Evening journal., 1905-05-19
COLD STORAGE
CARS AID GROWERS
!. A. Davis, of Goldsboro,
Md, Says They Increase
His Profits
DENIES He RECEIVES REBATES
eY WILLIAM WOLFE sMITH.

Washington, May t9.--Peach and
berry growers from Maryland, West
Virginia. Michigan and Georgia, ap-
peared before the Senate Committee
on Interstate Commerce yesterday and
vigorously protested against any leg
lislation which would tend TO cripple
lprivate refrigerator car service.
! ]. A. Davis. Of Goldshoro Maryland,
lprobably the largest berry grower in
Maryland, gave an interesting de-
scription of the growth OF the fruit in
ldustry on the Eastern Shore Of that
state as a result Of the Introduction Of
lprivate refrigerator cars. About II
Years ago an experiment was made
and one car Of berries was shipped TO
New York in a butter and egg car Of
the Pennsylvania Railroad, together
with ten carloads shipped In ordinary
cars. The former brought from ten
to fifteen cents a quart and the latter
from four TO six. In consequence Of
the good prices obtained for the refrig-
lerated fruit, the growers demanded the
refrigerator cars.
The Pennsylvania Railroad de-
lclined to furnish them on the ground
THAT Il did not have enough TO go
over another. Consequently they had
to look to the private car company.
The business was divided between the
Armour and the Swift lines and the
lcompetition between the two was ac-
ltive. The rate. the witness said. has
lbeen reduced from 500 TO $50 per car.
He had heard Mr.. Mead say that the
commission merchants paid the refrig-
lerator charges.
NO REBATES TO HIM.
my brother is a commission mer-
chant and he handles my fruit" he
continued. 'but he does not pay the
refrigerator charges on IL and II a
brother won't do IL. I don't think any
one else will" Mr.. Davis stated that
he paid about six hundred dollars a
week during the season for refrigera-
ton and he believed that it added "a
between four and six thousand dollars
} per annum to his profit on his crop
While he would not object TO lower
I rates he had no complaint and certain
, lly did not want the service reduced ii
order to obtain lower rates. He nevei
heard Of any rebates being given b,
? the car lines.
: Mr.. Davis caused much laughter By
a story Of his experience with the Bos
ton commission merchants. The latte
> offered him one hundred dollars "a da'
to purchase two cars of peaches daily
D but Mr.. Davis found he was expected
to put 100 baskets in the cars and q
lpay the freight and refrigeration
. charges on only 900. AS thee charge
= Ito Boston are % cents "a basket tn
;, commission merchant would thus say
b what he would pay Mr.. Davis for buy
ling the peaches. at the expense Of tn
= railroad and The refrigerator car com
lpauy.
what did you dog" asked Senate
Kean.
HE sPURNED THE OFFER.
'wen. / did not think one hundre
K dollars a day enough for me to sell on
b my business reputation" was the re
sponse Since then the railroads hav
adopted a new system OF checking.
"Who was that commission mer
chant?" inquired Senator kean.
well, it is hardly fair for me
say when he is not present" was IN
A reply. However he found somebod
\ to buy his peaches and shipped ther
: as he wished. but the joke of it is tina
q the buyer bought anything that cam
d along and the result was the commits
sion merchant lost money
Mr. Davis concluded that the grove
who shipped in good refrigerator car
succeeded and those who did not faile'