The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-12-12
HAS DONE MUCH FOR FLORIDA.
WHAT THE RAILROAD COMMISSION
HAS ACCOMPLISHED

Railroads Put Up the Rates on Veg
etabIes shipped in Orange Boxes
Commission worked on the Matte
Unuu Reduction Was Secured
The CommissiOn's Powers Are Not
Yet Defined, But 1t Is Doing Much
Valuable Work.
Tallahassee, Fla. Dec. 1.-THE prob
lens imposed upon the Railroad Commits
sion for solution 10y the act of the Legs
lature creating il, are being worked out
satisfactorily.
The comm. ssioners have pursued the
even tenor of their way, measuring each
step and cautiously calculating now besi
and most surely they might attain the re-
suits aimed at. This course has brought
trials and criticisms in abundance, but
row it seems that the three gentlemen
comprising the Commission-Chairm
Fienry +. Day and Messrs. John NJ.
Bryan and John /. Morgan-will probably
be better appreciated in the future than
in the past.
True. there are many powers Of the COM
mission which have yet 10 be defined by
the courts, and il may be that litigation
now pending VIII seriously abridge the
scope of the authority seemingly intend
81 TO he granted il by the Legislature.
Pending the determination Of these mat
tiers. the commission is putting in some
good ticks along undiSputed lines and II
is Just announced that reduction IN
freight rates has been secured which will
result in "A great saving 10 truck growers
in this state.
When the great freeze of February. 1895,
deal such a terrific blow TO the orange
groves of South Florida, practically des-
troying all prospects of a crop for the next
few years after that date, The orange
growers and the merchants and dealers
In supplies formerly used by the growers
found themselves caught with a tremen-
dous number of orange boxes on hand.
There were no longer any oranges to put
in the boxes, and il looked for a while
that the boxes would find their way 20
the fire box. On the other hand, the
growers had to turn to some other crop
to supply them living. Most Of them
took truck farming, and some Of the prin-
cipal articles raised were egg plants ana
scuashes.
Before the big freeze such articles as
egg plants and sluashes had been shipped
IN what is known as the Standard vegeta-
bic package" box by "A by p inches,
and the railroads had made their vegeta-
BILE rates with a view TO handling pack
ages of that size. The former orange
growers, however soon found themselves
with plenty Of egg plants, etc, for ship
ment and plenty OF empty orange boxes,
but without money to buy the standard
crates They naturally began packing and
shipping llelT GBS PIditS III inc VI dAi5N
boxes and they found the experiment
decided success. The orange boxes were
just the thing to carry the egg plants, and
for a while the railroads either did not
catch on 10 the change or they found no
objection to ii. They accepted and hauled
tie boxes at regular vegetable rates.
Railroads Made IA Change.
After a season or two, however, the
roads announced that they would no long
he. at a4aN rot and
first they decided to charge the Old or
ange rate on these boxes of vegetables.
The orange rate was from IS per cent. to
20 per cent. higher than the vegetable
rate, but this rise did not stop the truck
ers from using the boxes for their egg
plants. Next the roads put barrel rates
on the boxes of vegetables and this the
truckers found prohibitive.
The truck growers could stand the or
range rate, but not the barrel rate which
latter was placed upon these boxes during
the shipping seasons of 81 and '9S. In
the summer of the present year the mat
ter was brought TO the attention of the
Florida Railroad Commission. The traffic
men of the several roads were communi-
Gated and conferred with, but they claim
ed that they were unable to offer relief,
be they ever so willing, because the Penn
sylvania Railroad would insist on these
vegetables being shipped in standard
crates If they were to be hauled to North
ern points under vegetable rates. OF
course. shipments 20 Northern markets,
such as Boston, New York. Philadelphia,
Baltimore and Washington is interstate
commerce.
The traffic people OF the Florida rail-
roads having declared that the objection
OF the Pennsylvania Railroad was the only
obstacle to making a better rate for ship
ment of egg plants, etc, in orange boxes,
the Railroad Commission took II upon it.
self to communicate directly with the
general freight agent of the Pennsylvania
Railroad, Mr.. J. b. Thayer, Jr, and see
If any objections might be removed. This
effort has met with much success. Mr.
Thayer has had a conference with all the
traffic men of the big Southern roads, and
a reduction averaging 1878 per cent has
been made upon the shipments in question
from the rates which were charged during
the past two shipping seasons. This will
enable the Florida truckers to continue
shipping their egg plants. etc, in orange
boxes, which has been found to be the
best and most convenient package in which
to ship them, and at a rate which should
leave them a reasonable profit.
What Commission Has Done.
With the explanation above, the follow
ing table, which has been adopted and Is
now in force, will show at a glance to the
shippers and other interested parties, what
the Florida Railroad Commission has ac-
complished for them. The rates given
are from Jacksonville, which is the bas-
ing point, to Boston, New York, Phlla-
delphia, Baltimore and Washington