174 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



Dean has, or controls, a large quantity of fruit, and the case of no one of us 

 is a parallel to his. The speaker was doubtful of the utility of combinations 

 among fruit growers, and said the California union is a corporation buying 

 all the fruit that was offered — that was quite another scheme and one which 

 may work well. 



R. Morrill was of different opinion, advocating the principle of fruit ex- 

 changes or unions. The trouble is, in the plan of individual shipments, we 

 do not average honest enough. [Applause.] Men inclined to be ''straight" 

 come to these meetiug§ — those likely to be scored keep away. Angus Dean 

 guarantees the quality of every package, and so Jiolds his trade. 



G. Richards: We pay too much for transportation of peaches. We pay 

 fifty cents per 100 pounds to Chiv3ago, while for twenty cents they will carry 

 the same distance a barrel of apples weighing 150 to 175 poutids. Why 

 more for one than the other? We pay too much for pickers and for other 

 work in the orchard. There is no reason why we should pay more than for 

 ordinary farm work. 



ATTITUDE OF THE RAILWAY COMPANY. 



Mr. Morrill: Would not the interstate commerce law require the railways 

 to take freight in car lots at the same price and in the same time they do 

 for express companies? . 



John P. Wade : I once went to Mr. Rose of the Chicago & West Michigan 

 railway company about this matter, and he promised to make us the same 

 liites on car lots. But he did not, and he afterward wrote that their contract 

 with the express company prevented them from handling fruit except as 

 freight. I then wrote the lion. Thos. M. Cooley, chairman of the inter- 

 state commerce commission, about the matter, and from him received the 

 following reply: 



August 16, 1888. 

 J. P. Wade, Esq., Fennville, Mich: 



Dear Sir — Replying to yours of the 13th inst., I fear the commission will not be able 

 to be of service to you in the matter about which you write. 



The supreme court of the United States decided some time ago that it was compe- 

 tent for railway companies to make with an express company a contract to give it 

 exclusive privileges. If therefore you want to be allowed to send your friiit as express 

 matter, 1 am afraid you cannot secure the right; though you undoubtedly have the 

 right to send it as ordinary freight. 



Very truly yours, 



T. M. Cooley. 



Wm. W. Iddings, Fennville: I do not agree with those who contend that 

 there is an over production of fruit. The market has developed as the crop 

 has increased, and there are consumers for all the fruit we can grow. Over- 

 plus of good fruit is wholly a result of failure in distribution. 



W. A. Smith : The railway is dependent upon this community for its bus- 

 iness and can be brought to terms on this question of rates to sliippers and 

 express companies. The manager of the road has often said that if the ship- 

 pers would combine and take charge of the business they could have the 

 desired rates, but there is the difticulty. We distrust one another and refuse 

 to act in the only way by which we may get what we want. 



