The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-11-10
REFoRMs In MAnKRr1NG.

Having given cursory glance at general
methods OF marketing fruits and vege-
tables In other localities you will expect
some allusion to needed reforms for mar.
keting our own products. Under the pres.
ent unorganlzed conditions vegetable grow
ers are compelled to ship large quantities
Of their products by express aud TO pay a
tariff that makes It impossible TO meet com.
petition on prices against carload lots from
other localities. Two hundred and thirty
thousand pounds or about eleven carloads,
Of vegetables were shipped from Beeville
by cypress during the season NJ 1901 IL
the growers had combined their shipments
at least 90 per cent OF this could have been
shipped in carload lots, with n saving TO
the growers Of at least SlA0O.
To further Illustrate the difference be-
tween express and carload shipments and
the advantages of the latter. The local
express rates from Bcevillo TO Dallas is 81
per 100 pounds: when 10000 pounds has
been shipped IN small quantities the grow
ers have paid 5000 express. The express
rate from Beeville to Kansas city Is s.;
when 10000 pounds has been shipped TO
Kansas City the growers have paid 500
eTpressNge, We VIII suppose the truck
growers cooperate and combine their ship.
meuts and ship IN ear lots, and motto tho
results; The freight rates from Becvlla
10 Dallas on green Vegetables in car lois
IS 20 cents per io0 pounds. ana this en-
braces AN Of the State OF Texas cast ~ n
line drawn through QuGuBh, Abilene Cole
man Junction, iauo San Antonio, Bee
vlle ana Corpus Christi, hence the freight
on car Of vegetables from Becyllc to
any point in this territory would he $40
Plus the icing, which should not exceed
sc making a total cost Of 10000 pounds to
Dallas $tN q saving Of $40 on the car
The freight rntes TO Kansas city and all
points IN the 81 Louis aud Kansas City
territory 90 vegetables of an kinds
straight or mixed carloads. ga 10 cents per
700 pounds. car Of 10000 pounds TO
Kansas city would cost $50, plus the icing
which should not exceed $50 as the rnil
WY company agrees To permit shipper to
Ice cars 81 point OF origin and have them
re iced OF points designated by them en-
route charging just what the ice cost thus
we nave total of $ilO per car from Bee
VIE TO Kansas cry, as against $500 when
shipped IN small lots by express, or n dlf
ference Of $500 on the credit side OF the
growers ledger. We will suppose tho car
70 contain tomatoes. Won have n saving on
freight alone Of 81 cents per bushci
For the purpose Of concentrating melonB
aud vegetables to make carload lots for re.
ehipmcnt the rate from points not over
iiity miles distant from concentration point
rs cents per 100 pounds We will sun
pose Port lnvaca and Victoria each have
5000 or 5000 pounds cHulhower nv com
blning their shipments and concentrating
at Victoria the freight for concentration
would be only 30 cents Dor 1000 pounds; by
SO doing the growers could avail them.
selves Of carload rates and conditions
would apply 70 Mathis and Bccvlle
D.. tih"pH no lo'HutN mas so many condi-
tions necessary to the Bucccssfu cultlva-
ton OF vegetables and melons as our own
South Texas, and the time has arrived when
cooperative measures, with executive
boards to formulate business methods
whereby unity Of action Will be facilitated
and the interchange nt Information regard
Ing the daily movements and placing of our
products will be Indispensable / viii not
presume to make further suggestions but
believing that more economical and com
prehenslYc methods for growing and mar
keting vegetables are required by tho in
terest Involved IN truck growing In south
Texas, ! leave the subject to younger hands
and wiser heads.