Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1901-02-14

Special Correspondence Of Gazette and Journal
Middletown, Feb. 9.--Probably no
man in Delaware il more fami lar with
the freight charges Of the Delaware
railroad than ex-Clerk Of the Peace j.
r. Foard of this town. As dealer in
grain for 80 years, and as grower for
the last few years, he has had ample
opportunity to study the question of
rates from several points Of view. and
his arguments in opposition to the bill
now before the Legislature, the object
OF which Is to make q radical increase
In the taxes imposed by the State upon
railroad corporations, is sound and log
zeal. In an Interview uron the sub
ject Mr.. Foard had this to say.
with regard to the sufiiciency of
the amount now paid to the State an
nually by the management OF the Della
ware railroad in lieu Of taxes, the
plain and exhaustive statement Of John
Biggs in his letter to Every Evening on
February 9th, to my mind, shows the
equity of the present arrangement
This being so, the question wouid al ise
with what degree of fairness has the
management of the Delaware division
treated its patrons?
81 ran speak more particularly with
regard to one branch of its patrons.
who compose a very large proportion Of
the freightspaying citizens OF the State
the growers and shippers Of grain.
As dealer in grain for 80 years have
necessarily. been brought in contact
with the management oil the freight
department in this line, who have
always entertained any reasonable
proposition, until today the matters
pertaining thereto have been SO adjust
ed that the farmers Of Delaware are
now enjoying rate OF freight on grain
that, to my mind, would be hard to
imp owe ucon. They should look we'll
to their interests, Vest the favorable
consideration OF the proposed bills
before the Leg ialature raise complical
{ tions that would affect the value of
Y their cereals most seriously.
VI IF these bills should be enacted,
q does any one imagine the present rate
a OF freights would be maintained? Most
n certainly not!
3 Nov what is the present rate of
\ ffeights on grain to the two cities that
are the natural terminals for our ship
ments: that is, Baltimore and Phila-
delnhia? Five cents per 100 pounds to
n either place, which is 3 cents rer
u hushel on wheat and 2 g. 10 cents per
~ t}u6uoi VI tbFn duu butH Edbd
n 1 know, as far down as Dover 6efore
y changing. A few years ago 10 cents
per 100 pounds was charged. What
brought about this charge? Surely not
any competing line down the State.
h Did water competition do it? This
argument might be used as to some
places, but how many patrons of sta
tions from Dover north on this road
could use water transportation advan
tageously? L do not moan to say that
the railroad would not recognize water
competition. do say they are treat
ing the grain growers of this State
fairly.
when the extreme low prices struck
the trade, which by the way. was
about the time the late George Stevens
was made division freight agent, 1 was
one Of several who vent to see Mr.,
Stevens and urged the necessity of
lower freight rates. | behave 1t is
fair to the railroad company to say
that they considered the needs of the
farmer in this regard, which resulted
IN the establishment Of the present
rates.
Ibis adjustment began during the
management Of Mr.. Stevens as division
freight agent and was carried to COM
pletion under the present division
freight agent, Charles E. Kingston.
Formerly we were met with terminal
charges when grain was shipped TO
points in Philadelphia other than the
elevators. Now the cars are delivered
TO local sidings, the Scent rate cover
ing all. Camden, N. j., ia desirable
point of shipment. Three years ago 10
{ cents per 100 pounds was charged; 10
v day the rate Of cents per 100 pounds
will place our grain down in Camden.
might go on and name point after
4 point that We can reach covered by
4 the rate mentioned, which has injured
n much to the value OF the product of
81 the farmer. .tiAs grower Of grain / am
* much Interested, and | would greatly
N regret the action OF our represen tatives
Nh in the Legislature il they should enact
r. laws that might send us in backward
M line to water transportation. As q
VA dealer In grain / know the advantages
u of shipments by rail over water, The
rate of freight being anything like
NJ equal. The best rate to be had at
N present by water to Baltimore and
M Philadelphia is 3 cents per bushel for
a both wheat and corn. To this add 3-5
of a cent e'etaror charges in Baltimore
and II Of cent in Philadelphia. BY
railroad 3 cents per bushel on wheat
anu O-lO CtutS pbT bububi COIn,
and no other charges. BY railroad you
can get your grain delivered when you
want to and in quantities to suit pur
n ohasers
'This being the state of affairs on
# the Delaware division, US it comes
N under my observation, how does il
n compare with our neighbors of the
X Maryland division OF the Pennsylvania
IA railroad? Take Middletown, DEL, anc
M ,Elkton, Md. The rate from Middle
M town TO Baltimore is 5 cents per 10(
NJ pounds; the minimum weight Of car
n load of grain is 10000 pounds Tht
a same rate and conditions APPLY tx
s philadelphia. The rate from Elktoa
& Md. to Baltimore is cents per t0l
~ pounds. The minimum weight of I
# carload of grain over this road Il
10000 pounds. From Elkton to Phila
Il delphia the rate is 2 cents per 10t
pounds, and the minimum weight o
each car is 10000 pounds. Singerl,
NJ station, on the r. & o. railroad, il
N within three miles of Elktcn, ant
81 Elkton Is ON the Elk River, witt
" boats running from there to Baltimore
IA 1.-THE minimum weight OF $4,000
MI pounds per carload of grain on th,
All Delaware division is maintained
An through the instrumsntality of MIR
M Kingston, much to the advantage o
I'M the smaller farmer. s
M "This matter should interest ever,
farmer to degree that should cansi
N him to look sharp after his owr
1N interests. ssSupposs, by the enactment