The morning news., 1888-07-29
Complaints OF Melon Growers.

Complaints of Melon Growers.
/ The MORNING News yesterday publiAhcd
a communication from a melon grower IN
! which several complaints we're made against
the railroad companies which transport the
melons grown in southern Georgia. This
communication doubtless expresses the
views Of many melon growers.
1t is difficult to give nm intelligent opin-
| ion of the merits OF the issues between the
! growers and the railroad companies with
out hearing fully tho statements of both
/ parties; but it is not difficult to reach the
conclusion that The growers are dissatisfied
| with the net returns from their melons this
! year, and that their seasons work has left
them disappointed and discouraged
/ The impression which the complaints of
the growers create is that it does not pay to
grow melons, and that unless the net re-
turns are in some way increased, the melon
| industry viii have TO be abandoned. Of
course this is a very gloomy picture of the
situation, and may not he justified by the
facts. 1t is admitted that tho rates Of trans
portation are not greater this season than
| last, and that the transportation companies
are not more exacting now than they have
heretofore been, but the melons have not
brought as good prices as III former years.
The reason they have not, the railroad com
panies say, is that the melons have been
smaller, and, in too many instances,
have been shipped before reaching
maturity. Nobody wants immature
melons at any price, but the mar
let will absorb almost an unlimited
amount of large-sized mature melons at
good prices. The growers say that they
cannot afford TO ship big melons, because
the difference IN the freight between them
and II edium sized ones is far greater than
the difference in the prices which can be
| obtained for them.
1t is apparent that there are some prob
lens in the melon-growing business which
have not yet been solved, and it is proposed
t. hold convention of melon growers on
Aug 9 TO see if solution of them cannot
he found. At this convention it is desired
10y those who are promoting the movement,
that ali the melOn-growing counties in the
southern part of the state shall be repre-
sented The actual condition Of the Melon
growing business will be presented, and the
grievances of the melon growers will be
stated
The thing to be done is this: A committee
should be appointed by the convention to
meet the railroads with the view of making
arrangements which will permit the melon
growers to live, and at the same time afford
the railroads fair margin of profit. The
committee should be composed of clear
headed business Ten, and they should
thoroughly understand the questions they
are required to discuss with the railroads.
The melon growers declare that they are
Disseminated against by the railroads. II
they are, let them have the facts
well in hand, and if they are not,
let them be prepared to show
why concessions should be made
to them. The railroads do not
want to discourage the growing of melons.
On the contrary they want to encourage it,
and if they are shown that the growers
have done their utmost, and yet have failed
to make the growing of melons profitable,
they may make suggestions, or offer con-
cessions, which will remove some at least
of the difficulties with which the growers
insist they are contending.
If the convention decides to appoint a
judgment in doing so. Only men of pa
tience, determination, intelligence and a
thorough knowledge of their mission will
have a chance of succeeding. On the kind
OF men who compose the committee will
depend to a great extent the success or fail
ure of the mission