The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1906-01-26

uine' while the passenger traffic is Mt
terly incapable of defraying the ex-
penses of the road.
IL follows, therefore, that if moth
ing more than selfish interests were
considered, the policy of this COM
pany would be To bring about the
largest development in the production
Oh fruits and vegetables and neces-
sarlly to haul the same for the grow
ers at the lowest possible rate con-
slstent with the necessary expendi-
lures Of the company.
such being the case, the only course
lett to the company in the interests
OF the Florida producer, was to in
augurate rate war, which it insti-
tuted in 1904-05, as we'll as the other
measures adopted, and this was done
solely for the sole protection of the
FLORIDA grower. We could have aban-
doned the carrying of pineapples from
cuban ports, via this line, to the pos
tive pecuniary benefit of the company
but to do so, would have been to let
the producers on the line of our road
remain subject to the discrimination
established against them by the rates
liked by the lines from Havana.
AS a consequence, the policy adopt
ed by this company was directly in
behalf of the Florida producer, and
this policy was fully indicated this
year when the lines called for a con-
ference, in September last and adj
Justed the rates from Cuban ports to
such figures as placed the Florida
grower on equal terms with the Gu
ban grower, and, to many points, at a
positive advantage. Thus this COM
pany, at an expenditure of a large
sum of money and persistent work.
has succeeded in accomplishing that
which it started out to secure, name
ly: the protection of the Florida
grower.
The real trouble is and has been
that the duty imposed in Cuban pine
apples is entirely Inadequate to pro-
tect the Florida grower against the
cheap labor which obtains in Cuba.
Even at the same rate, the Florida
grower is at a decided disadvantage
since he has to pay much higher for
labor and has to incur heavy expenses
in the purchase of fertilizers, while
Cuban labor is less than one half
what it is in Florida and commercial
fertilizers are very little used on the
Cuban lands growing pineapples.
Whenever there is a revision Of the
tariff we shall cordially cooperate
with the Florida growers in securing
such an increase of the duty as will
fully and effectually protect our grow
ers. Meantime, it is a source of
pleasure to us to make it known that,
Notwithstanding the disadvantages we
have labored under, we have, at length
succeeded in placing the Florida
grower on terms of equality with the
Cuban grower.
While we were making this contest
for our Florida shippers we remained
silent and submitted to the unjust
criticisms INDUCED in and to the pre-
judice evoked by men who were either
ignorant of the real situation or whose
sole object was to create prejudice
against this company, for purposes of
their own, and to make the growers
believe that we were favoring Cuban
growers and sacrificing Florida grow
ers; whereas, as the result shows,
this company was spending a large
sum of money for no other purpose
than to protect the growers on the
line Of this road.
Now that this has been accomplish
ed. we place the facts before the Flor
ida growers and the public generally,
so that the erroneous impression form
ed, either designedly or from ignor-
ance, may be removed, and the Flor
ida growers may realize that this COM
pany adopted the only measure posi-
BILE for their protection, and that in
adopting it we had solely in view their
welfare and prosperity.
We submit these facts for your in
formation with the promise that we
shah not pursue any controversy on
the subject, for while we are always
ready and willing to advise with our
patrons individually, and to discuss
any and all subjects of their interest
with them. we make it a rule TO make
no reply to criticisms generally.
Yours truly,
J. Z. BECKWITH,
Traffic Manager.
Another Story About George and the
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