The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1905-05-26
ARMOUR LINES
MADE..L | GOOD
Paying Farmers for Damage to
Berries Caused BY Scarcity
Of Cars.
FRUIT GROWING in SOUTH 7'lJI7! !
Question Of Regulation Of Private
Car Systems Knotty Prob
sss.tt fos ~ !. :. 500
FRUIT GROWING IN SOUTH sou i |.
Question Of Regulation Of Private

From our Regular Correspondent.

(From orr Regular Correspondent
WAsHINGTOE.D D. C., May 25-The de-
velopment OF the fruit growing industry
OF the South has never before been SO
impressed upon the country as within the
past month. while the Senate Commit
tee on Interstate Commerce has been
sitting. hearing representatives OF the
berry growers, and the private car lines
on tho manner In which the companies
owning the latter conduct business.
1t may be stated right here that there
is no subject on which the committee.
as well as all others studying the ques-
ton, are more at sea than on this propo-
sition to regulate the companies owning
the lines which are engaged IN the trans
porta ton OF fruit and berries. and vege-
tables from the South to the less ia
yored States OF the North and New Eng
land The advocates Of governmental
regulation OF railway charges as q gem
eral proposition are divided as to whether
1t would be WISE to give over to the
government the power to regulate the
private freight Gear lines. Those who
oppose governmental interference Of any
character, are,s OF course. much more
strongly opposed to interference with the
private car lines, q phase OF the general
subject which presents two such strong
SIDES The shippers OF fruit and berries
who have appeared before the commits
tee have not been united and many, In
deed. perhaps the majority OF them, nave
advised that nothing be done which Will
have the effect OF impairing the service
a 81, rtxyof "a
transporting Southern grown fruits and
vegetables to Northern markets the day
they are picked from the truck farms.
What Armour Lines Are Doing.
had long talk to-day with Mr.. y.
A. Brown. OF Chadbourn. y. q, man
VINO may be looked upon as a pioneer IN
the culture OF berries and small fruits
in North Carolina. Years ago he re-
cognizcd the possibilities OF this indus
try in the old North State, and he is
primarily responsible for the colony
around Chadbourn,s which furnishes the
greater portion OF the strawberries ship
ped from the eastern part OF North caro-
lima. He Is the president OF the Dank
located at Chadbourn to assist IN the de-
yelopment OF this region, and ne ID q
prime mover in inducing Immigrants 70
come to his section, in locating them when
e. ~
funds necessary to start the development
OF the property on which they settle, a
thousand fertile and fruitful berry fieios
surrounding the little town OF Chadpourn'
attest the soundness OF the policy pur-
sued. and the personnel OF the colony
including New Englanders and men from
Michigan Illinois and other western. anu
Middle States. bespeak the quality OF tlle
growers, n study population. which w.
he heard from further IN the d eVe''opH''ei'''
Of North Carolina.
n was Mr.. Browns estimate Of the
losses recently incurred by the perry
growers that attracted so much atten-
tion. and was quoted before the seHato
Committee on Interstate Commerce as u''
argument against the private car 4lhes' .
nI wish to set the public right on TINS
mat tcr," said Mr. Brown to-day = NAYS
heen quoted as saying that the loss 70
tho berry growers OF North Carollha tl.,s
season would amount to S6ooooo, ana nv my
tho whole loss should DO la,d ~ INV e.t uout
~ the Armour car lines. That IS not cor-
- aot. tha estimate includes all losses OF
cyerv character, due to bad weather. NJ
efficient car service. and delay IN gel.
Ting The fruit to market should say
that at least 100000 OF the loss resulleu
from bad weather, must say the Arm
our car lines did something no DINER CON-
pany ever did. They came forward W.
unfairly and offered to pay for the AL. !,
ages incurred because Of their NANNY
to supply cars for the transportation o.
| the fruit. called in twenty leadlne
growers and requested them 70 eslima I,le
value Of tho berries lest thro " asn ~.
rateiy and secretly. From these estl-
mates ] struck an average OF two dollars =,
a crate, and on that estimate the Armour ~
people are paying us for the losses 1o'
which they stand responsible, ~,
II am no friend OF the Armour ln,eN
Ian We ask is good service, and for ma,
we arc willing 10 pay their rates. : a a,.f
compelled to say that for the past tWc
years, until this season, their service A"'
been as nearly perfect as possible,
How Contract Was Secured.
| Regarding the exclusive contract Obtain
! ed by the Armol,rs, Mr., Brown said y
was obtained through competitive bid
. ding. He was chairman of the COMMITTEES