The Palatka daily news. (Palatka, Fla.) 1884-1888, 1886-04-20

three year,, 1t i. officially reported
to be on an average a fraction Icss
than this figure.
But while these reductions are
goIn. on elsewhere we DO not OBJ
serve the same tendency in the
south, or, at least, in anything like
the same ratio or CELEBRITY. But
there are 30 many conditions and
complex questions TO take into con-
slderation in connection with this
matter, that it is difficult to tell
whether TIE railroads are charging
more than they ought to or not.
But the recent action of the roads
In fixing scuth-bonnd freights of a
certain class Of goods at a greatly
reduced figure, leads us to believe
that the charges heretofore made
for transporting the same kind of
freigts north, have been largely out
of all proportion to the actual
cost. We alluded to the charges on
oranges.
We are informed by a gentleman
who is engaged in the fruit trade
that the freight charges on 4 cease"
Of oranges from New York to Jack.
sonville, is now but Is cents. A
case of oranges is double the size of
our bushel crate, and contains about
400 oranges. What the actual cost
of transporting a box Of oranges to
New York from Palatka may lie
we are not informed, but if the rail.
roads can bring a case of oranges
from New York to jacksonville for
twenty-five cents, then the charges
hitherto paid by orange growers
and dealers TO carry their fruit
north is largely in excess of the ac-
tual COS, and more than double
what the railroads should receive
for such service. This would seem
very clear TO rs, if the same condi-
tiOns enter into the consideration of
the subject in this section as in the
north and northwest. The risk can
BE- no greater. Notwithstanding
the information drawn from eype-
Renee and observation, which should
result in the lower classification of
frcights for the almost infinite vari.
ETY. Of commodities, under an almost
infinite variety Of conditions, car.
ricd north by the railroads, yet, for
all this advantage, it would seem
the managers are governed more, in
fixing freight charges ON such com.
modities, and especially on oranges,
by their personal discretion than any
fixed rule or principle. 1t may be
that, after all, this is the safe rule
and the only one consistent with sue.
ccssful railroad management; but,
VIC repeat, if case of oranges can
be brought from New York to Flor.
ida for 25 cents, then the charges
paid by growers and dealers to trans
port their oranges north are too high
and ought to be reduced. Charges
something nearer the actual cost of
transporting box Of oranges north
ought to be made. The present
charge for transporting a box of or.
anges to New York from Palatka is
double the charge paid for carrying
a case from the former point to
Florida.
The only logical conclusion to be
drawn from this condition of things
is, that railroad managers do not fix
their freight charges on oranges go
ing north on u basis of cost aud
profit, but rather on tina, Of discre.
ton and pecaniary gain. The qucs-
ton is, then, not one Of cost, but
how much will the COMMODITY
STAND! Forty aud sixty cents a
box is too high a rate, but so long
as the dealers and growers do not
openly demonstrate the transporta.
ton companies will pu, it on with
out any reference to the actual cost
Of the service performed.
Thi. is the subject, of all others,
that should receive the attention of
orange growers, TO the end that
some concert of action may be had
whereby the freight charges on or.
angcs can be reduced. As the mat.
ter now stands, the transportation
comNanics AFRO rponinv III, nr,i;, nf