The Lakeland evening telegram. (Lakeland, Fla.) 1911-1922, 1920-10-05
new RULING |. {. COMMISSION
WORKS HARDSHIP ON GROWERS;
MATTER NOW BEING TAKEN UP

who are expending our every energy
to bring this matter to successful
stage. To add to our already heavy
burden will centainly not help the
situation, and, in view Of the recent
heavy rate increases granted the raj
roads,-at time, too, when the tend
ency of the prices of all commodities
is downward-we feel that this added
burden is not only unjust but un-
called for. We will not take the time
OF the honorable commission just here
to 60 into this case in all its details,
but hope, at an opportune tine to be
granted the privilege Of presenting
the case in it's entirety.
In the construction of freight rates
from Florida on fruits and vegetables
the carriers have at all times had In
mind the diversion privileges attend
ant to this class Of traffic and the said
rates have been made accordingly.
There is a vast difference in the
transportation and handling Of lum-
ber, grain and like products-all OF
which the carriers recognize as Glow
class" traffic-and fruits and vege'
tables. There is also vast differ
ence in the distribution of Florida
fruits and vegetables as compared to
California, along side of which the
Florida situation has been treated, 1t
must be remembered that California
from geographical standpoint is at
a decided advantage as compared to
Florida, the former having the advan-
tage of an open and thickly populated
territory facing her and shipments
consume seven to eight days before
reaching the first established divert
ing point, Council Bluffs, Iowa, which
givevs shippers ample time to search
the various markets before reaching
decision as to distribution, whereas
on Florida shipments only about TWEEN
ty-four hours is had to determine
whether shipment shall go East or
West. The advantage to California is
obvious. We submit that it is mani
festly unfair to use California as a
criterion, for a comparison does not
exist as between California and Flor
ida incident TO the different problems
of distribution as a result of entirely
different geographical locations. II
we were allowed three free diversions
south of Potomac Yards and the Ohio
and Mississippi crossings and subject
our diversions to the present rules
and regulations governing them In
other territories, the situation would
appear in much better light. Anoth-
er matter to which we would like to
call the attention of the commission
in the application Of local rates after
shipments have reached a certain de-
fined territory. This feature may not
be covered by the "Act to regulate
commerce. but inasmuch as the ship
ments in question will have reeained
their identity, it just occurs to us that
in the meaning Of the law, the through
rate should be applied, where bona
fide diversion or reconsignment is
, made.
We wish to thank the commission
for the opportunity left to present our
side of this case and we trust it will
be your decision to give the matter
further consideration for we can as
sure you with most profound truthful
ness that the very life of the fruit and
vegetable industry of Florida is in
jeopardy and if the ruling of the com
mission in this case stands, serious
injury will result.
Yours truly,
NJ. H. DORSETT.