The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-01-26
THE FRIEND OF THE GROWER.
The Florida East Coast Railway Pro.
tects the Interests of Its Ship
pers-A Wrong Impression
Corrected.

TNote-The editor of this paper was
brought severely to task not long
since by prominent and infuentiaI
populist of our county for speaking
in praise of Mr.. Henry NJ. FlagIer for
the great work of development he is
doing for Florida in the extension Of
the East Coast Railway from the main
land TO Key West. We are told that
his railroad discriminates against the
settlers tributary to it in favor of the
fruit and vegetable growers of Cuba
and, instead of being a benefactor. Mr.
Flagler is in reality an enemy to every
shipper along his road. In order to
correct this impression, which is wide
spread, we reprint the following cir
cular letter that was recently address,
ed TO the shippers in that section
When people who live in Florida. and
who are interested in it's upbuilding
own its transportation lines, the shin
pers Will get relief and will not be
burdened with excessive freight rates
IL all railway officials manifested the
same interest in the welfare of the
shipper as do the officials of the East
Coast railway, complaints of extor-
Tomato charges would cease and the
mutually of interests would be recog-
nized and understood between carrier
and shipper.-Editor Ocala Banner.l
To Shippers of the Florida East
Coast Railway: Much has been said.
during the past several months, con-
corning the rates on pineapples from
Cuba carried over Florida lines. and
we desire to place before the patrons
of this company the facts, which
brought about the situation, and what
has been accomplished for our COM
mon good.
In 1903, the attention of this COM
pany was directed to the rates that
had been put on pineapples shipped
from Cuban ports to the western mar
kets, via steamship lines from Cuban
ports, enabling the Cuban grower, af-
ter paying duty, to deliver his pine
apples to the western markets at
something like % cents per crate
cheaper than the average charge paid
by the Florida grower from points on
the Florida East Coast Railroad The
rates via this company were as low
as the fruit could be carried without
involving loss.
This company Immediately called a
meeting of ell lines interested in
Guiding the steamship lines running
direct from Havana, and at the con-
ference which followed they offered
TO advance their rates, although not
sufficiently to give the Florida grower
adequate protection. This advance
not being satisfactory to this compa-
ny because it did not sufficiently pro-
tect the Florida producers, it inaugu-
rated other measures looking to their
protection.
In September, 1904, another con-
ference was called, and it was then
agreed by the transportation lines to
adyaEce the rates from Havana. in
Cuding the duty, so as to give the
Florida grower an equal chance with
the Cuban grower.
The day before the new rates were
to go into effect this company was
notified that the steamship lines to
the ports would not adopt them, and
grower at the same disadvantages that
existed the previous year.
As the company could not reduce
its rates on pineapples from Florida
points without meeting so great a loss
that would create a deficit between its
receipts and expenditures, only one
course was left for the protection OF
the Florida grower, and that was to
try and make the rates from Havana
TO about so per cent of the rates fixed
by the steamship lines and compel
them to carry the great mass Of the
Cuban pineapples at a dead loss,
while we carried what we did also at
a loss. but without affecting materially
our revenues from Florida.
In addition this company adopted
other measures looking to the ulti-
mate protection of the Florida pro-
Queer During the winter of 19O5-o6
this rate was continued, and this COM
pany and its connections sunk con-
siderable sum of money entirely in the
interests of the Florida producer. II
this company could have reduced its
rates from Florida points to the wes-
tern markets without mourning de-
felt between its receipts and expen-
ditures. ii would have cheerfally done
so, as its entire aim has been to de-
velop the fruit and vegetable indus
tries in the Florida East Coast rail-
way, and to carry the products of the
Florida grower at as low a figure as
it could possibly do without mourning
loss.
1t must be remembered that the
freight from Florida, on the line Of
this road consists entirely of fruits
and vegetables, and that TO pay the