The Ocala banner. (Ocala, Marion County, Fla.) 1883-194?, 1908-08-14
FLORIDA RATES ARE REDUCED
Freight on Oranges is Cut Down q -
Cents a Box

Cents a Box
The New York Produce News saws
that the news that the interstate CON-
merce commission had ordered a sub
stantial reduction in the freight rates
on oranges and pinespples shipped all
rail from Florida was received with
a good deal of pleasure by receivers
here. The order for the reduction
was the result of the complaint fled
by the Florida Fruit & Vegetable
Shippers Protective Association ear
ly in the year In. this complaint the
association alleged that the rates on
Florida oranges TO the eastern mar
kets were excessive and did not allow
of competition with the California
fruit which was hauled a much long
er distance at a rate which was rela-
lively lower. The interstate COM
merce commission, in its decision
which was handed down at Washing
ton last Monday held that rates ON
oranges from Florida TO New York.
Baltimore. Philadelphia and other
points were excessive, and the Allan
tic Coast Line, PENNSYLVANIA. Balti-
more & Ohio and other roads were
ordered TO reduce them September 25.
The commission held that the rates
from Florida shipping points to the
basing points i'm Florida, which are
Jacksonville and Gainesville. were not
excessive, but ordered that after Sep
TENDER Is the maximum rate for haul.
ing oranges to New Yorw would be
46c.; to Baltimore, 43c.; to Philadel
phia. 44c.; to Boston. sic. This is a
reduction Of 4 1-2 cents a box on ship
ments TO the first three cities and 9
cents on shipments TO Boston. The
commission further held that the rail
and water rates were not excessive.
This reduction applies to carlot
shipments exclusively and receivers
say that it will not make a great deal
of difference, although they welcome
the reduction. About s. per cent. OF
the Florida oranges and pineapples
are shipped all rail, the balance com
ing by rail and water. A Gifferentia
rate Of Is II cents applies between
the all rail and water shipments. This
makes water shipments 50 cents from
Jacksonville The Clyde line and the
Savannah line have had this rate in
effect and receivers here say that
they viii. Of course, meet the reduc
ton offered by the commission rather
than lose any of the business. There
is no question in the minds of the re
ceivers but what the water rate i.
higher than it should be. Orange box
es take up very little space and 3;
cents from Jacksonville is all the traf
nc will stand. oranges are brought
here from Porto Rico. which is fur
Their than Florida. at a rate of 20 l.
cents a box and there seems no rea
son why Florida should not get as
good, If not a better, rate.
The commission also ordered thai
rates on vegetables in crates be re
duced. The present rail and water
rates on vegetables from Florida base
points TO northwestern cities were
found 10 be excessive and ordered
reduced The question as TO whether
lower carload rates should be estab
Bshed upon vegetables to the eastern
markets was left unsettled. Vegetable
rates from Florida to points north o.
the Ohio river as well as on oranges
and pineapples 10 these points were
declared TO be reasonable and no re
ductiOn ordered.
The commission also decided thai
the minimum carlOt weight on straw
berries from Starke and Lawtey, Fla.
TO New York City and other points
taking the New York rate should bS
reduced from the 200 crates a car tC
Us. and that the rate should not ex
coed $50 per crate, including refrig
GRAFTON. The refrigeration charges or
fruits and vegetables from Florida the
commission decided were not exces
sive.