The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1910-08-27
WORRIES OF TRUCK SHIPPERS
Necessary to Life of Produce Business
That Great Care Be Given Goods
En- Route.

subject of transportation for carload
shippers of perishable produce, per-
sonal observations may be of interest,
writes A. A. Allison, in Ranch and
Range. In 1903 this county Iime-
stone) was devastated by boil worms
and boil weevils, and farmers were so
demoralized that they doubted the eff.
flcacy of attempting cotton again,
hence, in 1904, they decreased the
acreage in cotton, and planted a cor
respondingly increased acreage in
sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, melons,
etc.
/ The season was fine for potatoes of
both kinds, and the yield was heavy,
and of superior quality.
Then the question of marketing
these crops became important. Pota-
tees were in heavy demand through
out the north and east, and prices
were good. Several produce men In
| this county bought a few cars of
Irish potatoes at prices that should
have allowed a profit, but the stuff
twas delayed in transit, cars of stuff
were side-tracked between strings of
trains on each side, causing the prod
uct to get overheated, the result be-
ing that not only had the market de-
clined, but half of the goods were re-
ported ruined on arrival. In some
| instances drafts were drawn by con-
signees to reimburse them for part of
the freight On the whole, buyers
lost at least 25 per cent of the pur-
| chase price of the produce, besides
their trouble, and, therefore, refused
to buy these products any more, and
the farmer quit planting them.
Not only does perishable stuff SUI
fer inattention at the hands Of rail-
roads, in delay, oyerheating, rains
and winds, but very many instances
can be found Of gross misconduct on
the part of brokers to whom produce is
consigned. l shipped three cars of
Irish potatoes to as many points,
under bona fde sale In one
| instance, and In each instance /
lost money. No doubt the goods
were injured en- route, as they
arrived at destination late, but I
have always thought that proper In
terest was not given by consignees.
1 shipped a car of very fine sweet
potatoes to Des Moines, Ia. on a
sale to produce firm there. Drew
draft to cover, and on its arrival
there, was wired to release draft, as
the goods were ruined. started for
Des Moines, was delayed en- route In
a wreck, got there after the potatoes
had been there for more than week,
and there had been freeze, took
charge of the goods and found that
the consignee had never examined
them, but had wired for release of
draft for the purpose of getting the
potatoes given him. If / had sent
some one with the car, IS per cent. OF
the potatoes would have been mer-
charitable, even with the nine days
travel and delay en- route. He could
have gone to work to dispose of them,
for the market there needed the
goods, and buyers have asked me to
I sold rs per cent of the potatoes that
had not persisted, at handsome prices.
l also learned that it means the sal.
walton of the produce shipper to go
with produce, watch it on its way, and
be ready to sell 1t himself upon ar
rival.
The question of including transpor
tation of a man with each car of pro-
duce, in the cost of freight. was
brought before the commission some
years ago. It could be easily seen
that the railroads opposed it on the
sole ground that they did not want |
the owner to have the evidence OF
delay against them that would result |
from having man with the. ship.
ment; as also their overt negligence |
of the goods en- route Attorneys for
the railroads would not admit this to
be the reason for their antagonfsm,
but claimed that the rate was not
enough to cover the extra cost. But
shippers would rather bear an extra
outlay of freight, and be permitted to
care for the stuff in transit. Is not |
the cost of transportation of stockmen
included In the freight rate? Is not |
the cost of carriage of man with a
poultry car included In the rate Of
freight? Then, raise the rate of
freight on produce to cover transpor-
tation of a man with potatoes, fruit,
etc. The rate is now high, but 1t is
necessary to the life of the produce
business that great care be given to
goods while en- route, and the farmer
will abandon growing produce Of this
class if some arrangement is not made
to care for same.