Monte Vista journal and Monte Vista graphic-reporter., 1924-05-09
PROPOSED INCREASE IN FREIGHT RATE ON
VEGETABLES MEETS STRONG PROTEST HERE

i Backing the state wide protest o.
mountain districts against the pro
posed increase in freight rates OF
the d. and r. G. Western and ths
D. and 8. l.. railways the traffic
= committee of the Monte Vists
chamber OF commerce met Thurs
day and sent protest to the state
utilities commission through marke,
director. Joseph Passoneau.
T, Should this proposed ten per cen,
increase. which affects lettuce and
green vegetables. be put through /,
would mean practically the end OF
one of the most promising indus
tries which recently has been devel
oped. So serious is the proposition
to the farmers that already many
sare proposing to cancel their con.
tracts on lettuce and green vege.
tables.
However. according to Joseph
Pasoneau. state market director. the
freight increase cannot be put into
effect before the close OF the sea.
son. In the face Of the hundreds OF
protests which NO doubt will bring
the matter before the state utilities
commission before II can be put in
to effect.
The enormity Of the lettuce In
austry In the San Luis valley and
its future Significance ~ q growing
business can only be realized when
We figure that with only 1890 acrss
under contract this year and ngur-
Alg on t~o-thirds Of \ crop the ap-
proximate value will amount to
t3l3.see. This acreage At best
should produce 1890 car loads OF
lettuce. caulifiower and peas but on
he two-thirds basis this means see
car loads for the d. and r. @.
Western besides the hundreds Of car
loeds Of Ice 70 b. shipped In for
packing.
II the increase II put through Il
will msaa .. freight rsiss for the
road OF about S3z per car. al AZ
1regste OF nearly $4,000 In addi-
tioa TO the pressat high rates exact
ID on such vegetables. This addi-
tional rate must be borne by the
farmers for the margin on the let
.uce II now 10 small that II Is bare
ly possible for dealers 10 compete
rtth the California market.
Monte Vista alone Is Interested In
. see acre crop Of lettuce and cauli-
Glover. on a 80 percent basis this
means l5o car loads with = value
OF more than $4,000 to the farmer
win be shipped from this point.
l. V. l.. Wells. local representative
Cor z. J. Fort t-Tidweii Co.. Denver.
says II this rate 10 put into effect Il
will mean the end Of the green vege-
liable industry In the valley. The z.
J. Fort It'd well Co. controls all con.
tracts IL the Monte Vista district
The Burton Seed Co. Of Denver and
z. J. Fort-ridweli Co. are under
contract for the crop at Granger and
Al South Fork the 8. A. Girard CO..
| Cincinnatti. Burton Seed Co.. Den
yer. z. J. Fort-ridweii Co.. Denver.
Steinhs srdt- Kelley CO.. Of New York.
kold the contracts.
In the face of this increase pro.
posed by the mountain roads. east.
srn roads into Denver have reduced
their rates. especially on dry goods
I very apprcciabie reduction was
secured by executives Of Denver
mercantile firms from the main
loads operating lines into Denver.
The Commercial Club committee
On transportation who made the
protest to Denver authorities In
eiudcs. Claude Corlctt. II. II. Bnk-
ken. II. r. Lague. j. r. 3. Maxwell
and Chas. Edman. Another matter
Pn which this committee launched =
protest against high rat"s vas on
corn which the stockmcn feel must
De brought in II lower rates II sue
Hs.A T. A. A. lAA mn