The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-05-20
QUESTION OF
FREIGHT RATES
DISCUSSED BY LOCAL PRODUCE
MEN REGARDING HIGH
COST OF LIVING.
Address Delivered by Frisco Railroad
OFFICER Is Cause Of Subject Be-
ing Taken Up Here.

Local produce men. consumers and
/ In fact everyone interested in the
high cost OF living are much concern
cd over n speech recently made in
chicago by Is. r Yoakum. chairman
iof the board OF directors OF the
as great deal OF amusement among
lauthority on railroad and shipping.
MT. Ioahhm in an address before
Inc first national conference on mar
keting and farm credits al Chicago
on the high cost of living and the
proposed increase I'm tariff rates made
the statement that the railroads OF
the country received less than per
cent OF the total proceeds OF pro-
ducts shipped by the American farm.
or. referring particularly TO fruits and
produce. II Is this assertion on his
part that has aroused the ire. as well
as Eeart deal of amusement among
dealers and middlemcn. on whom he
endeavors 10 shelve the blame for
the prevailing high prices.
/ One of the local dealers stated yes
terday that Mr.. Yoakum's speech
was in effect an attempt to pave the
way for an increase in freight rates
from the west and south to eastern
markets. and was really one OF the
erossest attempts to blind the pub
lie to the real facts that has yet been
attempted
To prove the fallacy OF the state
ment tina; the railroads receive less
than 4 per cent OF the proceeds, one
need only TO refer TO the railroad
tariffs as they are published and cir
culated together with the gross pro
ceeds OF perishable fruits and pro-
duce shippSd from the south into
New York and other eastern points
which will show that in many casse
they receive almost an eXorbitan.
share.
Are Not Effected.
rs an instance. the price OF Texas
onions ON the New York market.
which Is practically the same as tho
local selling prices. Is 80 TO gu cents
a crate. which has been the Price for
several weeks. OF this price the rail
roads receive 49, cents per crate.
this being the all-rail rate from
! Texas. No matter what the market
price Is the railroads get this price
on all shipments. aud are Effected in
no way by the market fluctuations.
The railroad rate on a box OF or
angcs from Arcadia. Fla. is 20 cents
and the bulk OF the good and bad
4 fruit for tWo-thirds of the season
/ sold NJ an average OF from 81 20 $50
a box. TIL" freight rate on peaches
4 from Georgia common points TO New
/ York j. 30 cents a crate. Last sea
son the market ruled from 81 cents
10 N.2j crate. II Is said that II
goes on this way all down the line,
no matter how market conditions are
the railroads getting their regular
rates
One of the largest shippers in the
eastern markets referring TO Mr.
Goakum's speech az Chicago. said
that h. would assert without fear o.
successful contradiction that the rail
roads Of the country receive an aver
axe Of onc-half OF the gross proceeds
OF fully - per cen; Of the fruits AMI
vegetables th"y transport
For great while tho railrOanv
haV" been endcavoring to raise tn
freight rates on shipments from
southern To eastern points and local
dealers have been active ia opposi
ton 10 this move. a. II IS elaine
that IL will p'ac" fruits and vcg,t1-
hleS on tine Warke' a. almost pro-
hibitivc prices ln March commit
too from this city appeared before
tho Interstate commerce commission
sitting IN Pittsburgh and protested
against rates which they olaim 20 Do
cNorbiianr Considerable testimony
was taken ana an Investigation s. be-
inE conducted D., ~ commission y
decision fl. expected 20 be rendered
within o. short time