The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1899-08-14
JOINED IN FIGHT FOR RATES.
AGrieultHrists and EOrticuiturists
Send Committee TO Washington.


Send Committee TO Washington.
At the last session of the State Agri-
cultural Society, at Quitman, a committee
was appointed from that body. to act with
like committees from the Horticultural
and Fruit Growers Societies in a concert
Cd effort to secure more equable rates for
the refrigeration and sporJatiOn of the
fruits and vegetables grown in Georgia.
II was originally intended that the joint
committee should consist of about fifteen
members, but the fact that in several in
stances the committeeman represent two
of the societies Interested in the project
has somewhat reduced this number. For
instance, Maj. G. NJ Ryals Of this city
represents both the agricultural and hor-
ticultural societies on the committee
Among its other influential and prominent
members are Col Stubbs Of Dublin, Col
Dudley Hughes and Mr. J. b. James. who,
with Maj. Ryals, make up what is prob
ably its most active element
In speaking of the matter yesterday,
Maj. Ryals said that there would be a de-
termined effort on the part of the commit
tee to carry to a successful conclusion the
work that had been entrusted TO it and
that he entertained some hope that there
would result a considerable redress of the
grievances Of the agricultural and hotcul-
tural societies against the transportation
companies and a removal of the disadyan-
tages under which they now labor.
within a few weeks" said Maj Ryals,
'the committee viii meet at some central
point in the state, probably at Macon for
oganization and the election of officers. The
committees Of the various societies will
form one and will carry on the work we
have undertaken together. There Will be a
vigorous campaign instituted at once and
we think we can convince the representa-
tives of the transportation companies that
il is to their interest as well as to ours,
that a more reasonable scale of rates be
put into effect. II is impossible for us,
with the present scale in operation, 10
compete successfully with other fruit
growing sections, from which fruits and
vegetables can be marketed at very much
| less cost than possible with us"
The members of the committee believe
that when the railways are brought to
| a realization of the fact that unless rates
are moderated the farmers and fruit
| fruit growers of Georgia viii be driven
| into bankruptcy or out of the business,
! tney Will consent 10 a reduction OF tUtlf
| own voition We believe that we can
! convince them that reduction is as nee
| essary for them it is for us and can
| show that the rates are out Of all proper
| ton TO the mileage and to those in oper-
| alton from other fruit growing sections
| to the markets of the North aud East"
| 1T is probable that the committee will
| go to Washington before it concludes its
| labors. for the purpose Of consulting with
| the representatives, of the Northern lines
| that have their Southern termini there.
| The lines with which we are brought in
| immediate contact in discussing these
| problems, always claim that it is the
| Northern lines. with which they connect.
| that are responsible for the high scales
| of rates. II this is so We want to talk to
| these gentlemen face to face and we be-
| lieve that the same arguments that should
| appeal to the Southern lines will be equal
| ly efticaceous with them.
! I'VE can't think that CORPORATIONS that
realize large sums annually from a par
| ticular branch of business will desire to
| destroy it, and we know that unless rates
are reduced something very like this will
| happen. As it is now the only thing that
| is certain about the business of raising
fruits and vegetables is that the trans
| portation companies will get one-third of
| the gross proceeds under the most ad-
| vantageous circumstances, and every cent
| when prices are low
| our visit to Washington Is primarily
| to interview the representatives of the
| various lines terminating there, but we
| expect possibly 10 have an interview with
| the Interstate Commerce Commission as
| we'll We are going 10 push the work
from start to finish, and we have strong
| hope that we win be able to remove some
! of the disadvantages under which the ag-
| riculturists and horuculturists of this
| state. in comparison with those of other
sections of the country, now labor"
Maj Ryals was greatly pleased with
| what he saw al The meeting in Quitman.
| where there was a magnificent display of
| the farming products OF the surrounding
| country. Maj Byals noted particularly
a wagon load Of cured meat, that had been
| grown and killed and cured m the coun-
| try Immediately adjacent TO Quitman. He
took il as an indication that the imDorta-
| ton Of meat from other sections was not
a necessity, but all that could be required
could be raised and cured in Georgia.
There was also on exhibition in the pa
radC that was one of the features of The
meeting, a stick OF timber 10 inches by 8
in size ana ~ feel in length. 1t was
drawn through the streets OF the town by
a team of eight mules. There were many
other things OF interest that were 10 be
seen at the meeting and many interesting
talks Were made. Maj Ryals was elected
vice president of the society for this con-
gressional district an Office that he holds
in the Horticultural Society also. The
meetings of both societies are 10 be he'd
next year in Dublin and within short
time of each o,hcr.
BAD WALKS NEEDS REPAIR.