The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-07-28
MELON GROWER COMPLAINTS.
One of Them Points Out Several
Things They Want Rem edied.

One of Them Points Out Several
Things They Want Remedied.
VALDosTA. July 25.-Melon growers
know there was no change of rates from
last year, and no change in their dssatis-
faction with those rates, but their dissatisfac-
ton has been increased and intensified by
the poor returns this season. If a 20, 600
pound limit is necessary TO prevent cars
from being overloaded while in transit TO
Savannah over comparatively level road,
why is it western railroads, whose grades
and curves are higher and greater, allow
$4,000 pounds as a load, and are anxious to
get the businesss
Why is it that the Savannah, Florida and
Western railway in pu' suancc of an agree
ment hauls p 900 pounds TO Albany and
Jesup to be delivered to connecting roads,
and can't haul the same amount to Savan-
nah? In answer, thoy may say tlat the
1900 pounds are i'll western cars Of 10000
pounds capacity; but in rebuff al 1t can be
said that all Of the ventilated and great
many Of the box cars of the Savannah,
Florida and W CStern are 40. 900 pounds Ca
pacity, aud on an equal footing with west
ern cars so far as capacity is concerned. If
no great danger is apprehended from "a,
600 pound load in one case, why should it
be with 70, 900 pounds
HIo tACtoS DuNlIltfS Ii Il IeSLtIlllG SOTb
that is irritated every time account sales
of n car of melons Is received
Cars under 10000 pounds ca acity, and
all box cars not ventilated particularly
those Slated on the inside should not be
used for the transportation of melons,
1t Is charged that growers arc to blame
for shipping poor melons. 1t will be re-
menbsred that prior TO two years ago the
shipment of good melons was the rule and
melons tlp aypantip,, hn
made 50 little difference, about 10 cents
between a. medium and large melon. that
growers found more money in medium
melons.
a fortypound melon is charged double
the freight of one of twenty pounds, but
the grower did not get near double the price.
The freight on melons is entirely too high,
greater than that on grain, flour, meat, etc.
The reason assigned for this burdensOme
freight is that extra preparations and fast
schedules have to be made for moving the
crop. But the road was unprepared at the
beginning of the season Just closed to
furnish cars promptly, and when they did
arrive most of them were unventiated and
not suited for the shipment of melons.
Still the grower is charged full freight ON
such an imperfect service
There is ground for complaint Of failure
of melon trains to make schedule time,
thereby losing steamer connections, causing
delay in the transportation of melons and
much to their injury
If the road desires to encourage the ship
ment of good melons, let it demand pre-
payment of freight and clothe the agent
with authority to say when a car is loaded,
or make 1000 melons a carload, with
heavy excess charges for all over that num-
Der.
Any plan will be preferable to the pres
ent one, which keeps a shipper ignorant of
the amount of freight charged until he re-
ceives his account sales.
The weighing of cars may be accurately
done, but account sales bear evidence of
considerable guessing, and it is believed
that the guess is always safe for the road
1t costs $50 to $50 to grow and load car of
melons, and if tho guessing is wide of the
mark your account sales will be apt to
read: Turned over for freight"
The general officers If the road are gen
tlemen of ability and integrity, for whom l
have great respect, but don't think they
have gwen this question consideration from
growers standpoint.
Give us better cars, better schedule time
and more tonnage, and the growers will
ship better melons. MELON GROWER.