The record-union., 1895-03-09

charged for carrying the fruit products Of
Florida and the Southern States TO the
same markets, over almost dead-level and
cheaply operated roads. The rate of 81 .
per 100 pounds to Chicago was fixed with
reference to ventilated fruit cars whose
average dead weight was less than 28, 900
pounds, and whose minimum carrying
capacity was ten tons, since which time
the bulk of the fruit has been moved in
refrigerator cars whose minimum load is
twelve tons and average dead weight
46, ,564 pounds. This increase of dead
weight has been carried for an average
increase of If cents per 100 pounds
upon the paying load.
Again: At the close of 1893 prominent
fault shippers called upon the officers of
this company, representing that there
was no valid ground for complaint
against the rate of charge, but alleging
that the charges for refrigeration was
burdensOme; that there was no neces-
sity for such extensive use of refriger-
ator cars, and if a service of five days
from Sacramento to Chicago could be
given on ventilated cars, their use could
be greatly extended, and the use OF re-
frlgerator cars reduced with profit to the
grower. After corresponding with its
connections, the Southern Pacific Com
pany arranged for schedule OF five DAYS
from Sacramento to Chicago for venti-
lated cars in train loads, which was en-
| tirely satisfactory to the fruit growers.
This schedule was arranged for without
any additional cost, while formerly the
cost for expedited service of the character
| proposed in addition to the regular rate
was SlO0 per carload. This expedited
service for ventilated cars at the standard
rate OF 81 % per 100 pounds would have
been accom- pIlshed, had it not been for
the strike and tor that as l have already
said, the railroad company was not re-
sponsible.
With reference to this proposed five
day ventilated car service to Chicago,
your committee is pleased TO say:
In spite OF all your company can do,
IL may be no more successful in the
future than it has been in the past in de-
llVerlng ventilated cars at Chicago within
five days"
This statement was objected to at the
conference, and it was demonstrated TO
your committee that, with the exception of
1854, when the strike interfered and inter
rupted the prompt and ordinary dispatch
OF all trains, the five-day schedule was
made wherever it was contracted for, and
while carriers are not in a position to
guarantee this schedule to the extent of
becoming responsible for damages in case
OF failure, yet there is nothing in the ex-
perience OF the fruit-growers or their deal
Ings with the carriers which furnishes a
valid foundation for questioning their
purpose and ability, under ordinary con-
dItlons, to fairly perform any seryice
which they voluntarily undertake.
1t was also drawn out, with respect to
your statement that the San JOAQUIN
Valley could not profitabIy use venti-
lated cars at any price, that with prompt
movement there was no reason why
ventilated cars for certain classes of fruit
cannot be used for any and all portions
of California.
Perhaps, in view of the foregoing, it is
needless for US to state that we do not by
auy means snare the committees gloomy
views with respect to the future of the
Irult crop OF California. We do not re-
gard the experiences OF 1898 and 1894 as a
just measure of the prospects for this
crop, nor do we think that the fruit
growers and fruit-shippers have directed
their attention to the economies and i'm
provements which may be introduced
into their methods of marketing their
products, which, in view of the very low