The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-03-09

been carried for an average increase OF 11s4 cents
per lou pounds upon the paying load.
Again at the close OF 1898 prominent fruit-ship
pers called upon the officers of TINS company,
representing that there was no valid ground Tor
complaint, but alleging that the charges for refrig
Grafton were burdensome; that there was no
necessity for such extensive use OF refrigerator
cars, and If service OF i've days from sacramento
TO Chicago could be given on ventilated cars their
use could be greatly extended and the use OF re-
frigerator-cars reduced with profit to the grower
After corresponding with its connections the
southern Pacific Company arranged for scheduIe
lated cars in tratnioads which was entirely salts
factory TO the fruit-growers. This schedule was
arranged for without any additional cost, while
formerly the cost for expedited service OF the char
acter proposed in addition to the regular rate was
$!0O per carload. This expedited service for ven
tilated at the standard rate of 81 20 per lCU
pounds would have been accomplished had 1t not
been for the strike, and for that as have already
said, the railroad company was not responsible
With reference to this proposed five-day Yentl-
lated car service to Chicago your committee IS
it may be no successful in the future than 1t
has been in the past in delivering 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 1884 when the strike inter
1ered and interrupted the prompt and ordinary us
patch of all trains, the five days schedule was
made wherever it was contracted for, and WINE
carriers not in position 10 guarantee THIS
schedule TO the extent of becoming respon-
sbe for the damage in OF failure, yet there IS
nothing in the experience OF the fruit-growers or
their dealings with the carriers which furnishes
valid foundation for questioning their purpose ana
ability under ordinary conditions, to fairly per
form any service which they voluntarily unGcr-
take.
1t also drawn out, with respect to your state
ment that the san joaquin Valley could not proht-
ably use ventilated cars at any price, that with
prompt movement there was no reason why ventl-
lated 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 TO state that do not by any means share
the committees gloomy views with respect to the
future of the fruit crop of California We do not
regard the experience OF 1893 ana 1S94 as a !usG
measure OF the prospects or this crop, nor GO we
think that the fruitgrowerS and frult-shipperS
have directed their attention TO the economies ana
Improvements which may be introduced INTO thelr
methods OF marketing their products, which, IN
view of the very low rates charged by the trans
portation companies, ought to be exhausted before
further concessions from the railroad companies
may be Justly asked:
Coming directly to the statement OF the
desires of the committee, and the conclu-
sions of the company thereon, Mr..
Stubs says:
First-It is asked that five-day ventilated car
service to Chicago be in some manner guaranteed
The Southern Pacific Company will undertake
negotiations with its connections to establish
five day schedule for ventilated in trainloads
and in every way do its best to insure the prompt
and regular dispatch of fruit from all points on its
line but there are many Influences beyond human
control which interrupt and interfere with train
schedules that it is not regarded possible or rea-
sonable TO expect that railroad companies should
absolutely guarantee these schedules TO the extent
that would make them liable for damages in case
of failure to make the time.
SecoDd-lt IS asked that the Southern Pacific
Company obtain from the refrigerator companies
a concession OF at least $50 per car.
The question OF refrigeration belongs to the do
main OF chemistry, and not to railroad operating.
The railroad companies, in our Judgment, are not
fitted to. and under their organization cannot
safely undertake the labor and responsibility of
refrigeration.
The Southern Pacific Company is in nowise re-
sponsihle for the refrigerator charges of the re-
frigerator companies, and must decline to assume
any responsibility in that direction. This is a ma T.
hiatt h6 frIIit prOyV n
for themselves directly with the refrigerator COM
| panies. We believe, however with you that the
! charges for refrigeration have been too high-hOW
much 100 great we have not the Information to de-
termine, but shall do all that is possible for
! charges, and think that have already accom-
( plished something in that direction. We would
! add however, that growers may accomplish much
in this direction by encouraging and fayorinS the
use of cars which have the greatest carrying
capacity in proportion TO the dead weight of and
| ice, and that a good deal can be accomplished by
holding the refrigerator companies to their respon
! sibility as such, in the same manner and 60 the
same degree that railroad companies are held re
| sponsibe by shippers for performing the service
which the law or contract makes obligatory upon
| them.
Third-You ask that a 81 rate to Chicago bt
granted ventilated cars for eight-day service
The testimony of members of your own committee
at the conference confirms the conclusions thai
had previously been reached that eight-day
service for ventilated cars TO Chicago would not bC
satisfactory and convinced that PROPOSE
ton to make a differential rate in favor OF ven
tilated cars would NOT carry with our connections
We believe that the excessive dead weight as com
pared with paying load OF refrigerator cars can b.
reduced and to this end our energies shall be di
rected and in this endeaVor shall be working
directly toward reduction in cost of service
which will rebound to the benefit of the shipper.
Fourth-It is asked that carload lots of fruit 70
Eastern shipment be hauled 10 points on the mail
line from branch-line points on the basis of through
rates instead of local rates: Our branch-lne rate
are strictly upon the basis OF local tariff bu
upon much lower scale Branch lines cannot b
operated cheaply as main lines and must b
| made as nearly possible, to pay their opeI
| ating expenses 1t would be unreasonable to pei
form the service branch lines at the same rat
per mile as main lines Under any such rule o
tariff-making branch lines ana feeders OF mail
| lines would never be built. We believe that tn
present rates for braneh-ne service are not unrea
sonable, but not unwilling to review them an
see if they be modified in favor OF the shipper
Fifth-You ask that ten tons be made the min
mum amount OF cherries TO be loaded in refrigera
tor
We know from the statements OF shippers tina
not more than ten tons of cherries be properl
loaded in standard refrigerator cars, but thai
it seems TO us, furnishes reason why the raj
3 road companies should carry heavy refrgerato
car with its load of ice, as above described, an
charge less on its contents of cherries than IL youI
charge its contents of pears, the latter rul
being the cheaper article. We believe that unde
ordinary conditions cherries properly packed an
shipped better stand the rate OF 81 % per 10
1 pounds with minimum of twelve tons per ca
g than some OF the heavier and more hard
fruits. Under the principle OF classification in
5 versal use, cherries should be rated higher tina
pears.
canned fruits and nuts DE accepted by this con
a pany, each variety paying its own rate.
This must deny. Railroads cannot reason;
bly, charge lower rate for less than carloads
e nuts because they happen to be loaded in wit
q dried and canned fruits, than if they were loade
I in with other merchandise.
: In respect to your seventh request in which yo
describe the condition of the raisin industry
n OF "woefu depression, and ask that emergenc
rate OF rs cents be given the raisn crop of 1885,
e To this must object Within the last Two veal
the rates raisins have been reduced over 90 pr
c cent the same considerations being urged in fave
y OF that reduction were urged by your Mr.. FoWlt
, in committee. We have reason TO believe that til
n accfnn in ig nQtp llsa6
: or incidental to the transportation charge. AS
matter OF fact large growers and shippers OF rasiI
have informed us that the difficulty in obtainiI
e reasonable prices for the rasin product of tn
J. State lies wholly with the growers and shipper
that the present depressed condition of that indu
s try is more attributable TO the unreasonable con
e petition between our own producers than any con
4 petition from abroad. Very truly yours,
O ]. &. STUBBs.
T WHEREVER used, never abused - D