The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1918-03-09

out by the Barlow Board of Trade:
Barlow, Fla, March 6, 1918.
Hon. VIM. G.. McAdoo, Director-Gen
eral of Railroads,
Hon. Herbert c. Hoover, Food Ad-
ministrator,
Senator Duncan U. Fletcher,
Senator Park Trammell,
Hon. Herbert J. Drane, NJ. c.,
Hon. Frank Clark, M. c.,
Hon. W. ]. Sears, M. G.,
Hon. Walter Kehoe, NJ. c.,
Washington, D. c.,
Dear Sirs:
In line with the urgings of the ma
tional Food Administration the grow
ers Of this vicinity have planted heav-
lily of vegetables, and have paid the
highest prices in the history of this
section for both the labor and fertil-
izer to bring this crop to maturity,
They have suffered considerable loss
and damage by the series of freezes
which have occurred this winter, but
such as was not ruined is now har-
vested and shipped.
The growers of this vicinity were
afraid of the transportation problem
and sent representative men to
Washington to ascertain whether
movement of our crops would be
hampered or endangered by the rail
way situation or whether our perish
ables would be handled in such man
ner as to prevent losses to us by war
of car shortage or delays in transit
They came back to us saying they
had the assurance of the proper au
thorities in Washington that food will
win the war" and that it was our
patriotic duty to plant every acre
available, and that we could rest as
sured that transportation would not
be lacking With this assurance We
were willing to proceed.
AS above stated that planting is
now crop and is being harvested
and shipped. Under normal condi
lions CARROTS of vegetables moving
from this section to Eastern markets
reach destination in four and one
half days, whereas now eight tt
twelve days is the ordinary time IL
transit from here to Eastern markets
and extreme cases of still longer tim,
could be cited.
Our truck crops are heavily fertil
lied, most of them irrigated, and tn,
l crops are quickly grown making then
9 SO tender that they will not stan,
n such delays in transit like slowe
grown produce from more Northerl
{ sections Consequently practically
}. all shipments are arriving at destina
n ton in bad order and are reported a
showing considerable decay, frequent
: ly causing sales at less than freigh
u charges, in which case the produce
must make up this deficiency in add
ton to the complete loss of his sea
sons endeavor and investment.
: Labor, fertilizer, crate material, Il
It fact practically every factor in tn
J production and preparation for mar
o ket of our crops is costing us easil
twice as much this year as ever be
. fore and such a loss falls most heavi
ly. Buyers are refraining from buy
ing on F. o. b. basis saying thei
houses have instructed them to d
so as they cannot stand the delays i
transit and consequent damage, s
the entire loss falls on the producer
/ The immediate and most active co
operation of the Director General O
Railways and the Food Administra
ton is absolutely essential in orde
that the movement of perishables
/ both vegetables and fruits, be givel
preference else producers of tbs sec
ton will be left heavily burdene,
with debt, burden on the financia
resources of this region, and robbie,
/ of confidence in the administrations
assurances of markets and marketin,
facilities.
Ill We feel that it is not saying to,
much to suggest that perishables h.
given right-of-way over passenge
trains, the same as the banana train
are run from New Orleans to North
ern markets. Passengers will no
I spoil, or at least they would not h
T a total loss, on the side-tracks an,
/ vegetables and fruits will.
III Your immediate and most active ~
operation is most urgently essentia
as the bulk Of our crops will hay
been moved in the next sixty days.
III l beg to subscribe myself,
J Most respectfully,
(Signed)
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