Winter Meeting. 18= 



"& 



have worked individually ; and still we are not satisfied with the un- 

 certainty of a profit after a crop is grown, gathered and packed ready for 

 shipment. We are looking forward to the time when, with the increased 

 acreage, we will be compelled to devise cheaper methods of handling a 

 crop. While we are not alarmed yet about an over-production of first 

 grade fruit ; still we realize the fact that a continued increase in the set- 

 ting of peach orchards, especially of one variety, will necessarily have 

 some effect on the profits, and we will be compelled to make a correspond- 

 ing decrease of expenses. Now to make a reduction of expenses m a 

 business it should, necessarily be proportioned in all branches of the 

 business. Suppose that we can succeed in growing our peaches cheaper, 

 picking and packing them cheaper; then can we persuade the railroad 

 companies and express companies to give us cheaper transportation. 

 We might say to them that we would stop shipping, but that would be like 

 the Irishman who was being lowered into a well. When about half 

 way down he asked to be pulled up again. The man at the top asked 

 him why, and he said : "That's none o' yer business ; if ye don't sthop 

 lettin' me down, Oi'll cut the rope." 



We are aware of the fact that methods and rates of transportation have 

 often been discussed before your Society, at the same time the peach busi- 

 ness of Koshkonong is greatly affected by the same and we feel obliged 

 to refer to it in this article although we ourselves know very little about it. 

 We have no remedies to offer, but we know there is something "rotten 

 in Denmark." For instance, two express companies handle our fruit be- 

 tween Koshkonong and Kansas City. One as far as Springfield, 130 

 miles, and the other from Springfield on 200 miles. They gave us a 

 rate the past season of $1.00 per hundred to either point and also to all 

 intermediate points- If the two companies can handle 100 pounds of 

 fruit to Kansas City for $1 we cannot understand why the first company 

 should have $1 to carry it less than half way. During last peach season 

 a gentleman came into our packing shed and gave us the names of 

 about fifteen dealers of fruits at points between Springfield and Kansas 

 City, who said they could not get good peaches and wanted us to make 

 them shipments. We had to decline because the express rate was so 

 high that we could do better by loading in refrigerator cars and shipping 

 by freight, which we did as far as possible. We have no figures that we 

 can quote on a peach crop, but will give a few on a crop of strawberries 

 picked this past season. Five hundred and eighty-five crates sold on 

 the markets for $877.70. After express charges, commissions, cost of 

 crates, picking and packing were deducted the grower had left $215.74. 

 The express company received $237.83, or $22.09 more for carrying the 



