Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-09-24
SUSPENSION
OF HIKE IS
REQUESTED

Inc proposed increase In freight
rates on vegetables from the Valley
would eliminate this section as a
vegetable producing area, declares
. protest filed with the interstate
commerce commission today by
Brownsville interests.
The protest asks suspension OF
n increased rates, which are
scheduled TO become effective Oct.
-, and a public hearing so that
the Valley can present its S
against the increases.
It Is filed by the Brownsville
Chamber OF Commerce, McDavitt
Brothers, and A. N. Tandy a. Sons,
the latter two being shippers.
Protest Filed
Copy OF q protest filed by the
Lower Rio Grande Valley Shippers
association was also received at the
chamber OF commerce today.
The Brownsville petition states,
The proposed increase In rates
would make 1t impossible to grow
cabbage under average marketing
conditions. Take the proposed in
crease to the five markets. as shown
on the enclosed sheet. which shows
an average increase in rate OF
$3.50 per ton on cabbage. The aver
age price 20 growers this year wa
only IS a ton, and on the basis OF
IS a ton, the farmer Is growing
cabbage at a cost Of production loss
OF approximately So per ton.
Tomatoes r n OF the few
crops that showed a small produc-
ton profit TO tbs grower in this
immediate section this season, but
this only amounted to approximate
ly 10 cents .,er lug profit, I'd this
average increase to the five mar
kets would mount to 4 cents q
CIT, and. as tomatoes are billed at
80 pounds to the lug. would be IL
cents per lug increase. which would
equal approximately four cents per
lug more than the growers profit
on tomatoes this past season.
The increase would practically
eliminate this section as a vege-
table PRODUCING ARIA The past
season this section shipped more
than $4,000 cars OF vegetables,
among which we're 64l6 cars OF cab
bage. 1645 a r Of potatoes, 2459
cars OF beets and carrots. 1927 cars
tomatoes and 654 cars or onions.
Investments Cited
There has been an investment
OF around $50. 0O0. 900 for irrigation
facilities in this Lower Rio Grande
Valley, and these works are in the
most part owned by the landown-
erS, against which large amounts
OF bonds have been issued. The in
terest and sinking funds against
these bonds, together with operat-
ing and maintenance costs, are as
sessable against the land owners,
and are particularly heavy against
lanC suitable for the growing Of
vegetables"
The protest Is accompanied by a
table showing the increases which
would be made In commodities TO
five principal points. The table
follows:
Potatoes Cabbage Tomatoes
To:
Chicago and
$40 to si.23 SGT to si.23 si.2a to si.s2
st. Louis
10 to 100 .s6 to 100 100 OLA
Boston
III to l.62 1.2s to i62 1.s2 to 2.i3
New York
I.12 to l.55 i.22 to f.55 1.55 to 2.o4
Pittsburgh
i.Ol to lao Ill to lao lao to lS5
The percentage increase ranges
from 81 to 80.
The rate on cabbage from the
Valley to Seattle, washington.
would be increased from $l.65 to
sass, the table shows.
JOBBERS ASK
PUBLIC HEARING
HARLINGEN, Sept. 24.-Word
was received by the valle~ shippers
association here today that the
Western Fruit Jobbers associate Il
Chicago has filed a protest with
the interstate commerce commits
cation OF vegetables.
The proposed classification change
would be equivalent to a 80 per
cent increase In freight rates, 1t
was pointed out.
The protest asks suspension Of
the rule until a public hearing may
be had.