106 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



miscp:llaneous discussion— r. r. matters. 



Mr. Hartman: After listening to what Mr. Bush had to say yester- 

 day in regard to freight rates, mentioning that there was a discrimina- 

 tion in rates, this morning I got after our Freight Department, and 

 asked them why? I find that we can ship a car-load of peaches from 

 Grand Rapids to the New York market for one-half a cent less than 

 they can ship from Macon, Ga., and just as good service. We can give 

 you fast service with a passenger train schedule. I do not want to 

 have it appear that I am unduly boosting the G. R. & I. R. R., but in 

 pointing out some of the good things that have been done for Michigan. 

 I do not want you to forget that we have tried to meet the demands 

 of the public in providing efficient and prompt delivery of all freight. 

 I want to say, as a matter of fact that if you compare the rate and serv- 

 ice from Macon, Ga., to Michigan, you will find it but little different 

 from that of Michigan to Georgia. But you must recognize that the 

 Southern railroads in Georgia are giving us a special service. They are 

 handling certain of our cars at a loss, but they are trying to develop 

 the country. T am not in the freight department, but I just wanted 

 to give you a little insight into this matter, and I hope you will 

 carry away with you the impression that we are honestly and fairly 

 endeavoring to give the best service in our power, and that while we 

 can control the rate base originating on our line, we can not control 

 the rate originating on the Georgia line. 



Mr. Morrill: It is a fact that from Texas to Chicago they will bill 

 a car through in 72 hours, and there is no side-tracking anywhere ex- 

 cept to allow the fast mail to pass, and they did it for 55c per bushel, 

 and then they take a car back in a week for 80c. I fail to see the logic 

 of this. 



G. R. & I. Agent: We all know the sins of the railroad companies 

 in the past — like our ancestors — but we are trying to correct them as 

 rapidly as possible. One illustration right here in Grand Rapids. 

 Three days before a big crop came on, Mr. Skinner came to me and 

 said, ''I am up against it — if these growers bring in the stuff as I hope 

 they Avilt, Ave haven't any warehouse in which to store them. Then we 

 got bus3^, and to make a long story short, Avhen the peaches came in, 

 as they did, we were all ready for them, both as to warehouse facilities 

 and clerk hire to handle and properly bill them out, but unfortunately, 

 the growers did not stick together as they should — didn't think it would 

 be profitable — but I give this as an illustration of what we are en- 

 deavoring to do in the way of handling to the best possible advantage 

 the fi'uit fhat comes in at such a time as this. It is easy to say what 

 we should do, but the next thing is to get riglit after it and do it, and 

 that is what we are trying to do, and we hope to have your co-operation 

 in our efforts. 



