Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1888-10-18


opening of the N. T., p. d N. railroad
than before. Before the road was opened
the steamship lines were frequently un.
able to carry all the freight offered, but
there had been no trouble Of this kind
since. W. N. MoWhorter of the same
county, gave similar testimony.
Glider d. jackson OF Wyoming, Della
ware, who tenants a farm of 3i5 acres,
with about 5000 peach trees, and was
formerly tenant of the "Ashcraft farm, +"
testified to the profits on peaches, and the
reasonable character of freight charges, in
his opinion.
At 5 O'Clock the commission adjourned
until 10 o'clock tomorrow morning.
WAsHNaroN, Oct. I1.-G. ID. Jackson
of Wyoming was further examined this
morning before the Interstate Commerce
Commission In the hearing of the Della
ware Oranges complaint against the N.
Y, P. u N. railroad. Mr.. jackson, who
was witness for the respondent, was
closely cross examined by Mr. Bates, Of
counsel for the complainant. He said he
was connected with the Delaware Fruit
Exchange, which organization did much
to bring buyers Of peaches to the home
markets. He thought that the railroad
company also aided In the work Of bring
ing buyers to the orchards.
Il. b. Cook, general freight and pes-
Benger agent OF the N. Y, p. a. N. rail-
road, at Norfolk, testified that when the
road was opened, in 1884, 1t established
the same freight rates Oh were charged
by the water lines. Subsequently the
railroad rates were reduced, gradually,
until the road succeeded in drawing bust
ness. He considered the railroad facili-
ties equal TO those Of the steamboat COM
panies and fully up to oil requirements.
Since 1886 the road had endeayored to
keep its rates even with those of the
water lines. Mr.. Cook said he was not
able to ascertain the exact rates of the
water lines, and the policy of the road
was to reduce until the business was Sc
cured. He thought the railroad was en-
titled to 20 per cent of the freight bust
ness at Norfolk, but had thus far secured
only about 10 per cent.
In response TO MIR. Bates question, Mr..
Cook said the rate on berries from Nor
folk to New York was SO cents per crate
of "a quarts. From Eastville, however,
the rate was rs cents Per crate; from
Eastville to Philadelphia 60 cents. East.
vile is AZ miles nearer to Philadelphia
than Norfolk. Mr.. Cook said it was an
admitted fact that rates were lower from
Norfolk than from points on the PENN
sula. The rate on cotton from Norfolk
TO New York is 60 cents per ordinary
bale, or 40 to 45 cents per compressed
bale; this rate is equivalent 10 about 10
cents per 100 pounds for compressed cot
ton, and Is cents for the impressed bales.
The company did not allow any rebates
to shippers. He thought the freight
business in Norfolk was in very unsatis-
factory condition 40 he never knew what
changes in rates the water lines were
making, and had to keep constant
watch in order to meet them. The rail
roads running south from Norfolk, he
said, would not tnke business from the
N. Y, 2. il N. railroad on the same terms
aa they did from the steamship lines.
They pro rate with the water lines, but
will not pro rate with tho N. Y, p. Il N.
road on any basis. s. v. Carney having
testified yesterday that he had occasion.
/ ally received from Mr.. Cook pass over
the N. T., z. n NJ, from Norfolk tc
Dslmar, Mr.. Cook said this favor was
not extended to Mr.. Carney because hi
was a heavy shipper, but on the ground
that he was o railroad employe, he being
a soliciting agent for the Atlantic Il Dan
vile railroad, from which the N. Y, r
d. N, receives considerable freight.
8. M. Provost, the general transporta
ton agent Of the PennsS lyania Railroad
Company assisSn jaes ssiifha aompan,
gaze great attention TO the TRANSPORTATION
Of peaches and PERISH fruits Thi
service, he considered, was as good a
was possible to make it, and every effor
was made by the company to improve i
from year to year. Mr.. Provost described
the service in detail, from the prepare
ton Of freight cars for the peach traffi
to the movement of train from til,
Peninsula TO Jersey City. Taking the II;
p, W. a. B. freight cars fitted up for tn,
peach traffic in 1887, Mr.. Provost sail
the time occupied in fitting and uniting
these cars was equivalent TO about IL. sol
cars being idle for one dsy. 1t ia esti
mated that the average earnint
Of box car is about al
per day. MIR. Provost presente,
q statement showing the gross receipt
for handling peaches and berries duripl
the season OF 1887 as follows. Fron
peaches, SlO9, 5S8 So; from berries an,
small fruits, $l28, G92.64. He did no
think, oil things, considered, that til
railroad company made any money by th
transportation of peaches. The c0ustruC
tien of the cut-otf from New Castle 4
Edge Moor, which facilitated the move
ment OF freight trains around Whining
ton cost he understood, about s AIS 600.
the company had failed to give an en
tireiy satisfactory service, the wines
said, it was due to an attempt to pleas
both the receivers and shippers Of III
frnit.
Judge Logan made statement wit
reference to the system OF reduiriu
hsippers Of bsTries to sign releases, RI
lieving the company Of responsibility
and in the event Of refusal imposing a
advance Of SO per cent over regular rates
lie said that during this year there he
been 10 insistanee OF this requirement
and only about 1872 had been receiye
through imposing the payment of til
advanced rates He said this none
would be refunded to the shippers VIII
paid it.
4 letter was Submitted from George NJ
Taylor, auditor OF freight receipts, show
ing that the total tonnage of the psao
and berry business for 1887 was 45 ,5S7
7l4 pounds and the revenue f232, 7G2 4.
This was .00lS9 per cent of the Who'll
freight business OF the p, w. IS B. an
Kew York divisions, and .02779 per Ger
of the entire revenue. The compan
here closed.
! Mr.. Bates said that his examination {
the records showing the tins of peac
trnif-n frnnn Rer,innnin ..cI..Ia 81. -.