Middletown transcript., 1898-03-19
OF Interest
to Farmers

REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON TRANS
PoRTATIoN MADE AT MEETING OF
PENINSULA HORTICULTURAL So
cIETY, HELD JAN. 13, IA, AND 10
1898.
A year ago this Society adopted by
law providing for a Committee on
Transportation, and in accordance
with that action committee was
chosen, and herewith is most respect-
fully submitted the results Of their first
years. work.
We have not accomplished all that
we expected, but we are able to report
that the year has been more fruitful in
results than any preceding it in our ef-
forts to secure an equitable adjustment
OF our transportation interests. Neither
has there been time wien the future
was SO full of promise. 1t has been a
matter of general knowledge among
the people of the Peninsula that freight
and express charges have been exces-
sively high, and that we were unjustly
Disseminated against. The policy pull
sued, whatever the motive, has been
one of extinction rather than to encour-
age traffic. As is too well known, this
policy has not only decreased produc-
tion but has had blighting effect upon
valuable and important interests, the
effect of which cannot be estimated.
Every appeal for rates somewhat in ac-
cord with the cost of the service was
unheeded. Every resort to the power
of the law was stubbornly resisted.
Whatever had been accomplished,
whether by individual or organized eff
fort, as by the decree of the courts, or
when the interests of the carriers were
so apparent as to suggest the wisdom
of granting the relief asked for. What
ever the difficulties that the horticul-
turist has encountered in the produc-
tion of his crop, none has been so great
as the failure to get that crop to mar
ket at reasonable rate. The possibil-
tiles of the horticulturist of the Penin-
sula cannot be fully known until the
same facilities and economical rates of
transportation are enjoyed here as else
where. These conditions have caused
bitter antagonism between the ship
per and transporter, where there should
be mutual good feeling and hearty CO.
operation. Certain forces and influences
have operated TO lower rates, and il
the fruit growers will give earnest sup
port TO these factors, relief from The
charges of the P. r. r. Company will
be afforded. The forces to which we
refer are the opening of new line Of
railroad, the increase Of steamboat
lines, with the excellent facilities fur
nished by them for the transportation
of all farm products. The low rate Of
fered by these lines, and the prompt
ness and dispatch given to shipments
placed in their hands, have induced tue
farmers to patIoniZe them literally.
The rail lines have come fully to rec
ognize that in order to hold their traffic
they must establish competing rates.
An illustration will serve to show the
force of this statement. The steamer
Mary U. Citizens, plying between Leb-
anon and Philadelphia, a distance oi
ninety miles, made three trips week
through the season, carrying some week:
forty carloads Of fruit and general mer'
chandise, almost equaling the amount
hauled from Wyoming on the Delaware
railroad. These two shipping points
are three miles apart, and three-fourthl
OF the traffic now going to market by
steamer, formerly went by rail from
Wyoming. While we believe that
there is general reduction of rail ratel
from Wyoming being made, there are
two notable instances where substan
tial reductions were made, that we
trust will be. permanent. The rail
rates on grain from Wyoming We're re-
duced to meet the wa er rates, and OF
apples the rate to Jersey City was re-
duced from 81 cents to 80 cents per. .10t
pounds, to mees the competition viz
tbe Citizens to Philadelphia and th'
Clyde from that point. A reduction il
grain rates WAS made from Clayton
Dover, FELTON, and Milford. Merch an
disc rates were also reduced from water
mpeting-point. The rail rates to
and from Seaford to Baltimore ar
reduced TO correspond with the waite
rates, and your committee has been in
formed that the rates include the cos
of loading aud unloading. These in
stances, to which others could be added
serve to show that the excessive rate
of the r. R. r. Company. must soone
or later he reduced, and that with sue
reduction must also come improved faci
ties, ,ifthey would get reasonable shar
of the patronage of shippers. The build
ing of trolley lines, for which seVers
important charters have already bee
granted, will aid and quicken the relic
that is surely near at hand. Such trolle
lines. while furnishing cheap and con
venient means Of travel, having freigh
privileges. will BECOME valuable ad
junets rs feeders TO The steamboat linel
thus bringing water navigation With
the reach of all our people. Every el
couragement should be given the trolle.
Your committee see the future fun I
promise If these potent factors al