The Carlisle independent., 1910-08-18
WORRIES OF TRUCK SHIPPERS
Necessary to Life of Produce Business That Great Care Be Given Goods
 En Route.

In view of recent agitation on the 1 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 Gime-
 stone) was devastated by boil worms
 and boil weevils, and farmers were so
 demoralized that they doubted the ef- fieacy of attempting cotton again. l hence, in 1904 they decreased the
 acreage in cotton, and planted cor
 respondingly increased acreage in
 sweet potatoes, Irish potatoes, melons, etc.
 The season was fine for potatoes of
 both kinds, and tue yield was heavy.
 and of superior quality.
 Then the question of marketing these crops became important. Pota- toes 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 profit, but the stuff
 was delayed in transit. cars of stuff were side-tracked between strings of trains on each side, causing the prod uet to get overloaded, the result be- ing that not only had the market de- elined, 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 suf- fer inattention at the hands of rail- roads, in delay. overheating, rains and winds, but very many instances can be found of gross misconduct on the part of brokers to whom produce Is
 consigned. I shipped three cars of under bona fide 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 have always thought that proper in- terest was not given by consignees. I shipped car of very fine sweet potatoes to Des Moines, la, on a sale to a produce firm there. Drew
 draft to cover. and on its arrival there, was wired to release draft, as the goods were ruined. I started for
 Des Moines. was delayed en route in wreck, got there after the potatoes had been there for more than a 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 I had sent some one with the car, 95 per cent. of the potatoes would have been mer- chantable, 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
 ship them potatoes again. As it was, I sold 75 per cent. of the potatoes that had not perished, at handsome prices. I also learned that it means the sal vation of the produce shipper to go
 with produce, watch it on it's 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 antagonism, 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 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.