Middletown transcript., 1908-06-13


than 800 to 600 baskets in a refrigerator
car. In this l think you are mistaken,
as we have known Of them being loaded
with over 1000 baskets and many cases
of refrigerator cars with over 800 baskets.
Question No. 5.
Has the P. B., and W. Railroad Com.
pany made adequate provision for re-
frigerator cars for this season at reason
able cost to the shipper?
Answer No. 5.
The P. R. R. has made adequate pro-
vision for refrigerator cars for the Della
ware Division, and unless something un-
torseen should happen we expect to be
able to furnish all cars necessary to handle
all crops. When shipments are forwarded
in ?. R. R. refrigerator cars, we do-not
make-any charge for the use of these ears
but the shippers must attend to the icing
of same.
Question No. &.
Do you regard the present rates reason
able and just, and will you furnish the
committee with the schedule of rates in
force upon the different divisions of the
Pennsylvania Railroad system in order
that the committee may compare them
with the rates from this Peninsula? Can
you show that the Pennsylvania rates do
not discriminate against the Peninsula?
Answer No. 6.
We consider our rates as reasonable and
just, and think they will compare very
favorably with rates from other districts
for like service. From this question it
would appear that there is feeling that
we do not want to cater for this Penin-
sula business. II so, it is all wrong, as 1
can assure you that it is as much to our
interest as yours to have the Peninsula
prosperous Our interests are mutual,
and it would amount to business suicide
for the transportation companies to put
such restrictions and high rates in effect
that they would restrain the development
OF any section.
Question No. 7.
How do Pennsy lyania Railroad rates on
fruits and vegetables compare with the
rates OF other roads on these commodities?
| Answer Mo-.
1t is impossible for me to answer this
question, as l am not furnished with
rates of other roads, so do not know
what their rates are any more than they
would know what our rates are, as it is
not customary for railroads to exchange
information of this kind.
Question No. 8.
Why are boards furnished for bulk
heads in cars used for the shipment of
grain and refused for cars used for ship
ping Kiefer peg in bulk2
Answer No. s.
The majority OF the grain is shipped to
elevators where it must be handed in
bulk. From this you will see it is shipped
in bulk for the convenience of the rail-
roads and the cars are promptly released,
and custom has established it a rule for
railroad companies to furnish grain doors
for the cars, while pears, apples, etc., are
generally shipped in baskets, hampers,
barrels, ETC., and when shipped in bulk it
is entirely for the owners convenience,
who no doubt ship in this manner to save
the cost of the package which is no doubt
more than the cost of few boards. In
addition to this, grain is generally loaded
to the capacity of the cars while pears,
apples, etc., are seldom loaded in excess
of 24,000 to $4,000 pounds. There are
many other articles which are sometimes
loaded in bulk to save the cost of pack
ages, and if the transportation lines were
to furnish board for pears, etc., there
would be no reason why they should not
do so for all other articles shipped in
bulk.
Among other concessions recently made
for the benefit of shippers on the Penin-
sula, you should not lose sight of the fact
that the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
recently increased their refrigerator car
equipment by building about 1000 of
these cars so that We could furnish them
for shipments off the Peninsula without
cost except that of icing l have been
informed that this practice has been the
means of saving owners of fruit about $25
per car as compared with the old charges
for refrigeration.
Referring to recent conversation rea-
tive to shippers misrepresenting ship
ments, below find part OF Section 10 of
the interstate Commerce Act bearing on
this subject
Amy person and any officer or agent
of any corporation or company who shall
! deliver property for transportation to any
common carrier, subject to the provisions
of this act, or for whom as consignor or
consignee any such carrier shall transport
porperty, who shall knowingly and will
fully, by false billing, false classification,
false weighing, false representation of the
contents of the package, or false report of
weight, or by any other device or means,
whether with or without the consent or
connivance of the carrier, its agent or
agencies, obtain transportation for such
| property at less than the regular rates
then established and in force on the line
of transportation, shall be deemed guilty
OF fraud, which is hereby declared to be
misdemeanor, and shall, upon convic-
tion thereof in any court of the United
States of competent jurisdiction within
the district in which such offense was
committed, be subject for each offense to
fine of not exceeding five thousand
dollars or imprisonment in the peniten-
tiary for term of not exceeding two
years, or both, in the discretion of the
court"
Yours truly,
CHAS E. KINGSTON,
D. +. A.