The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1888-07-31
THE IMMENSE TRADE
In Fruits and Vegetables Cen
tered in Atlanta.
Tho DIGESTION of Melon Shipments Again
General Railroad News of Interest
Other Notes.


foreign road to a CONSTITUTIONS reporter We'd
nesday.
81 see THE CONSTITUTION has been talking
about this matter a coed deal, and it seems TO
me that it has overlooked one or two impor-
TAM points, so far al the railroads are con-
cerned. You see this melon business is like no
other and the blame for the lack Of profit to
the growers Their shipments to northern
points does not belong on the railroads.
'1n the first place, large majority of the
men who grow melons Tor shipment have little
knowledge OF economical methods, and in this
they are at disadvantage from the start
'Xou NAV take the melons of southwestern
or any other part Of Georgia, and unless they
are shipped intelligently, that is, with some
knowledge Of the condition Of the market and
a certainty that responsible parties will attend
TO their sale, the matter OF rates VIII have lit
tie to do with The chances for profit.
81 venture to say that if the rates were one
half what they arc now there would % no
moro money returned 10 the growers OF t1eor-
gia than thore is now, tor the markets would
be glutted and the prices would make the net
result about what IL is now. Take last yaer,
for instance. Everybody made money, sim
ply because there was always demand for
this product and the prices were good the
entire season. This year the quantity of mel
ons grown was almost doubled, and what is the
result? Why, hundreds of carloads of melons
have been sold in Cincinnati and other points
for less than the freight amounted to. In these
cases the railroads lost money in proportion to
their pro rata interest III the freight
'if melons were shipped as perishable
freight is shipped by express prepaid-there
is no doubt that much lower tariff than the
present one could be secured. And there is
another point that IL seems is not understood
by good many people, the growers included.
Now, take my road, for example. We have no
more to do with the making of the rates than
that man passing by on the sidewalk out there.
The railroad which first takes the car, on
whose line the melon is grown, makes the
tariff for all points and we receive our pro rata
Of the freight charge. The primary road will
bill the car to any point desired, and as they
nearly all come via Atlanta, when it arrives
hero it is turned over to tho connecting
line for the point to be reached
Even when reshipped, the through
rate holds good, Now we merely furnish them
cars and, as THE CONSTITUTION said a few
days ago, if n carload of melons is sold in At
lanta our road which might otherwise have
secured its transportation to SOME point be-
yond, merely gets rental of three-fourths of a
cent per mile for its use. There is no money
in railroading on this basis, as any one who is
posted on the business can tell you, Tho cars
are often returned to us in dirty condition,
the floors and roofs covered with dccaying
rlnds, and we have to clean them at our own
expense.
Nov. we often furnish these cars for the
melon season in Georgia to the detriment of
other traffic that our roads may have in
sight The crop, too, is an uncertain one and
lasts but a short time. | see The CONsTIFU-
TON asks why the railroads charges rate SO
out of proportion to that on cotton for melons.
There are several reasons for this, but the
principal ones are these: The cotton crop is
staple, can be depended upon for a
certain amount of business every
year, and is not pershable. The
freight is certain on cotton. and as | said be-
fore, If IL was rs certain on melons, either pre-
paid or guaranteed by responsible parties the
rates would be made much lower"
'What do you think about the commission
men in northern markets? That is DO you
believe they make fair returns for their con-
signments OF melonsY'
"Well, suppose there are some crooked
people IN the melon business, as in all Others
but as q rule think they do the best they can.
The growers loose great deal by shipping to
irresponsible parties-Curbstone dealers-who
go down in the melon country and talk
smoothly about their business, show the grow
ers bogus kilograms from whatever place
they claim to be doing business in and solicit
shipments. They get good deal of
trade, and the grower, of course, gets left lie
ships his cH to the agent who talked so glibly,
and this man turns around and sells IT TO
confederate. His returns to the grower are
never IN the shape of money, and usually
winds mp with nice explanation about the
bad condition OF the melons when they arrive
and the dun market and anything else that he
thinks will console the meon-grOwer for mis-
utAu loss. 1 non, luC Judgment Oh Tue shipper
is an important item. ] have known melons
10 sell in Cincinnati for sos u car. The
lucky grower receives n telegram advising him
Of this fact, and, OF course, he immedi-
ately loads up all the melons
th2t he has ready for shipment
and away they go to Cincinnati. He may men,
ton this TO one or two other growers and they
also select that place for all the melons they
can-load. What is tho result? Why, Cincin-
natl is glutted with melons and the bottom
drops out of the market, and often they do not
sell Tor enough to cover the freigh. Then tho
commission man comes in for his share of
sheol, and very often lie does not deserve it.
AS | said, there is an opportunity for gouging
in this business and ii is possibly taken adj
vantage OF.
'"fhe melon business in Georgia is all right
however, aud when growers use a little more
discretion in their shipments and deal only
with weli-known and responsible men, they
will find that there is money In the business,
even il they have to pay present freight rates
IL is first a question of supply and demand and
the exercise of Judgment in dispoSing OF their
crop"
"ihore is one thing more l want to call
your attention TO, and that is the lack Of suita-
bic cars 10 move this crop, and il seems TO me
that Che Georgia roads should provide more
cans for this traffic. which is distinctvely their
own aud always will be-"
Melon shippers may find this interview a
valuable one TO paste in their hats FOR refer
ence next season.