The progressive farmer. [volume] (Winston, N.C.) 1886-1904, 1890-06-17
GROWERS AND SHIPPERS Or
PRODUCE THROUGHOUT
< THE SOUTHERN
STATES.
PHILADELPHIA, May %, 80

adopted:
GENTLEMEN: - The P~ennsvIvanio
Railroad Company has ~ecentIy toLn"
a position with regard to sh;nmanta
OF perishable Southern prodn9tg
which will work serious injury to tho
interests of Southern shippers and
their consigRees in this and Other
Northern markets. Heretofore It bso
been the custom of this COMPANY and
rOf other transportation companies to
collect full freight charges only on
such consignments as have been 70.
ceived in fit condition, to command
at least the cost of carriage from the
point of shipment. It all cases where
goods have arrived in bad order and
obviously in a condition that would
necessitate their sale at a loss to the
shipper or receiver, they have allowed
the consignment to be sold for what
it would bring, and have been satisfied
with the proceeds in settlement of the
cost Of transportation. This season
the company has declared it's intention
to collect full freight charges on all
cOnsignments, regardless of their con.
dition on arrival in this market, and
in the event of the refusal of the con.
signees to pay such charges, the com,
pany has announced its purpose to
notify its agents at Southern shipping
points to refuse further consignmentg
to the same consignee, except by pre-.
fpaid freight.
Believing this position to be unten.
able in law, and realizing that its in.
evitable effect would be to create a
false impression in the minds Of
Southern shippers, concerning the
solvency and commercial standing of
the Receiver thus black. listed on the
books of the company, as well as
calculated to obstruct the free flow
of commodities between Southern and
Northern markets, and thus to jeopar.
die the interests of growers and
shippers throughout the South, the
fruit and vegetable receivers of Phil,
adelphis, who are members of the
Produce Exchange, have organized in
opposition to this unjust and unway.
rantable order of the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company. A committee of
the principle receivers has waited upon
the officials of this company, and by
proper representation has endeavored
to secure some modification of this
policy, but has been answered by a
fiat refusal or the part of the company
to make any change. AS a result of
this action of the company, the re-
ceivers have decided upon a united
refusal to comply with the company's
order, and by resolution adopted after
thorough consideration of the subject,
have agreed to use their influence in.
dividually and collectively to induce
growers and shippers of produce in
the Southern States to use the facili.
ties provided by other carrying com
panies, that are less exacting in their
demands and more c~onsiderate of the
true interests of shippers AMI their
Northern selling agents. The matter
has been brought to the attention of
the Produce Exchange, and that
organization has endorsed the action
of the receivers, and adds its recon.
mendation to theirs, that in all cases
when it shall be found practicable,
shippers will forward their consign.
ments by the Atlantic Coast line, and
by the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
or by the Savannah and Clyde Line
steamships, rather than by the route
via the Atlantic Coast Despatch Line
and the Pennsylvania Railroad Com.
pany.
In order to facilitate the market.
ing of Southern produce with best re.
suits to the grower and shipper, it is
necessary that the latter shall have
reasonable guarantee that his goods
will be delivered promptly and in
good condition, and when by reason
of delays in transit of which the evi-
dence cannot always be obtained, or
by the operation of natural causes his
consignment reaches its destination in
unfit condition to realize the cost of
its transportation, it is obviously I'm.
just that the receiver should be com.
PEELED to pay the excess cost of freight
or penalty of having his individual or
firm name and reputation cast under
an implied stigma, and his future
business handicapped by conditions
that do not apply equally and infexi-
bly, to all receivers.
To the end that this injustice may
not be successfully ~perpetrated by the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company, the
Produce Exchange invites your CO.
operation in the disse animation of the
information contained in this circular,
and in furtherance of the objects
herein set forth. Members of the
Farmers Alliance and other agricuI-
tural organizations and trade papers
throughout the South are requested
to give these facts as widespread
p1blioitv OF DosSih1o and in oil caces