Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1905-05-19
]. A. Davis Tells of Growth
of the Industry.
SHIPPING OF BERRIES
ADVANTAGE OF EMPLOYING THE
REFRIGERATING CAR SERVICE.
Reduction in Rate and Increase in the
Sale of the Product in the
Metropolitan Market.

the first witness yesterday before the
Senate committee interstate commerce
engaged in considering the subject of rail-
way freight rates. Mr.. Davis testified that
he owned 100 acres planted in Strawberries
on the eastern shore of Maryland. He had
been I'm the fruit-growing business for fiji
teen years and had inaugurated the use
of refrigerator cars on the eastern shore.
The first load of berries was shipped In
butter and egg car belonging to the Penn
sylvania railroad. and the berries brought
from ten to fifteen cents. while berries
shipped without refrigeration at the same
time brought only from four to six cents.
The difference in price caused a great de-
mand for refrigerator cars, which the
Pennsylvania company declined to furnish
on the ground that it could not supply
enough cars to meet the demand along the
road and 1t could not favor any particular
section. Then the Swift refrigerator
were obtained and later the Armour cars.
There was much competition between the
two lines and the price had been reduced
from S1C0 to $50 car to Jersey City. By
the use of the cars he was enabled to pick
berries in the evening and land them in
Jersey City about thirty-six hours later In
frst-class condition. He had obtained the
highest prices.
Complaint Of Commission Merchants.
merchants, represented yesterday by Mr..
George F. Mead of Boston, should COM
plain as they did not have to pay the re-
frgeration charges. My brother" he
said lis a commission merchant in New
York handling my berries, and if he will
not pay the refrigeration charges for his
own brother l don't think any other COM
mission merchant will do so for his Gus
TONER'S"
The witness said he paid about 5000 a
week during the season to the refrigerator
car company and estimated that his profits
were increased by the use of the cars from
si.CGo to 5000 a year. He ascribed the
success of the fruit-growing industry OF
the eastern shore to the growth of the use
of these cars.
He also bought from $4,000 to 6O.OO0 bas-
kets of peaches through the state of Mary
land. In this connection Mr.. Davis caused
considerable laughter by retailing story
of an experience with Boston commits
sion merchant. The Boston man noticed
him buying peaches. he said, and onered
him $50 car to buy peaches on MS ac-
count and further agreed to take Two cars
a day and to pay cash In advance MI
Davis thought this was an easy way to
make a hundred dollars day and accepted
the engagement Then the commission
merchant explained that he wanted nun
TO load the cars with LOO baskets and Dill
them at 900 ba skets. LAS the refrigeration
and freight charges 10 Boston were TWEEN
ty-nine cents per basket, the 200 baskets
out the knowledge of the railroad company
would have more than paid my commas
SION. e.
And what did you do?'inquired Senator
"Weu.f was the dry response. II did not
think 800 a day sufficient to pay me TO
sell out my business reputation
He added that since the INVASION Oh .he
BOSTON commission merchants mentioned
new system of checking had been estap-
lished by the railroads
Georgia's Peach Industry.
MI John Egan. president of the Kansas
City Terminal Company testified that as
vice president of the Georgia Central rail-
road he had made the exclusive contract
with the Armour Car Lines Company when
gave il a monopoly of handling georgia
peaches He explained that he did so after
the growers had come to him and asked
him to take some steps to secure salts
factory service. AS result of the service
rendered by the Armour lines under the
contract the shipments of Georgia peaches
had increased from 200 cars to $3.50 cars
yearly.
He said, Furthermore. that millions OF
trees had been planted, and he had never
heard any complaints from Georgia growers
to the rates or service. He referred 10
the statement made by Mr. Mead yesterday
concerning the tariffs, and stated that the
refrigeration tariffs were printed the same
as the railroad tariffs. and We're distributed
10 all agents and shippers. I'VE did every
thing. sir he said, Ito foster the industry,
and we succeeded"
Mr. Il. F. Travis. representing delega-
ton of peach growers of the Chattanooga
district of northern Georgia and Tennessee,
stated that the refrigerator car service was
very satisfactory. They took care of us,
he said. when We had small crop, and
built ii up. until last year 1t amounted to
$500 cars. and then they made some money
for the first time. We want the service"
he insisted vigorously. land cannot
srow peaches profitably without it," He
added that there was "a community of In
terest between the railroads the Refrigera-
tor Car Company and the growers. and the
rates had to be reasonable in order to in
duce people to grow peaches, and thus
make business for the carriers.
Mr.. |. c. Pancake of the Allegheny Orch
ard Company of West Virginia testified that
his company had from 10000 to 100 900
peach trees in bearing. and about 10000 al
together, shipping 15S,010 baskets yearly.
All the stockholders of his company and
their associates Were satisfied with the
rates and service, and he said, addressing
Senator Elkins: IF deprived of this service
through any cause whatever ii means dis
aster to our state, Mr.. Chairman. and TO
the fruit growing industry of any other
sta:a"
Commissioner Prouty Heard.
Commissioner Prsuty of the interstate
commerce commission also was heard on
the subject OF regulating freight rates He
court had power to determine a reasonable
rate for the future. There must be a tri-
bunal to stand between the RAILWAYS and
the people Rates should be made by the
raifoau. but there should be some mower
10 revise the rate fixed by the traffic man,
aBer' ihe executive and judicial duties he
saio, should be taken away from the com
mission out that IL should be left with adj
ihiIlstrative duties. which include authority
10 revise ana Tx rates for the future
speaking or the fruit cases inyestipa tad
at chicago, he said that refripera,fnc
charges We're a part of the freight rate 10
mouiu create department of railways. be-
tore which Informal complaints co,Ia no
nied, ana also commission which should
decide all questions of rates, to go into er
fect at once. TO be reviewed by a court
Thinks Rebates Are Paid.
Commissioner Prouty stated that empow
ering the commission to adjust Inequalities
and injustices between the shipper and the
railroad did not mean that the commission
was to have power to fix all Interstate