Middletown transcript., 1898-03-19

Mhio uUiuo IuC hCys Ou Will hSGO8~
nizs this fact. Any relief, therefore.
afforded by the State of Delaware,
either by legislation or otherwise, must
benefit the whole Peninsula.
The Delaware Legislature, in session
last winter, adopted resolution and
appointed a committee of eleven mem-
bsrs to investigate the alleged uiscrim-
nations and excessive freight charges
and to report before the adjournment by
bill OF otherwise. We Immediately de-
terminad to lend every aid in our power
to this committee, who were very cour-
teous and pursued their Investigations
with zeal and energy. After many con-
ferences in which the views and opin-
ions of our best and most conservative
f:uit growers were obtained it was de-
cided best to ask for Railroad Com
mission, with powers to fix rates and
to adjust differences. The Legislative
Committee agreed to this plan and your
committee drew bill in accordance
Herewith, which with some modiaca-
tion became the bill presented to the
General Assembly. Your COMMITTEES
attended the weekly meetings Of the
legislative committee, furnished such
data as it had in its possession, or
could procure. In this work we were
aided by some of the most earnest
workers in this Society. A petition
asking for legislation that would at.
ford sure and speedy relief to all Of our
people from the Determinations and ex.
cessive freight charges of the P. B.
R., was prepared and sent into
every school district in the State, and
when the bill was presented to the leg
islature it was accompanied with this
petition, to which wsre the signatures
Of over 5000 bona fide Delaware voters.
1t is said 10 have been the largest Pc
tition that was ever presented to the
Delaware Legislature. The bill, how
ever, failed of passage.
Though the bill recommended by the
committee failed Of passage yet we feel
that the investigation and publication
of the committees report, by authority
of the state, has accomplished great
good, as it is the first instance in which
the State has taken cognizance Of the
charges of the farmers that the rates
were unreasonably high and Of dis
eliminating character. The endorse
ment of the auditor Of the Inerstate
Commerce Commission as to the cor.
rectness of the rates, and the opinions
and recommendations of the attorneys
upon the constitutionalty and practic-
ability of having a Railroad Commits
sion, justify the position and work Of
your committee, and give added
strength to the report OF the Lsgisla-
tive investigating Committee.
An effort was made to secure q re-
duction in express rates, owing TO the
fact that straw berries were largely
shipped in that way. This effort failed
but has already been renewed for 1898,
and We hope that it will meet with sue
cess. With larger acreage Of straw
berries than ever before, a full crop
will prove profitless, unless better ex-
press facilities Can be had at greatly
reduced rate. 1t has been suggested
that the fast lines of steamers, with
cooling chambers, could be placed In
such rivers as would reach the most
ex tensiIe berry districts and carry
berries to the most convenient points
at which compsti tive rail service
could be had. Again the Queen
Anne Railroad will carry berries to
New England markets at One.lhird
less than present rates on p. R. R.
Several trolley lines we think will be
built that will prove valuable feeders
to these lines, and place the reduced rates
thus assured within the reach OF u
large number of our citizens.
The reduction in the apple rate r O.
ferred to was wholly the result Of ef.
forts of the committee. The change Of
the classification of Keiffer pears was
accomplished by your committee in
connection with several large dealers at
Wyoming station. This change effect
ed saving of fifteen aud sixteenth
ceuts per basket in freight aud resulted
in giving growers a profitable market
for their pears. This change Uf clasSi-
fcatiun, however, is not permanent.
We recommend that the society petit
tion the Official classification Com.
mittee, of the National Traffic AssOcla-
tion, 10 have the classification Of Keiffer
pears permanently changed from second
to fifth class. If this cannot be accom-
pIishtd these pears Can be shipped by
boat to Baltimore, Wilmington and
Philadelphia, and from there To deSt1na-
tion much cheaper than as second class
freight from Joints on the Delaware Il.
r. The KeIffer pear will doubtless
rival the peach i'll it's palmilst days.and
becon cone OF the most profitable fruits
ever grown here, provided cheap trans
pOrLatiOn can be had-LhaL is transpOr-
tation charges 10 De somewhat IN accord
with the Cost of service.
KeIffer pear> are shipped in bulk, are
as -perishable as apples, are given
slow freight movement, and require no
more ii tting up of cars than is required
for hauling grain, therefore when haul
ed at fifth class freight, at an average
cost of 1S cents per 100 pounds to wes-
tern points Of 70 cents per 100 pounds.
and the movement not giveIL&hat is us
ually given TO second class freight, then
we not only feel an injustice is being
done, but such classification Means The
exclusion of by far the most profitable
market we have yet found for these
pears.
In conclusion your committee feel
gratlfied by what has been accomplished
during the past year, aud believe that
the transportation problem upon this
/ Peninsula is fast appfUa ching solution.
| A careful study auu cOnsIsnt watch Of
the situation must be had, and every
opportunity embraced that Will attuId
I any relief. We are we'll aware that all
SECTIONS Of ths State or Peninsula have
not felt the beuetit of such reductions
as have been made, but it will not DC
| I,,ner uttIl thav ahull WHAT we. AN in-