, 1935-07-12

The Voice
The Valley
RAILROAD EXECUTIVE
DISCUSSES TRUCK PEDDLERS
To The Herald.

RAILROAD EXECUTIVE
DISCUSSES TRUCK PEDDLERS
To The Herald:
I have read with considerable
interest editorial appearing In your
paper, June 9th, regarding G
strictionS on truck peddlerS in Ok
lahoma. / note particularly the last
paragraph Of this editorial wherein
you state that The Valley should
pass a resolution Of thanks directed
to the Oklahoma legislature" ] agree
with this fully.
As has probably already occurred
TO you, some regulation Of this nat
ure in the State of Texas would be
Ct stiu greater importance to the
Valley interests.
Furthermore, II seems to me that
the real solution of some Of the
difficulties confronting Valley fruit
and vegetable growers and shippers
rests largely in their own hands
In other words, all concerned seem
to agree that the trucking Of fruit
and vegetables out of the Valley
IS OF questionable value. 1t has al
ways been a mystery TO me why
the people in the Valley do not do
something about II, such as refuS-
inc to sell their products TO truck
operators, who, as outlined In your
editorial, peddle Valley products all
over the country. TO the detriment
Of legitimate dealers; resulting in q
general breaking down of markets
and bringing about a very chaotic
condition. These peddiers are prob
ably not always particular about
the quality of the goods they sell,
which. of course, has a tendency 70
hurt the reputation Of the Valley.
While the volume Of fruit and
vegetables handled In this manner
may not appear important to some
people rs compared with total pro-
6uction, IL is q fact that when these
products are handled By peddlers
and r OF inferior quality, which
I am informed Is quite often the
case. this naturally has a tendency
TO demoralize the market for prop
erly graded fruit and vegetables.
which those who really have the
interest Of the Valley at heart are
trying to ship.
1t would seem to me that a little
more cooperation between growers,
shippers and carlot Jobbers at va
irous important points would be
G. great benefit to all concerned.
Unfortunately. the idea seems to
have been formed In the minds OF
some people In the Valley that all
Of their troubles are due TO freight
rates. which. as a matter Of fact,
are one of their least difficulties.
The railroads. due to their heavy
investment in the Valley. are. Of nee
essity. as much, II not more, interest
ed than any other group in its de-
velopment. and always keep this I'm
mind In making freight rates, which,
by the way, compare very ~favorahly
with rates from similar sections
throughout the United States. How
ever, there seems to have been so
much talk about freight rates. par
ticularly among some who do not
thoroughly understand what they
are talking about, that apparently
all other angles have been lost sight
OF, and it seems TO us that any one
who has really made a study Of the
situation in the Valley, or who will
take the trouble to do so, viii very
soon realize that the principal draw
back to the orderly and profitable
marketing Of their products IL the
use of trucks.
A discussion OF this question wssh
all of the interested parties grow
ers. shippers and carlot receivers -
indicates that individually they
agree that this Is a fact, but like
Mark Twain is supposed to have said
about the weather, no one seems to
do anything about IL, but seem to
be satisfied to attribute all Of their
troubles to the railroads.
Railroad companies are operated.
as you know, by men who have
been brought up to have regard for
the law. and their efforts are,
therefore, often somewhat circum-
scribed by desire to comply with va
rious regulations which have been
placed upon them by both Federal
and State authorities, but some of
our truck competitors do not seem
to have the same wholesome respect
for law that the railroads have. No
doubt IL any n wanted to take the
trouble to check up. they could find
that in many instances trucks are
being operated without much regard
for the maximum weight prescrib-
ed by the Texas Railroad Commits
sion, and IRE probably not over-zea-
lous about complying with other fea-
lures Of the law.
Yours truly.
w. w. Hale.
General Freight Traffic Manager,
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