32 



" As for myself, I do not feel competent to deal with this, except perhaps to say 

 a word on transportation for such as may be sent by express. The Canadian Express 

 Company, which I have represented for many years, have done much to facilitate the 

 quick and safe despatch of the smaller and more perishable fruits, furnishing venti- 

 lated cars with proper shelving for packing the larger shipments to most distant 

 points, all fruit being forwarded on fast express trains at rates consistent with cost, 

 and we shall continue to do so, and will be glad at anytime to meet authorized repre- 

 sentatives in the trade for conference as to future transactions. The whole amount 

 carried by express, however, as compared with other modes of transportation, is very 

 small, and may not claim the attention of the meeting; but should shipments for 

 Europe be sent viA the St. Lawrence, we will be glad to offer the best facilities from 

 inland to shipping point, in quantities consistent with our mode of forwarding. 



" Hoping you will have a Buccessful meeting, 



" I remain, yours very truly, 



"G. CHENEY, 



" President." 



ThePRESiDENT. — I think we have heard pretty fully the views of the transportation 

 companies concerning what facilities they offer, but it seem s to me that it would be desir- 

 able if we could reach some definite conclusion with reference to the improvement of 

 existing methods, so far as that may be possible. Undoubtedly, as far as we can 

 judge from the evidence that reaches us from abroad, some improvement may be 

 made at least, and if such can be made within reasonable bounds it seems to me one 

 important object of this meeting will be accomplished. I should like to hear from 

 some of the representative shippers, both of fruit and dairy produce, what they 

 would suggest in connection with what has been said, and then we may possibly 

 get from the representaves of the transportation companies some statements as 

 to future movements. 



Mr. McD. Allan. — In speaking of the express companies, that is one of the 

 points we had not touched upon before at this meeting ; but it is a point which has 

 been touched upon at other meetings. It is an important point. I do not know 

 any other way by which you can get your basketed fruit, or fruit in boxes, more 

 completely smashed up than by sending by express. They do it most beautifully. 

 I remember at the time of the Indian and Colonial Exhibition, the Dominion Gov- 

 ernment had their fruit all over the various Provinces, and dispatched to the sea- 

 board by express, thinking, in the innocence of their hearts, that because the express 

 companies charged a high rate they would take better care of the goods. What 

 was the result ? We did everything in our power to induce them to take care 

 of the goods. The packages were labelled "To be handled with care;" "This side 

 up." They were packages that had been specially prepared for easy and safe hand- 

 ling. We appealed to them personally and by letter, as Canadians, as men 

 interested in the welfare of this country, to do what they could to place the 

 products of this country before the world at the Indian and Colonial Exhibition in 

 good shape. The result was, that out of two tons of grapes that might have been 

 handled easily, and would have arrived there if handled properly in very good order, 

 we had a mass of pulp and juice. The baskets were turned and twisted, and any side 

 up or any end up. We saw that ourselves. We saw the agents handling them. I 

 saw them at Goderich handling these goods, and called their attention to the fact 

 that they were handling them as if they were stones, flinging them about in any 

 sort of rough way. Our experience with express companies has been terrible Our 

 experience at that exhibition, in regard to the handling of the fruit, was most dis- 

 couraging. We find the same experience has been met with by some of the shippers 

 of small fruits. Parties sending packages of peaches or pears, how often do we get 

 them as they were sent? How often as full as they were sent ? This last summer 

 I got three or four baskets of peaches, as we had no peaches or very little fruit of 

 any sor.t in our section. The baskets were full of good fruit when they left but 

 when they reached me the gauze was torn off and quite a number of the peaches 



