The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1899-09-02
AS TO THE MELON SHIPPERS.

AZ III IHt mELUN SHlffLkO.
some Moro Information npd Discuss
sion ON the Subject.
From the Gonzales Enquirer.
Mr.. A. r. Wright. Agent, Gonzales.
San Antonio. Texas. August "a, $780,
Dear Sir; Inclosed please find copy OF
ours of this date TO the editor OF the San
Antonio Express. / hardly think tho Con-
zales Inquirer would care to publish 1t in
answer to editorial in issue OF August "a.
but you might hand 1t to the editor of
and truthful explanation of our position
toward the truck and melon growing In
dustry that is attaining such large pro-
portions at points on our line. Yours
truly. Il. j. Martin.
Mr.. Frank II. Bushick, Editor San An
tonic Express, City.
San Antonio, August 27.--Dear Sir:
wish to express both officially and per-
sonally my appreciation CT the editorial in
this mornings issue Of the Express. head
ed profitable Truck Farming"
1t is pleasant for railroad man to see
disposition upon the part of newspaper
men to occasionally take up the cudgel In
the defense of his road.
We have worked hard for the develop
ment of the truck and melon growing in
dustry at points on our lne--primarily, II
is true, through a selfish motive, but with
the knowledge always before US that in
stimulating this industry in certain sec
tions of the State that are good for little
less, we were contributing to the pros
perity of the people along our line. and
with an appreciation OF the fact that upon
the prosperity of the country served by
us depends the welfare of our road.
We have for years past bent all of our
Efforts and, ! am happy to say succeeded
in obtaining on our line exceedingly low
rates to the principal Northern markets.
and we know from a personal investiga-
ton that the farmers interested at Cor
pus Christi. Mathis La Fruta. Wades and
other points on our line south of Kennedy,
where their melons and vegetables mature
early and where there is organized and
intelligent effort in marketing their pro-
ducts are fairly well satisfied with re-
suits this season. Returns have possibly
been unsatisfactory in a few cases, par
ticularly where shipments were made late
in the season, against our advice. to far
distant markets like Cripple Creek, Colo,
and Butte, Montana, to which points the
rates for transportation are higher than
we would make If We could control them.
Again thanking you for your defense of
this road, am, Yours truly,
e. j. Martin.
Mr.. Wright handed the Inquirer yester-
day evening the letters printed above, and
the Inquirer publishes them with pleasure.
The Inquirer assures Mr.. Martin that ii
is not actuated by malice or a desire to
injure the Arkansas Pass or any other rail-
road, but for the good of this section and
the truck growers. The Inquirer pub
| lished the criticism of the statement of
the melon business that the true condi-
| ton might be brought out and a mild
reference thereto would have been passed
over unnoticed. The Inquirer realizes that
the Arkansas Pass has worked zealousy
| for the industrial interests along its line
and the development of the territory. The
| Inquirer also believes IL the Arkansas Pass
management had Its way the producers
would have nothing to complain of and
all South Texas become a garden spot and
during the truck season a place of in
tense activity. However, the Arkansas Pass,
unfortunately Is only a feeder for the
main lines and the best 1t can do Is to
| use It's good Offices with the roads going
| North 10 grant a rate that will warrant
truck raising We have been preaching
| truck raising and diversification. The past
season was a successful one as to product
and we should be able to judge whether
the condition and result warrants its con-
tinuance and DEVELOPMENT. To be sue
cessful the satisfaction of the truck grow
ers must be general rather than excep-
| tional and where there is dissatisfaction
| find out the cause.
| Mr. Martin, in a very few words, gives
some light as to the probable cause of
| some of our trouble and some information
the Inquirer sought to obtain. He says the
farmers interested at Corpus Christi,
| Mathis. La Fruta, Wades and other points
on our line south of Kennedy, where their
melons and vegetables mature early and
where there is an organized and intelligent
effort in marketing their products are fair
| ly we'll satisfied with results this past
season." This expression of Mr.. Martin
| is worth more to the truck growers OF
South Texas than columns that could be
written and would indicate that from
Kennedy south is the zone for profitable
| truck growing for the reason that that
section is early and the product will give
satisfactory returns over the expense Of
| marketing.
The truth is here in O nutshell and II
is for the people Of this section interested
TO crack 1t. Trucking, and especially the
melon business, in the zone north of Ken
| edy is uncertain because the first wind
may be out OF the market by the early
shipments South. We all know there are
| few people who will pay so cents for a
melon, more will pay 40 cents and great
majority who viii pay from 20 to 80 cents.
| People have a limit in satisfying their
tastes according to- their pocket. With
those who can pay fancy price you have
limit in bringing the product in the
reach of all you have an inexhaustible de-
mand almost, and the question is simply
combining the demand or opening great
err demand that could absorb vast quaint
ties This can only be done by cheapening
the expense OF marketing. II 1t can not
| be done then the melon growers of this
section must embark In the business at
their own peril and poor show of getting
satisfactory returns.
The figures published last Saturday by
the Inquirer are good illustration OF
what would result from the reduction OF
| freight charges. They are as follows:
| Here are some more figures: Car No. 1
shipped to Chicago. sold for $i15; freight.
sl0452; commission. 81 80; total expense.
silso2. The car lacked sl.92 Of paying
its way.
Car No shipped to Chicago sold for
s12o: freight, s109.2e: commission, SIP;
! total expense, s12i.20. The car lacked 81 20
OF paying the freight
| Car No. TO Chicago was shipped from
Slayden. Sold for s125; freight, $3.50:
commission si2. so; net to shippers $50. co.
1t will be seen that there was saving Of