The record-union., 1895-03-09

rates charged by the transportation com
panies, ought to be exhausted before fur
ther concessions from the railroad COM
panies may be justly asked.
Now, coming directly to the statement
OF the desires OF the committee, and the
conclusions of the company thereon:
First-It is asked that q five-day venti-
lated car service to Chicago be in some
manner guaranteed.
The Southern Pacific Company will
undertake negotiations with its cOnnec-
tIons to establish five-day schedule for
ventilated cars. in rain-Ioads, and in
every way do its best 20 insure the
prompt and regular dispatch of fruit from
ali points on its line; but there are so
many influences beyond human control
which interrupt and interfere with train
schedules that 1t IS not regarded possible
or reasonable TO expect that railroad COM
panleS should absolutely guarantee these
schedules to the extent that would make
tnem liable tor damages in case of failure
to make the time.
SeCond-It is asked that the Southern
Pacific Company obtain from the refrig-
orator companies concession OF at least
500 per car.
The question of refrigeration belongs to
the domain OF chemistry and not to rail
road operating. The railroad companies,
IN our judgment, are not fitted to ana
undertake the labor and responsibility of
refrigeration. The Southern Pacific Com
pany Is IN no wise responsible for the re-
trlgeratOr charges OF the refrigerator
companies and must decline to assume
any responsibility in that direction. This
Is matter that the fruit-growers and
shippers can handle for themselves di-
rectly with the refrigerator companies.
W believe, however, with you that the
charges for refrigeration have been too
high-hOw much too great we have not
the information to determine, but we
shall do all that is possible for
US TO do to bring about a reasonable
reduction in these charges, and think that
we have already accomplished some
thing III that direction. We would add,
however, that growers may accomplish
much in this direction by encouraging
and tavoring the use of cars, which have
the greatest carrying capacity in proper
ton to the dead-weigbt of car and ice,
and that good deal can be accom- pIished
by holding the refrigerator companies to
their responsibility as such in the samo
manner and to the same degree that rail-
road companies are held responsible by
shippers Tor performing the service which
the law or contract makes obligatory
upon them.
Third-You ask that 81 rate to Chi
cago be granted on ventilated cars for
elght-day service.
The testimony of members of your own
committee at the conference confirms the
conclusions that had previously been
reached that an eight-day service for ven
ulated cars to Chicago would not be sat
isfactory, and we are convinced that
proposition to make a ditiereniial rate in
favor OF ventilated ears would not carry
with our connections. We believe that
the excessive deadweight. as compared
with paying load OF refrigerator cars, can
be reduced, and to this end our energies
shall be directed. and in this endeavor
we shall be working directly toward a
reduction in cost OF service, which will
rebound to the benefit of the shipper.
FOurth-It is asked that carload lots of
fruit for Eastern shipment be hauled 10
points on the main line from branch line
points on the basis of through rates in
stead of local rates.
Our branch line rates are not strictly
upon the basis OF local tariff, but upon
much lower scale. Branch lines cannot