The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1901-01-21
RATES ON FLORIDA TRUCK.
Interstate Commerce Commission
Did Not Agree TO Reduce Them.


Did Not Agree TO Reduce Them.
The report and opinion Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission in the matter of
alleged unlawful charges for transpor-
tation of vegetables from shipping points
in Florida to New York and other north
western points, by all the rail and steam
ship lines handling such business, have
been printed in pamphlet form, from
W hich the following is extracted:
Allegations of unrca sonable rates on
vegetables from points in Florida to New
York and other northeastern destinations
were investigated by the Commission in
a proceeding instituted upon its own mo-
ton but the evidence presented was too
uncertain and inconclusiVe 10 enable the
Commission TO make the necessary COM
parsons or arrive at any definite conclu-
sion.
published tariffs specifying rates per
standard crate OH vegetables shipped
from Florida to northern or northeastern
points should state plainly the weight OF
dimensions of the crate to which the
rates apply.
THE prices received for vegetables, 1t
appears are lower than they We're, say
ten or twelve years ago. The production
of vegetables has increased and the price
decreased within the period named. II
would appear that the vegetable growing
industry In Florida has not of late years
been as profitable as formerly. The over
production of vegetables, the Cutting
of Northern markets as the result of over
produ cticn the carrying over of caboagss
left over in the Northern markets. ana
the destruction Of crops by severe cola or
freeze as it is termed by growers are
some of the reasons outside of and beyond
the mere question of rates assigned Tor
Improbable seasons.
The facts show that the rates COM
planned of, together with others to north
ern and northeastern points in effect in
1897 and made the basis of this investi-
cation, We're not rates per 100 hundred
pounds as alleged, but per barrel, barrel
crate or package of various weights.
while it is shown that there has been
an increase in the rates since the year
1888, and that the rates in effect in 1871
were considerably higher than those in
the year first named, the testimony tends
TO show that the weights. as basis upon
which those rates are made, have also
changed within that period, and in some
instances at least been materially IN
creased.
From the testimony before us and
upon the basis of comparison just made,
we do not find that the rates on cabbases,
at least relatively, are higher to New
York or other Northern points than to
Chicaao. The uncertainty as to the weight
OF crates or packages of other vegstables
10 the points first named makes impossi-
BILE any at curate comparison of the rates
20 those points with those in effect TO
Chicago. The same Inconsistencies in
the evidence, taken in connection with
facts showing the increased facilities fur
nished by the defendants renders inadvis-
able, If not impossible, any expression of
opinion as to the relative reasonabeness
of rates to Northern or Northeastern
points or the method by which such rates
are made. 1t is shown beyond serious
doubt that rates to New York and other
Northeastern points are not made upon
basis of 100 pounds, but up
on crates of standard dimensions or es-
timated weight other than 100 pounds. If,
as has been stated by one of the defend
ants witnesses, a package weighing $50
pounds, larger and heavier than any
shown to have been shipped, would be
carried for the same rate as lighter one,
it would appear at least that the ship
pers are ignorant of their rights under
present schedules. and that this is due
to failure on the part of the defendants
to make their tariffs sufficiently explicit,
rather than to any want of diligence on
the part of shippers. Whether the stand
ard for the crates used in the shipments
of vegetables to Northern or Northeast
ern points be one of weight or dimen-
sions, it should be clearly set forth upon
the published tariffs of rates and charges
applied to the traffic in question; and an
order to that effect will be issued"
Mr.. ]. w. Middendorf one of the direc-
tors of the Seaboard Air Line who visit
ed Savannah few days ago with Presi-
dent Williams, said, on his return to Bah
timore: after a thorough examination
l anne more convinced than ever that the
Seaboard can be operated for 60 per cent.
of the gross earnings and that this record
will be made within the next fiscal year.
Taking last years figures, this means an
increase in net earnings of about 100000,
and the steady growth which gross earn
ings now show will further increase the
net results. A pleasant feature of our
trip was the enthusiasm we found among
all of the employees of the system. They
are all working with a vim, and each man
seems to be on his mettle to make recA
ord"