Middletown transcript., 1895-08-03
WHAT THE REMEDYs

WHAT IS THE REMEDYs
The attention of every citizen, and
especially every agriculturist, is in
vited to an article on the fourth page
of this issue entitled "Extortionate
Freight Rates. Does that article tell
the truth? Its author is not given to
making any but accurate statements.
He says the people Of Delaware are
paying more than three times the
charge made for hauling Georgia fruit
and nearly six times the mileage rate
paid by Californians. And the Della
ware fruit must be sold in competition
with the California and Southern fruits
in a fuller market, hence the prices
must consequently be lower than when
those points, by their earlier seasons,
monopolize the market.
But there is in the article more start
ling statement than the above. 1t is,
that in the large crop of fruit two years
ago over one-half the gross sales from
peaches went to the railroad for trans
portation. This is outrageous and only
a hoodwinked people would suffer it.
The Peninsula fruit grower pays over
so per cent. Of the gross sales OF his
fruit for transportation. Is this fair
division of the cost of production and
marketing2
Why is this thus? Because the
farmers have so ordered it. Delaware
should have had competing line Of
railroad but the powers that be defeated
it and the farmers who have the votes
and the power, but not the indepen-
dence and the will, yield to the defeat
Of measures that would have opened to
them all the city markets at fair rates
of transportation. Some years ago the
Baltimore and Ohio was anxious to
come down this Peninsula and strong
fight was made during one session of
the General Assembly for charter,
but it was defeated. Why and how?
Let the farmers put on their thinking
caps and answer the questions
If the statements of the Ne,Us and
Advertiser are true, and they have been
made in substance frequently and by
many and have never been disputed,
it is time for the fruit growers of this
Peninsula to arouse themselves. How
can they compete in any respect with
other sections when the transportation
rates are SO decidedly against them ?
And why are they against them?
Any man who has served in the
General Assembly, rendering half SER
vice to the people, must know Of the
influences that control legislation, or
rather in the matter of railroad faci.
lities, that prevent legislation. Whether
a parallel line to the Delaware railroad
is possible now, is question. That
the Delaware road is one of the best
paying ones in the country is self evil
dent. The passenger travel and the
freight traffic must be equal for dis
tance to any line in the country. 1t is
something enormous and it seems to
an outsider that the railroad can and
should afford reduction of freight
rates, and very material reduction.
OF what interest is it to the TRAN
SCRIPT to write in this strain ? None.
1t probably loses by it. The farmers
do not appreciate it enough to throw
one extra penny in the way of any
paper that attempts to plead their case.
It is thoughtlessness on their part
rather than ingratitude. But if the
man whom you help forgets your kind
ness, the fellow who gets bit, even a
little, is apt to remember it. Then
why attempt itp is the inquiry of so
many who could and should give shape
and direction to public sentiment. 1t
is so much easier to say pleasant things,
in fact to 1atter and especially when
s'thrift follows fawning" that it is not
surprising that the truth is often dis
placed by adulation and praise where
it is little deserved. Is not this cor
rect?
But what remedy has the farmer?
He has every remedy open to free and
intelligent people. He has the large
majority of the votes and it is only
because of partisanship and jealousies
in the ranks of the agricultural popu-
lation that remedy has not been found |
long since. Do not put up as leaders
the demagogues who promise all things
and perform nothing, but men who are
not easily influenced and are known by
years Of upright living to be like Cae-
sar's wife, above suspicion. These are
midsummer thoughts, and to us are
apparently worthy of some reflection by |
the agriculturist.
-..=..=
THE MARYLAND CONVENTION.
The Democrats Of Maryland held
q ba;r Go 70 Convention nm Wednoadav