The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1891-08-01
MANY MILLION MELONS.
5000 CARLOADS SHIPPED FROM
GEORGIA THIS YEAR.

The Shipping Season Practically at an
End-The Present Years Crop an
Increase Over Last Years of 5000
Carloads Where the Melons Go.
New Markets Opening All the Time
and Melons Enough for All of Them.
Assistant Superintendent A. A. Aveilhe
Of the Savannah, Florida and Western rail
way and his corps Of telegraph operators
returned yesterday from Townsville,
where they have been since June Is, attend
ing to the transportation IF the water
melon crop. Mr.. Aveilhe was seen yester-
day by a MORNING NEWS reporter. He
gave some interesting information concern
ing this years melon crop. The total num-
Der Of cars moved by the Savannah, Florida
and Western up to July % was 4.382. as
against 2,917 up to the same date last year,
a difference of ,465 ears.
Mr.. Aveilhe says there are at least 500
carloads Of melons in the fields in South
west Georgia still, the greater portion of
which will not be shipped. Practically the
shipping season is at an end, though few
carloads will continue to be shipped daily
by parties who are willing to pay the freight
III ADVANCE ana TAKE tue Tl5h.
THE RUSH TO MARKET.
About 1000 cars, or nearly half the crop,
was moved from July to IA inclusive, an
average of about 10 cars FOR each of the
twelve days included in that, Sundays not
being included, as shipments we're not re-
ceived for that day. AS high as 293 cars
were moved ia one day.
MIR. Aveilhe says that up to July l good
prices were received, and if the crop had
not been two weeks late on account of the
late frost, the returns would have been
highly satisfactory, as the bulk of the crop
would have been marketed before the Geor-
gia and Carolina crops got in the field. and
in the very hottest weather of the
summer when they were in the
greatest demand. As it was, several things
combined to cause glut in the market in
July and low prices were generally re-
ceived. Most Of the growers made money,
however, and it is estimated that a consider
ably larger acreage will be devoted 10 mel
ons next year.
RECORD OF SHIPMENTS.
An account of each days shipments is
kept by the railroads, showing every car
received for that day and the place of its
destination. One Of the most notable and
most encouraging facts brought out by
these statements are that while cars were
points they were received for 1856 different
points this year, showing the widely in
creased distribution of the watermelon crop
The melons received by the Savannah,
Florida and Western railroad were dis
tributed from Key West, Fla. to Toronto
and Ontario, Canada. The freight alone
IN a car of melons to those points was about
$136, The west received the greater por-
ton OF the watermelon crop. Ohio, perhaps
taxing la Ioyalu thor, owl h
ern state.
Michigan, Wisconsin, Iowa and Mime
sofa and other western and northwestern
states took literally of the Georgia water
melon. The points which received the
heaviest shipments we're New York Boston,
Cincinnati and Chicago, 665 cars going to
New York. The greater portion went by
the Ocean Steamship Compauy's lines.
THE STEAMSHIP LINES.
The Central railroads statement yester>
day showed that it had handled TO date
4,S56 cars west and l 500 east, total of
1855 cars for the season, as against 8, 500
west and 2l6 east last year. a total Of 8, 1856
cars last year. This is 2, 100 cars more than
was handled by the Central last year. Add
to this the increase Of !, 465 cars handled by
the Savannah, Florida and Western, and
some idea of the enormous increase in the
watermelon business in the last year may
be gained.
The Ocean Steamship Company handled
S9l carloads to New York and go carloads
to Boston, about twice the number they
handled last year. The greater portion of
this amount was received from the Savan-
nah, Florida and Western railway, aud as
melons starting on the Savannah, Florida
and Western and turned over to the
Central appear on the statements Of both
roads, as we'll as the steamship company, an
idea would be gained by summing up these
figures.
TIE SEASONS CROP ESTIMATED.
Assistant Superintendent Aveilhe, who is
probably the best posted man upon the
amount of melons handled in the state of
Georgia, estimates that about 5000 car
loads of melons have been shipped from the
state this year, which Is about 3 900 more
than were shipped last year. He estimates
that there were about three acres
in melons TO every car shipped, or 27,O0O
acres. There were great many more
melons raised than this, but this about
what was shipped.
AS there are from 900 to 200 melons in
a car this estimate would show about 10, 900, :
600 melols shipped from Georgia last
year.
Estimating the population of Savannah
at 10000 this would give every man,
woman and child in Savannah 200 melons
or about 5000 to the family
Savannah consumes her share of
melons, but the people don't 60 it
quite that heavy Such a state of unal-
Logged happiness as this amount of melons
would bring can only be realized by the
colored brother.
FIVE MELONS FOR EVERY PERSON.
AS the population of Georgia is, according
to the last census, $4,000, this would
allow of about five mslons 20 every person
in the state. This is probably just about
what the population of Georgia did con-
sumo this year, and the stats had 10, 1000, 900
melons TO ship, besides 100000 or 1000 900
to rot In the fields. As the population of
the United States is over 1900, 900,
or, exclusive of Georgia. over 60, 0O0, 900,
this years shipment, as large as it was, did
not allow of more than one melon to every
six persons, or hardly one to each family in
the United States. Just slice around.
Evidently the Georgia melon growers will
have to double and quadruple their produc-
ton to confer upon every person in the
| United States the glorious privilege of par
i fal ~ a N