Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-08-09
BY HARRY

a The burden the blanket Is per
cent increase in freight rates ask
ed by railroad carriers will have on
Valley commodities can be seen by
applying the proposed higher tar
ifs to items originating from this
section.
Should the proposed rates be put
into effect in time to cover the ap-
preaching citrus fruit season the in
crease would amount to at least a
quarter OF a million dollars on this
commodity alone. More than likely
the increase would be nearer a half
million dollars on 10000 cars. A
similar increase would effect thous-
ands Of carloads Of fall, winter and
spring vegetables.
Present rate on citrus fruit 10 St.
Louis Is $l.44 per hundred weight.
The increase would be to S1.65 per
cwt. or Sl.32 per 80-pound box.
Present rate a box IS S115. making
an increase Of S0.17 r box or about
$5i.00 a a 70 this market. SINH
rally II would cost about s72.O0 a
"a more to ship fruit TO New York
and about $500 more TO ship a car
to Chicago or Cincinnati.
Effects Vegetables
Mixed vegetables, beetS. carrots,
turnips. and onions with tops. and
tomatoes and cucumber now carry
a rate of sl09 a hundred pounds 10
st. Louis. "A 10 per cent increase
would make the rate Sl.25. Similar
~ the rate TO New York would be
increased from S1.55 to S1.78. and
to Chicago and Cincinnati from
$i.23 10 Sl.4l. Figuring a minimum
of 10000 pounds for mixed vegeta-
bles with tops, it would cost $50
nor to send a car to 81. Louis, $40
TO New York and $50 more TO send
a car to Chicago Dr. Cincinnati.
Similarly. mixed vegetables with
out tops take a rate OF S0.86 to st.
Louis. Sf.22 to New York and S097
to Chicago and Cincinnati. The in
crease in each instance would be
20 $0.98. $40, and Sill. Applied 20
minimum permissible loadings OF
"a 900 pounds the Increase per car
20 st. Louis would be $3.50. TO New
York 1920 and to Chicago and
Cincinnati $500. This rate also
applies to beets. carrots. onions and
turnips without tops and TO cab
bage. Probably more Valley vege-
tables take this rate than any other.
Potatoes take a still different
rate from the Valley. They carry
a rate Of S0.79 per cwt. to St. louis,
SLIP TO New York and SO.89 to Chi
cago and Cincinnati. The Is per
cent increase applied TO these rates
would make them $3.50. Sl23 and
81 02. Applied TO a permissible "a
600 pound minimum leading per
a this increase would amount to
$3.50 per car to St. Louis. $3.50
to New York and $3.50 to Cincin-
natl or Chicago.
Rate Hike Fought
The Interstate Commerce Com
mission hearings began in the East
last month, at a time when the
Valley shipping season Is dormant
and most Of the shippers are in
other sections. For this rea-0n pro-
tests from the Valley have been in
dividually expressed by shippers
and chambers OF commerce. While
this has been the case in the VAL
lev. however, national shippers or
carnations have banded in a de-
termined effort to prevent an in
crease In food commodities. giving
many reasons why the hike should
not be granted on vegetables and
fruits. Commission merchants and
others including growers in CO.
operatives have joined the shippers
in protesting the proposed rates.
The hearings r in recess. the
railroads having closed their case.
When hearings are resumed it will
be to hear the opposition.
One Of the points expected to be
brought out is that whereas ton
mage from other sources has been
falling off, food commodities have
provided increasing business for
railroads. Opponents Of the pro-
posed increase argue that food
commodities will be asked 10 bear
most Of the burden. They would, Of
course. If the volume continued 10
grow but this is not expected. The
increase in ranes more prObab'-
would have the effect Of reducing
the tonnage. creating n situation
opposite to that desired nv rail-
roads who then would Get a reduc-
ed revenue instead Of a g alter IN
come, II is believed.
More Cars Shipped
According to <. S. Briggs. secre-
tary of the American Fruit and
Vegetable Shippers Assn quoted in
The Produce News. the ~periShable
produce business grew from 663,447
cars in 1920 to 1.070, AS cars in
1890. The average tons loaded per
car have increased rather than de-
creased in the past few years. II IS
also pointed out that the p~erishable
traffic for export increased by
about I.S9S,56O packages IN 1880
over 1929.
saws J. r. Van Arnum, traffic
manager for the league, III a ou!-
letin:
Our firm conviction IS that the
cumulative effect of the general
advances OF 25 per cent in 1918 and
IS TO 40 per cent in 1920 reduced
only 10 per cent in 1922, has been
a major cause or the depression IN
the agricultural industry by virtue
Of the restrictive effect Of high
freight rates.
I'VE have placed the carriers on
notice that application 70 fruits
and vegetables Of this or any other
increase. among other things. Will
cause loss and bankruptcy for thou
sands of growers. who, unable 70
increase commodity prices. Will
have to absorb the higher freight
charges out Of depleted net returns
If any; the freight rate increase
will widen the margin and lengthen
the distance within which trucks
$50 vafar-rarriprS successfully can