Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1884-08-09
The MELON Growing Industry.


An article in another column signed
observer calls attention to the great
work Of the railroads in assisting to de-
velOp the melon growing industry in
Florida and Southern Georgia. lob
servers" argument is that it would not
be possible to grow melons for the North
ern and Westel markets in the localities
mentioned if it were not for the facilities
afforded by the railroads for marketing
the crop. This is all very true. but what
is observers" purpose in calling atten-
ton to and enlarging upon things
that are so generally under
stood and admitted: There is
no occasion for reiterating the fact that
the railroads, as soon as the truck far
mers were ready TO furnish the freight,
were. ready to furnish the cars. There has
been no complaint about the facilities pro-
Yided by the railroads for transporting the
melons. or that, as a rule, the melons
have not been transported expeditiOuslY
and safely.
But this does not touch the question
at issue. The question is, Can the
melon growers afford to raise melons
at the prices they receive and pay the
present freight rates and commissions
They say they cannot, or at least
a very large majority of them say
so, if they have been correctly reported.
Their experience during the season just
closed was far from encouraging. In
some instances expenses were not paid.
Cases were reported where the returns on
a car load of melons did not pay freight
charges and commissions.
There is no way, of course, to control the
market. That depends to some extent
upon the quality Of the melons, but main
~ upon the supply. The questions which
present themselves are these: Can the
railroads afford to carry melons at re-
duced rate, and can commission mer-
chants handle them for a smaller commits
sion? If they cannot it is probable that
the melon growing industry will decline
rather than increase. The growers will
not continue, season after season,
making crop which, except in rare in
stances, does not pay them. What good
is it to the growers if they raise 100000
or even 81, 900, 600 worth of melons every
season if none of the money finds its way
into their pockets, or only enough OF 1t to
reimburse them for their actual outlay
They are still out of pocket to the extent
Of the interest on their investments and
their labor.
The growers ought to invite the rail-
roads to meet them in conference. A
frank expression of opinion from all the
parties interested might be productive OF
good results. We do not know whether the
railroads can afford to carry melons for a
less rate or not. They are much better ac-
qUainted with their own business than
any outsider can possibly be. If they can
make a reduction. and still realize rea-
sOnable profit, they certainly ought to do
it. A small profit is better than no profit,
and it looks as if the time were not dis
tant when there would be no profit, and,
in fact, no income whatever, OF cOnse-
quence, from melon freights unless some
thing is done to encourage the growers.
1. would give the growers a chance II the
railroads were to charge, instead of so
much per car load, percentage of the
gross receipts. The growers would then
always be certain of something. 1t is to
be hoped that before another season some
arrangement will be made that will help
the melon growing business.