REPORTS OF DISTRICT AND LOCAL SOCIETIES. 363 



nish us 30 carloads of gravel to improve our town line road from the railroad two and 

 a half miles west. By the cooperation of the village and the aid of the farmers in fur- 

 nishing teams to haul the same from the depot, we expected to make a permanent 

 improvement to this road. The committee, by studying the matter thoroughly, resolved 

 that it was essential that the hills be lowered and something of a grade be established 

 before we went forward with this work. Then they could see plainly that gravel was 

 not the material to apply to sand and it was then decided to. veneer as much of this 

 sandy road with clay as we could get boom labor to cooperate with us, we to pay all the 

 e.xpenses of shoveling and grading. As the season was somewhat advanced before all 

 plans were perfected and work on the farms crowding, it made it more difficult to rally 

 a large force. One or two days we had out eighteen or twenty teams and for the time 

 employed we made a grand showing and every farmer realized how much easier his 

 team could transport the large loads of fruit from farm to railroad than in former 

 years. 



The gravel we had expected to use to give the tinishing touch to this road had to be 

 abandoned for this season. The village having their street thinly clayed and knowing 

 in a wet time with heavy loads of fruit going over this thoroughfare it would soon cut 

 up as to become almost unpassabJe, they were determined therefore to complete their 

 road while the gravel was on hand and could not be used by us and it being the rail- 

 road company's desire that the work of graveling be commenced at the railroad. We 

 can all see with what perfection it finished the street. » 



Returning again to our system of transportation, will say the same loading and 

 unloading agents were employed and we decided to retain a copy of our manifests for 

 future reference which we did not do the first season. The work of the association in 

 liandling the fruit was performed with dispatch and we could not, as shippers, ask for 

 a better system. The railroad company did not accomplish their part of the work so 

 satisfactorily and our protestations were often and censorious, but the boats did such 

 abominable work that we can feel almost highly favored that we had as good service 

 as we did. I I C~ 



Our report shows we handled 2393^ car loads; paid freight to the amount of 

 $11,648.48; paid labor Si.7.SG.25; paid shortages S155.25; balance on hand at close of 

 season S553.52. In road building the whole amount of expense involved, including 

 $107.25 worth of donated labor, was 8517.09. This subject of better roads throughout 

 the state should arrest the attention of all farmers. By a money tax we could soon put 

 our main road in a condition that would acquire but a ifmall expense to keep them in 

 repair, and good roads add materially to rapid and easy transportation in marketing all 

 uf our produce as well as fruit. 



Although the Fruit Shippers' association has accomplished some of the things 

 desired from the outset, we still feel there is a broad field for action. We need prompter 

 delivery of our fruit in Chicago, better rates than those now furnished, a system of dis- 

 tribution of our fruit by which markets may be maintained at good prices throughout 

 the season, and last but not least, improvements of our roads as a matter of our nearest 

 convenience. 



REMARKS. 



Inquiries were made of Mr. Crane concerning the rates to prevail this 

 season, and he replied that he has been trying to get better rates than last 

 year on cars not fully loaded. 



Mr. Wiley: We expect to have to draw our fruit largely to the rail- 

 way, from the lake shore, for there is no appropriation for improvement of 

 the harbor, which is thought to be in as bad condition as it was last spring. 

 The work done upon it last season was of benefit that year only, and the 

 matter of transportation has become a very serious question with us. 



Mr. Goodrich of Chicago, manager of the " granger- " system on the 

 Illinois Central railway, was present. He said he had been interested in 

 this business twenty -^ve years, and had been managing it for ten years, 

 and had latterly been studying how to facilitate the delivery of fruit from 

 trains to the commission merchants, with the least expense and greatest 

 dispatch. If fruit arrives by five o'clock a. m. he can get it on the market 

 by the time the trade demands it, and the cent or half cent per crate 

 45 



