The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1894-11-22


Mr.. Curtis answered that when the
committee was met in conference he
would see what could be done, as it
would be shown that rates had gone
down steadily, leaving a shortage to the
railroad company of over Sl,0O0,OO0. It's
earnings had been more than eaten
up by expenses.
We have been accustomed, he said, to
hear the railroads denounced for not pay
ing their taxes. He took occasion to
look up the matter of taxes and found
that the railroad has paid to the State
S5,000,0 600 in taxes since fruit trains had
DegunttO be run. In that time it's re-
ceipts from fruit freights had been less
than s., 100000. These were simply facts
of interest to all.
The rate per ton per mile on this staple
product of the State is as low as the
Pennsylvania road carries rails, the pro-
duct of that State for; as low as cotton.
the staple Of the South, is carried for TO
New York. 1t is one-half less now than
1t was twenty years ago, while the
volume OF tonnage is only 10 per cent.
greater. The Pennsylvania road carries
four times as much as the Southern Pa
cIhc railroad, but the volume of tonnage
20 the mile Is many times greater.
Ii III times of normal prosperity the
railroad lower rates, ii gets enough in
crease IN tonnage to make up the differ
ence, but in bad times it must lose more
aud more. The railroad of this Stale is
working in sympathy with those whose
service 1t performs, but it cannot afford
To stand in the breach between the
grower and the consumer, and when il
has come down to cost it should not be
asked to go lower. There has been vast
reduction of rates since 1872. Had the
rates OF. that year been held the road in
1894 would have earned $50, 100000 more.
by standing in with its patrons and low
ering rates in accordance with circum-
stances, it has given up since 1880 the sum
OF $40, 600.
In regard to rates, as compared with
other countries, the rates in America are
lower than in the rest of the world. In
Australia the roads are owned and OPP
Grated by the Government and passenger
rates are on an average nearly 10 per
cent. greater than ours, and freight is
nearly double. Growers don't care about
the cost Of raising this or that variety
when it costs more than 1t produces, and
u is so with railroads.
Mr.. Buck, who had been absent, Il. d.
stephens presiding, asked il there was
any reason why the Southern Pacific
Company could not give a schedule time
for ventIlatOr cars TO Chicago and Mr..
Curtis answered that arrangements had
been made for the past season, but the
strike prevented it.
Mir. Buck said ten-car lots could be
made up ii the growers knew the cars
would go. They might not for the first
week or so, but with the announcement
OF five-day time he believed it would
largely solve the question before the con-
YenJion. lie wanted positive assur-
ance.
Mr.. Curtis said there seemed to be no
insuperable objection, but as the ques-
ton for next year must come up with the
other roads, he suggested thai the matter
be taken up at the conference with tho
committee.
Mr.. Motheral said that the growers have
to start trains from Fresno and Kern
Counties, and have difficulty in getting
them to Sacramento in time What can
be done for them?
Mr.. Curtis said the difficulty was to get
ten-car trains. One car sometimes gets
delayed. Motheral asked if it would not
be possible to make Sacramento IA central
point and send from there. Trains had
been side-tracked, he said, for five
days. Mr.. Curtis asked If that was not
during the strike. The company had
suffered then for six weeks from inabil-
ity to move cars. He advised that the
matter be put in the hands Of the COM
mittee.
Buck said growers had much trouble
in getting cars outside of Sacramento.
The growers had as kindly feelings TO-
ward the railroad as it had towards them,
but he did not believe it had lost much
on green fruit. He would rather have
good service at present rates than lower
rates with the present service. MIR. Vein
stock asked whether, if growers quad
rupled last years shipments it would
entitie them to better rates from the COM
pany, and MIR. Curtis answered Ger
tainly." Weinstock said that in 1886 the
company voluntarily reduced the rate
from $500 per car to $500 on special trains
OF fifteen cars. Experience showed that
hfteen-car lots were not in the interest Of
the grower, and a rate of 500 for ten-car
lots was made, the company saying that
the volume of fruit did not allow it to go
lower, and promising if the volume in
creased to reduce the rate proportion
ateiy. The volume had quadrupled, but
the rate had not been reduced.
AIr. Smurr said in response that prior
to last year the rate was based on a rate
of 81 % per 100 pounds to Chicago on
trains approximating passenger time,
and 500 per car more for fast train sery-
ice. This was a radical change of rate.
lie would leave with the committee for
their consideration a circular sent out to
agents of truit-shipplng stations on June
8, 1894, which he read, with regard TO ten
car trains to run 10 Chicago in l2U hours.
The company undertook TO do this at
$3.50 per car instead OF 500 as before.
This reduction would have prevailed had
it not been for the strike coming at the
time it did, and will be carried out this
year if satisfactory.
Mr.. Weinstock said that the Southern
Pacific Company having made that prop
osition, as he believed, III good faith, he
deemed it the most important thing done
vet and that it would result in great gain
both TO the grower and the company,
and would quadruple the output of fruit.
1t had revived his faith in the prospects
of truit-growers If this were done.
Mr.. Curtis said that the company would
gladly give to the bureau any informa-
lion they could, and he and Mr.. Smurr
took their departure amid loud applause,
leaving the best of feeling behind them.
Mr.. Sprague Of Los Angeles took UNI
bragg at the expression california ag-
gressiveness," used by Mr.. Curtis, aud
said the State had suffered from the ag-
pressiyeness of railroad men. They had
dominated and injured the State. lie ex-
pressed doubts as to the figures on fuel
presented. He said that farmers were
tainted about not raising butter and eggs.
They would do SO if the railroad COM
panY would let them. California is cut
OFF from communication with other
States, whereas she should have the treest
communication. He made fiery speech
against the railroad, but was stopped by
the Chair as not speaking TO the subject
of transportation.
d. Il. Fowler and Mr.. Motheral were
added to the Committee on Transporta-
ton.
Cherry-shippels of Alameda County
time shipments cherries be considered. as
they feared the time shipments would
come too late for them,
General Chapman believed the conven-
ton had gone at this matter III the wrong
1vav He believed that if approached in