The morning news., 1889-01-17
MELON MEN In MEETING.
FREIGHT RATES AND VENTILATED
CABS DISCUSSED.

Are Not Provided, and Reduction IN
the Acreage Urged.
ALBANY, GA, Jan. 16-To-day being
the day set for the convention Of the South
Georgia melon growers to meet in this CITY,
the delegates began arriving on the early
trains. As the hour for meeting was II
o'clock, those that came in early a7ailed
themselves ef the opportunity 10 take in the
many attractions Of the beautiful and much
talked of Artesan City. Several of the
wives Of the delegates accompanied their
husbands, and the morning was spent in
strolling and driving over town, looking at
and drinking from the various wells 0nd
enjoying its other attractions
CALLED TO ORDER
The convention was called to order
by President g. R. McRae Of
Quitman. at 1915 o'clock, at the
court house In the absence of Secre-
tary A. f. Perham, J. S. Davis of Dough,
erty county was elected secretary pro TEN.
The chair stated that this convention was
for the purpose Of hearing the reports of
the various committees appointed at the
Townsville convention, held last August.
The rate committee was first called upon
for their report, and the chairman, g. K.
McRae, stated that a reduction of 20 per
cent. on last years rate had been promised
Railroad and Steamship Association, south
Of the Ohio river, but that no reduction
was promised by the roads north OF that
point. The reduction, however, by south
ern lines would make difference of from
$12 to SIS per car on shipments north Of the
Ohio.
THE COMMISSION MEN.
The committee appointed at the Thomas
vile convention to look after the commits
sion men was next called upon, but, in the
absence Of the chairman no report was re-
ceived from this committee.
j. r. Forester of Lee county asked the
convention for information as to preparing
freight on shipments by melon growers, and
the chai4 and body seemed to think aud
understand that such was not expected by
the railroads.
j. L. Hand of Mitchell county made an
address in which he argued that as things
now stood the roads north Of the Ohio river
received more profit on melon shipments
than other roads, and that it would be
nothing but just for them to reduce their
rates He called on r. " Glading repre-
senting the Louisville, New Albany and
Chicago road for an explanation as to what
were the intentions Of his road on the
matter
COULD GIVE NO INFORMATION.
Mr.. Glading-All | can say is that my
company has expressed itself as being very
anxious to do everything possible for the
benefit of the fruit and vegetable growers,
but | can give no assurance as to exactly
what the company will or intends to do
Mr.. Hand then resumed, saying that the
southern roads were treating the public
very badly, that they bad promised to furnish
ample ventilated cars for this business, but
were now Indifferent about it; that the
western roads furnished suitable and ample
cars for their business, while the southern
roads do not He said the melon business
would prove failure unless adequate cars
could be secured, and that it was ccnfi5cat-
ing their crops to ship melons in box cars.
MET THE CONVENTIONS VIEWS.
This address seemed to express the senti-
ment Of the convention, and was renled to
by j. r. Forester, who said: II was not
prepared to hear such a report, aud exceed
ingly regret that such is the case The
melon growers were promised more by the
Central and Savannah, Florida and West
ern roads, and if they don't stick to their
promises they don't intend TO aid the furth-
erance of the melon business, but to MP it
in the bud.n
j. w. Haygood of Macon county, in a
short address upon this point, seemed to
think that the railroads would do as they
promised.
Mr.. Forester moved that a committee of
three be appointed to draw up resolutions
touching ventilated cars, which prevailed,
and the chair appointed J. l.. Hand chair
man, j. W. Hayg cd and A. z. Vason.
THE RESOLUTIONS.
This committee retired and drew I'D reso-
buttons, which were read by A. p. Vason,
secretary of the committee, as follows:
WHEREAS, Our information is that the Central
and Savannah, Florida and Western railroads
of this state have failed to provide ventilated
cars for the melon business in accordance with
he
mlttee. by building some of their own, at their
recent conference; and
WHEREAS, We are given to understand that
these roads Will depend upon their western con
nections for ventilated cars Tor the next season.
= /. ResOlued. 1t is the sense of the South
Georgia, Fruit and Vegetable Growers Assoca-
tion that this treatment is unjust, and we have
reason to expect better from tho corporations
who are granted all their rights and privileges
by the people Believing that il is a sound
legal proposition that IL is the duty Of every
railroad company chartered by the people to
furnish sufficient transportation for the bust
ness offered along their lines; we deem il in
eXcusoe indifference to our interest on the part
Of the railroad companies not TO make
proyis oDS by providing ears OF their own to
care for this business. which is peculiarly their
own. knowing SO we'll from past experience
the supply OF ventilated cars to be obtained
from western roads TO BE- inadequate TO move a
melon crop such as last years. we strongly
recommend that the acreage be reduced at
least p per ceut as this will represent aDprox-
imatey he deficiency in ventat ed cars Ii is
deplorabe fact that while the western roads
furnish cars for western shipments south they
have also 70 provide cars for southern ship
ments west
Be IL further TesOlred That our transporta-
tion committee be instructed to confer with the
authorizes OF the Central and Savannah Flor
ida and Western systems to ascertain if there
is no remedy for this menace to the success of
the melon industry even at this late day and
TO make known the result of their conference
promptly by publication in the newspapers in
the melon belt.
COMMITTEES AT SHIPPING POINTS
A motion was made by Mr.. Forester
that committee be appointed at every
shipping point in the melon belt, the duties
Of said committee TO be 20 gather correct
statistics on the acreage planted in melons
1883 and TO be planted this year. and to re-
port the result TO the president, so the !
information can be given to the public. !
The motion prevailed, and the char was
instructed to ascertain said shipping points !
and appoint committees. The question Of |
distribution was argued at length, at the |
close OF which motion was made and car |
Tled 10 appoint the president a committee of |
one TO urge upon the committee or commits |
sion men on distribution the grave i'm
portance OF exertinR themselves in this |
matter towards securing thorough dstr- |
button Of melons
On motion the convention then adjourned |
at gao o'clock, subject 10 the call OF the |
president The next meeting will b. called !
for some day in May next az this CITY.
1t is said that the delegation 10 this meet /