112 State Horticultural Society. 



and myself held with you at Milwaukee, and, knowing your inter- 

 ests in the subject matter, felt like writing you a line on the sit- 

 uation. There never was a bill in the Senate which so few 

 Senators would vote for, left to their own choice, and yet one 

 which so many Senators will vote for, as the present rate bill. 

 Those opposing the bill have finally come to see that public senti- 

 ment was so strong that it would be useless to oppose it further, 

 and they were then ready to make the best settlement possible and 

 allow the bill to go through. It was for this proposition that we 

 were on the ground last week. What a fortunate thing it is for 

 this country that we have a man like Roosevelt in the White House, 

 and one whom the corporation interests cannot control. We have 

 practically won out our fight, although the consideration of the 

 amendments may take longer than was expected. 



The Car Line Committee of the National League is under 

 obligation to you and the interests represented by you for the en- 

 couragement given us, for your kind words at Milwaukee not only 

 were a great help to the committee, but they put the whole situa- 

 tion in its right light before the public. 



I have been interested in watching reports of damage by frost 

 in your section, and am glad to see that the early reports were 

 overestimated. 



On my return from Washington last week I came through 

 Delaware and Maryland, and I never saw the orchards there look 

 finer, and, if nothing happens to prevent, these States will have 

 a very fine and large peach crop, and will be a factor in the peach 

 business here as they have not been for several years. 



Hoping that you will have a good season in your section, and 

 asking that when crop is ready that you will drop us a line on this 

 subject, I remain, 



Very sincerely yours, 



Geo. F. Mead. 



Another matter of transportation, on which we hope to be able 

 to report good results in the near future, is rates on apples from 

 Missouri into Texas. I simply state that the apple growers of 

 Missouri are between the devil and the deep sea. New York gets 

 Mississippi river rates south; the west gets Missouri river rates; 

 from points in Missouri into Texas, rates 54 to 58 cents per 100 

 pounds ; New York to Texas, only 65 cents per 100 pounds. Texas 

 is our legitimate outlet if we could get rates. Another matter is to 

 secure rates to our horticultural meetings. We are working on this 



