fruits and
early vegetables from Southern points, to
be held at the office of Mr. Geo. Yonge,
Agent of the Ocean Steamship Company,
on Thursday, the 10th instant, at II o.
clock.
The object of the meeting is to devise
measures for the proper conduct of this
trade and to prevent loss to all in in
terest.
1t is absolutely necessary to the success
of this business that better understand
ing should be arrived at, and we earn
estly invite your cooperation to this
end.
GEO. YoNGE,
Agent Ocean Steamship Company.
@. II. MALLORY 81 Co.,
Agents Mallory Line.
JAS. w. QUINTARD & Co.,
Charleston Line.
G. ID. OWENS,
General Agent Florida Dispatch Line.
In accordance with this notice the
meeting was held, it being moved and
adopted that Col. Acee be Chairman.
On taking the chair Col. Acee thanked
the meeting for the honor, and said:
81 would have preferred that some one
more experienced and longer at the busi-
ness should have been proposed to bring
the matter before you. The difficulties
we have had to contend with in regard to
receiving vegetables from the South have
been severe. AS understand it, the in
vitation to this meeting is to express our
views. will not give my opinion now.
would prefer to hear the other mer-
chants. 1t seems that it is very necessa-
ny that we should have some understand
ing by which the transportation lines
and the receivers should work in unison
and harmony. The Southern business is
a very large one. It is useless to have
the market overstocked when 1t can be
helped We might have some organiza-
ton, like an exchange, by which we
could set the limit as to the time of ship
ment of certain kinds of vegetables. An
other idea would be that there should be
a uniformity of movement among the
merchants in regard to the proper placing
of vegetables for sale. Another, that we
should have some understanding with the
freight lines in regard to delivery, length
of time, etc"
Mr.. G. D. Owens, New York Agent for
the Florida Dispatch Line, stated that
the meeting had been called in the inter-
est of all concerned-producers, trans
portation lines, and commission mer-
chants. That their interests are identi-
cal, and any improvement in the conduct
of the business that can be brought about
will benefit all. The trade has no uni.
formity of action in its present shape.
and it is questionable il any trade could
continue and be successful under such
conditions. The meeting has been called
together at the suggestion of Mr.. Geo.
Yonge, Agent of the Ocean Steamship
Company. to devise aremedy, and it is
for the merchants to say whether or not |
it is to their interest that the present state |
of things shall continue
Mr.. Dewiuter stated that the spring |
had been backward in Florida, Georgia, |
South Carolina and Virginia, and es- |
pecially 30 In Florida, and that beans and |
cucumbers from that State had come at /
the same time as from Georgia and South
Carolina, causing q glut in the market,
and the consequent loss which had fallen |
on all-shippers, carriers and merchants
that as soon as the market began to be
overstocked, he had notified his shippers
to stop shipments, but his advice had
not been generally accepted by them.
Other commission merchants stated
that they had also telegraphed the ship
pers to the same effect.
Upon inquiry by Mr.. Owens as to the
condition of the vegetables brought to
this market this season, there was diff
ference of opinion, some merchants
stating that they had been generally in
poor condition. Others said the condi-
ton had not had so much to do with the
low prices as the overstocked market:
that they had been unable to sell good
cucumbers during the last week for
enough to pay freight. The weather had
been unfavorable, being rainy the whole
week.
Mr.. Nix stated that the wagon trade,
which was depended ON to rid the market
Of surplus stock, had been brought to a
'tandslill owing to the wet weather. Al
20, that many of the cucumbeTs had been
on the vines too long before being picked
md arrived in bad condition on that
account.
Mr.. Davenport (after consulting with
other meTcbants) suggested that it would
De advisable to have notice given by the
commission merchants when the market
was becoming overstocked, and for the
lines TO stop receiving af-
er such notice, unless the shippers pre-
paid the freight. He had never known
,ucl q state of affairs a9 existed fhfa x,<ov.