The semi-weekly messenger., 1908-02-25
OFFICIALS CONFER
Representative Of A. E. |.
and Truckers hsSCCiatIUn
IMPORTANT AGREEMENTS
Reduction in Number Of Crates for
Idinimum Car Loads
Conference Held in This City festef-
day-Redut1ion OF Five Cents
Eratc Oh Shipments to Baltimore
and NashinGton-Adequa service
is Proniised--Berry Season 10 open
About Middle Of April.

An iuportant conference was heid
in this city yesterday afternoon De
tween officials Of the Atlanuc Iod2I
Line and the executive committee OF
the East Carolina Truck frulI
Growers Association al which agree
rnent was reached OH several ques-
tions Of far reaching Importance to all
the truckers IN this section.
The questions considered are of gen
eral interest on account of the near
approach of the strawberry season
and the outcome OF the conference is
of great importance to all the berry
growers.
Yesterday morning the members OF
the executive committee Of the asso-
citation held an informal meeting In
the Office OF the secretary, Mr.. Fl. t.
Bauman, in the Masonic Temple, dis
cussing and formulating the matters
to be presented at the conference
with the railroad officials and al the
mooted questions were put in shape
for clear presentation.
The formal conference between rep
resentatives OF the A. G. L. and Truck
ers was held yesterday afternoon at
three o'clock in the office Of the traf
flc manager, there having been pres
ent the following gentlemen:
Representing the A. G. L.-Superin-
tendent of Transportation f. Borden,
Traffic Manager r. A. Brand, and AS
sietant General Freight Agent c Med,
Davis.
Representing the Truckers-Presi-
dent w. e. Springer; Secretary Bau-
man and Messrs. w. L. Hill, J. A.
Westbrook and J. S. Westbrook.
After full consideration of the
matters on which relief was desired,
the railroad officials consented to
make certain orders which it Is bel'ev-
ed will prove satisfactory to the truck
ers
Probably tine most important agree
ment was that which provides that
in the future the carload minimum
shall be 236 crates, this being two
tiers high, instead Of 25O crates as
heretofore. although the old carload
rate on 300 crates can still Re Ia
advantage OF. The packing of the
cars with only two tiers Of c~atos re-
suits In certain refrigeration and It
Is aa advantage that the majority of
the shippers will not fail to recog-
niZe.
Another intGortant agreement OF the
part of the railroad authorities, made
on advices from the Armour comuonv
was that in the future the smaller
refrigerator ears, referred to as the
"6-toot cars, will not be sent to this
section except in case of absolute neo-
css1ty, the Armour company promis-
ing tc send it's large cars whenever
possible This means it is asserted,
that few of the smaller cars will en-
ter into this territory.
A reduction Of five cents a cate was
also promised by the A. c. L. officials
on all shipments to Baltimore and
Washington
The rate heretofore for freight and
refrigeration has amounted to about
The railroad officials gave every as
srrance to the representatives of the
truckers Association that cars will
be furnished in abundance and prop
erly iced when the shipping s9aeon
Deglns and 1t is not thought that there
VIII De any danger of car shortage
during the approaching season.
In the future as many growers as
deslre may load berries on one car
at any three stations. provided ono
man becomes responsible for the whole
car and the shipment need not be sent
10 one consigEee bu- to several if de-
sired, this resulting in what is known
as market car. 'ss.
me question of detention charges
was also considered, but no agreement
was reached, the railroad officials
Jrofnls1ng TO further take up the nat
ter ana advise the truckers shnrt,y
as TO tne1r decision. 1t Is felt certain
that their decision will be a fair and
equitable one.
Arter 1uil discussion 1t was cnnsid-
eren wise to arrange the schedules of
tne berry trains much on the order
OF last years trains, although there
may De some change in the leaving
time of the Cannon Ball" the
tnrough train. which last year left
this city at 7:55 a. m.
The conference was eminentIy satia-
Factory and 1t was harmonious
throughout. both parties having evinc-
ed desire to reach fair and satisfac-
tory agreements on every ouest,on
which of course are of mutual be>1e-
fit and Importance.
N Is too early tc estimate W, =
the shiDments of berries will begin or
IT'S to the size Of this years cron. Int
II IS thought probable that the coz
VIII be a normal one and that chip
nents will begin about the middle Of
April.
The members of the executiva com
mitfee of the r.. G. T. e F. G. As
sociatiOn here yesterday were Presi-
dent SDrinoer and Secretary Parman
Of Wilmington; Nessrs. w. L uir o.
Warsaw; j. A. Westbrook Of Mt OIL
i've and ]. S. WestbTook of WaIraee