The St. Lucie County tribune. (Fort Pierce, St. Lucie County, Fla.) 1905-1920, 1911-05-19
THE TRIBUTE
TO EXPRESS
The Gigantic Corporation Levies
Heavy Toll on Producers
THE DUTY OF GROWERS
The Organizer of East Coast Growers
Association Talks OF The Situation
and the Prospects

James McCombs, Jr., is one of the
many who are interested in the out
come of the Investigations being con-
Quoted by the Interstate Commerce
Commission relative to express and
freight rates and has some interesting
things to say, not only about the rate
matter but about several other things
of great Importance to the growers of
Florida.
1.-THE express rate question:" says
Mr.. McComb, eff fully understood by
our growers, would cause them to make
extra sacrifices to remedy the existing
conditions. The Interstate Commerce
Commission is after the express COM
panies with big stick.
"The affairs of these companies are
in the hands of the following few men:
j. P. Morgan. Cornelius Vanderbilt, DR.,
Henry C Prick, Geo. F. Baker, Jacob
H. Schiff, Chas. M. Pratt, Lewis G.
Ledyard and Morton F. Plant. Did
you notice the names? Everyone of
them is director or officer in several
railroads and express companies. They
are organized to perfection, and have
been rObbing the unt r. ,anized growers
for nearly 40 years.
"The Adams Express Company was
the first in the business. 1t takes all
our express matter at Washington. was
started with vallse as it's sole invest
ment u years ago. In 1855 it was or
ganized with small capital. In 1865
its capital was ten million dollars ($l0,-
600, 0O0). Millions then meant sOme-
thing. In 1890 its total equipment was
valued at 81, 1923, 1876. Up to 1890, for
Is years it was paying annual dividends
of "a per cent. In 1890 it divided a
surplus of $l2, 900. In 1907 it d.
vided surplus of $24, 900, 900, and di-
vidends of 48 per cent were paid on a
largely swollen capitalization. Just
think of it! In 10 years! Since 1907
surplus, after paying the IL per cent
quarterly dividend, has again accumu-
lated to the immense sum of over $24,-
OOO, 600. The Adams Express Com.
pany's property is today appraised at
only $4,000, 600.
"Now for the Southern Express.
Henry B. Plant started it in the inter-
ests and for the benefit of the Adams
Express Co. His son, Morton F. Plant,
manages it. He is heavy stakeholder
in the Atlantic Coast Line Railway, and
owns 81. 900, 600 of it's bonds. He owns
81, 200, 900 of Pennsylvania railroad
stock. Plant and the Adams Express
Company are the heaviest holders of
the Pennsylvania railroad company
stock.
"Have they not got the Florida grow
er by the neck? Have they robbed
him?
."Well, if Adams did start the first
express company, a man by the same
name started the Garden of Eden, He
"got his" for stealing fruit. The ex-
press companies will "get theirs" for
robbing the fruit growers, if the grow
ers will stick to the East Coast Fruit
and Vegetable Growers Association,
which is doing great work for them
while they are chewing the rag"
about high rates. Talk" don't pay
the expenses of the association.
IF dividends could be declared and
paid in "talk," know where 80 per
cent. yes, 80 per cent dividends could be
declared. The 'nice' part of it is,
some men who have had big farms,
shipping car after car of tomatoes, on
which the association has saved them
over $50 per car on the freight rate. do
not see their way clear to give the as
ISOLATION check for $50, to help along
the great work; while poor, real poor
men, have cheerfully paid their annual
dues. But what's the use! The asso-
citation is going right along and will pull
the tail along with it.
"This is only a little account of the
express graft-will give you some more
soon."