Smyrna times., 1898-01-26
AGAINST DELAWARE FARMERS.


1t has been learned that during the
past week there has been much uneasi-
ness shown throughout Delaware by
local buyers and shippers of grain,
caused by the fact that the auth critics
IN charge of the elevators at Port Rich
mond, Philadelphia, have declined to
receive grain shipped by steamer or
vessel
Those in charge of the elevators say
they have been compelled to adopt
this measure, as the space is rapidly
being taken up by inferior wheat left
for storage. This far fetched and non
sensical story was for time accepted
by those who were not inclined to in
vestlgate matters, but throughout the
grain district of Delaware is,
that part having water communication
with Philadelphia, either by st teamer
or vessel-the true facts of the case are
now known and the hand of the great
grinder and enemy of the Delaware
farmer-can now be readily seen, and
it looks as if that corporation held the
trump cards.
The water leg has been taken out,
and when the proposed improvements
are finished it will be seen the build
ing will be minus water leg, thus all
grain shipped to thit point must be
transported by rail, or else sent to
Philadelphia by water and sold from
the wharves.
For years past this has been an i'm
portant industry in Delaware. The
various water courses throughout the
State, connecting with the bay and
river, are naviGable almost the entire
year, and sailing vessels and steamers
which navigate these streams and carry
freight, principally grain, peaches and
other farm produce to the Philadelphia
market.
The difference in freight rates in
some communities for grain is 3 cents.
At Drawbridge, John B. Dorman is the
heaviest shipper, as the boats can no
longer carry the grain to the elevators,
he now has several thousand bush
els OH hand that must be shipped by
rail, which will lesson his profit from
l! to p cents per bushel. At Milton.
the numerous buyers of that section,
ship their grain to Philadelphia
by vessels. This important grain CEN
tire Is on the Broadkiln River, and
now many sailing vessels are idle.
At Milford, the Mispillion River.
the steamer, Endeavor owned by the
Denney Bros, has been withdrawn. as.
now that she can no longer carry grain
she will not pay expenses. Numerous
sailing crafts also ply these rivers car
rying grain to the elevators, at Port
Richmond.
Frederica is another important grain
shipping centre, and besides the
steamer Frederica, engaged in this
business, there are three schooners
that will now be compelled to lie idle
at their docks.
Smyrna has two steamboat compa-
MES engaged in buying and shipping
wheat-the Brady Steamboat Company
and the Philadelphia & Smyana Trans
portatiOn Co. The Pennsylvania Rail
road has been bitter against both these
companies for some time, as owing to
that great rivalry which exists, grain
Is carried for practically nothing. The
Brady Company carries grain for Il
cents per bushel (Which low price is
considered to be the cause of the hos
tile action of the Railroad) and has a
considerable amount on hand that
must be shipped by rail, while A. E.
Jardine, of the Transportation Com
pany, is caught for 5000 bushels. The
same state of affairs exists at Blackbird
Landing, where grain is carried exclu-
sively by sailing vessels, and at Odes-
sa, on the Appoquinimink river, the
steamers leaving that place carries
thousands of bushels every year.
Buyers at all the places mentioned
are caught with q greater or less
amount of wheat on hand, and they
are loud in their protestatiOns against
such high-handed proceedings by the
Pennsylvania RailIOad Company.
For many years the steamboat com
panies of Delaware have been a source
OF great annoyance to the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad and some time ago sew
eral of these companies were informed
by this corporation that if the rates for
carrying grain were made any lower
trouble would follow, and it now looks
as though they intended to keep ther
word.
At Drawbridge, Milton, Lebanon,
Smyrna and Odessa from $4,000 to
100000 bushels of wheat are shipped
by water. By the railroad company
controlling the elevators, this means
an increase in the rate of freight for
grain of from 19c. to 3Jc. per bushel.
The buyers are practically at the
mercy of the railroad authorities now.
and the farmers Throughout the State
are taking an active interest in this
new state of affairs
A movement is now on foot, backed
by several influential gentlemen from
each county, to form an organization
to fight the railroad in this. their Iatast
scheme to defraud the Delaware farm
ers by making him pay extortionate
prices for freighing his grain VIZ
mingtOn Stn.
County and State Items.