Winter Meeting. 189 



rate on apples to Texas points, however, is too high — being 58c per hun- 

 dred and as Missouri should be in position to supply that market, I 

 made it my business last fall, while in St. Louis, to see the general freight 

 agent of the Frisco in regard to this matter. 



I told him that the Texas market for apples belonged legitimately 

 to Missouri and Arkansas — but especially to Missouri — and we wanted a 

 rate, that would enable us to capture it. I used this argument "If you 

 will make us a rate that will enable us to come in and shut the other fel- 

 lows out, we will supply the apples, while you carry the freight, and all 

 the money will stay in Missouri ; but if you keep on charging 58c per 

 hundred, the eastern apple men who have a low rate on account of w^ater 

 facilities, will get a part of it and the eastern railroads and steam- 

 boats the balance, and we will both be left in the lurch." 



As we have no apples in Missouri this year to amount to anything, 

 I did not press the matter for immediate action, but before I left, Mr. 

 Voorhees assured me that he was glad I had called and brought the 

 matter before him, and promised that he would take it up in due time. 

 He said, himself, that "Texas belonged to the Missouri fruit growers," 

 (and I thought when he said so that he made a very sensible remark), 

 and he led me to believe that a material reduction in freight rates would 

 be made by next season. For your information I will say that I am 

 shipping vinegar from Memphis into Texas common points at 38c per 

 hundred. This is "finished product-" Now why should the rate on the 

 "raw material" be 58c from Missouri, which is several hundred miles 

 nearer? The proud state of Missouri has always stood by Texas until 

 very recently and is therefore entitled to fair treatment. The interest of 

 the railroads and the fruit gowers is largely mutual in its character. 

 Both are in business for monev and not for health. We need the rail- 

 roads and they need us. 



It is my opinion that all the fruit growers' Societies and Associations 

 should act in harmony in matters appertaining to markets, transporta- 

 tion and refrigeration. Committees should be appointed to confer with 

 the railroads, express and refrigerating companies. If transportation is 

 found unsatisfactory, freights too high, or not properly equalized, refrig- 

 erating insufficient or too costly, let the committees, at the expense of the 

 growers and shippers, visit headquarters and seek redress. I have no 

 doubt there are some things the higher railroad officials like to be in- 

 formed on. They are not fruit growers like we are, and do not know 

 the comparative value of the different kinds of fruits in tTie different 

 seasons. 



For instance, a car load of Kieffer pears seldom sell for more money 

 than a car load of apples, and yet many of the railroads charge 5c per 



