i88 State Horticultural Society. 



outset there is nothing gained by simply denouncing the transportation 

 companies. It is too often the case that fruit growers individually or 

 collectively, call them all kinds of hard names, when their product is 

 spoiled by delay in transit, or their profits eaten up by excessive freight or 

 express charges. And this is generally the last of it till the next season 

 comes 'round when new causes for complaints turn up, and c-alling hard 

 names again becomes the order of the day. 



Now wouldn't it be much better for the fruit growers to go to the 

 proper officials of the respective transportation lines, state their griev- 

 ances in a respectful, intelligent manner, and demand such redress as 

 may be due them under existing circumstances? Often I have heard 

 some of my fellow horticulturists, who are good church members, and 

 otherwise very respectable men, "cuss out" the local agent for all the 

 wrongs they are made to suffer. But when I ask them "Have you made 

 your complaint in proper form to headquarters?" they invariably reply 

 "there is no use in that, they are all a set of highway robbers." 



Now my experience is that the railroad companies, as a rule, are not 

 unfriendly to the interests of the fruit growers, but they are in business 

 to make all the money they can for their stockholders, and will charge 

 as much freight as they consider any commodity will stand, especially if 

 there is no competition to regulate them. Some years ago I had a con- 

 versation with the traffic manager of a leading railroad regarding rates 

 on apples and other fruits, and showed him plainly that they were ex- 

 cessive in comparison with other commodities and with rates prevailing 

 in other sections of the country. He answered me very frankly that his 

 first duty was to serve his company, but if I could convince him that it 

 was to the interest of the railroad to make lower rates, and at the same 

 time do justice to the growers and shippers, he would be glad to consider 

 the matter. He did consider it, and after conferring with other officials, 

 made the reduction I requested. 



I am of the opinion that the railroads in Missouri, generally, are in- 

 clined to foster and encourage fruit growing, not particularly from a 

 sense of philanthropy, but because they believe it is a goose that will lay 

 them lots of golden eggs- My orchards are located on the line of the 

 Frisco System and I have frequently had occassion to confer with its 

 officials for many years regarding transportation of apples and peaches, 

 as well as fertilizers, barrel and box material, etc., and I am free to con- 

 fess, that I have always been met in a liberal spirit. For an example T 

 will state that the rate on apples to Memphis — 243 miles — is 17c per 

 hundred, and on box and barrel materials, as well as fertilizers, loc per 

 hundred for an equal distance. I regard these rates as reasonable. The 



