1801 ) 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
i67 
THE THREE GREEDY C.’S. 
CARRIER, COM MISSION MAN, CARTER, 
Their Share of the Fruit Basket. 
[Abstract of the report of the Committee on Transportation sub¬ 
mitted to the Eastern New York Horticultural Society at Albany.] 
A Slice of the Income. —After studying many 
individual returns to Hudson River fruit growers, 
your committee is convinced that these growers are 
paying more and more of their income to the various 
handlers who stand between them and the consumers. 
One fruit grower within 50 miles of New York, who 
has kept an accurate account of fruit sales for the past 
three years, gives the following statement: 
Gross sales of fruit.$1,740 93 
Selling expenses. 424 39 
Thus about 24% per cent of the gross sales must be 
given to handlers, who assume little risk, and pay no 
part of the cost of production. 
In 1867, one lot of blackberries sold, gross, for $ 86 . 91 . 
The total charges for freight and commission were 
$12.19, or 14 per cent of the whole. From the same 
farm in 1898, gross sales of strawberries were $78.40. 
The total charges were $19.89, or 25 % per cent. Thirty- 
one years before, on the blackberries, the freight or 
carrying charges were only four per cent of the gross 
sales. On grapes, in 1891, the carrying charges aver¬ 
aged seven per cent, while commission charges remain 
fixed at 10 per cent. 
Figures Can’t liie. —Hundreds of cases may be 
given, where the per cent of gross receipts that have 
been paid for handling the crop, has been enormously 
increased. Here are a few instances, taken at random 
from commission returns : 
STRAWBERRIES. 
Carrying 
Year. 
Gross sales. 
and cartage. 
Comm’n. 
Total. 
Per cent. 
1898... 
$55.45 
$14.26 
$99.71 
22 a 
15 
1873... 
6.92 
14.28 
21.20 
1871 ... 
190 81 
10.57 
19.08 
29.65 
15V4 
25 
1898... 
24.72 
16.17 
40.49 
1898... 
39 04 
6.72 
3.90 
10.62 
27 
1878... 
3.91 4.02 
CURRANTS. 
7.93 
19 
1867... 
187.30 
8.94 
18 73 
27.67 
12)4 
1898... 
6.00 
4.40 
10.40 
23)4 
1881... 
5.58 6.70 
GRAPES. 
12.28 
18/* 
1867... 
$27.30 
1.20 
2.73 
3.93 
14 
1877... 
3.24 
4.52 
7.76 
17 
1898... 
4.80 
2 40 
7.20 
30 
1898... 
22.20 
6.50 
2 22 
8.72 
39 
1898... 
2.80 
.84 
3.64 
41 
These are not extravagant figures. They are taken 
from actual returns, and are, if anything, more favor¬ 
able than the average. It would be easy to give ac¬ 
tual returns where carrying, cartage and commission 
cost 60 per cent of the gross sales. The figures we 
give are for good fruit, packed and shipped in the 
best manner, by expert growers. 
Another Summary* —One careful grower has 
made the following summary of the per cent given 
last year to the three C.’s that cat in the farmer’s 
manger: 
PER CENT OF GROSS SALE3 GIVEN THREE C.’S. 
Carrier. Cartage. Comm’n. Total. 
Strawberries. . 10.3 2 6 10 22.9 
Currants. 5.2 2.6 10 18.8 
Peaches. 7.0 5.0 10 22.0 
Grapes. 11.1-9 8.8-9 10 30,0 
Peaches were unusually high last year, therefore, 
the fixed charges represent a smaller per cent of gross 
sales. The freight on currants is less than on straw¬ 
berries, while the cartage on peaches and grapes was 
much higher. Another grower sent, during one 
week, $331.38 worth of currants The expenses were 
$33.13 commission, and $21.90 express, or 16% per cent. 
During another week, he sent $310.19 worth of straw¬ 
berries, which cost $31.02 for commission, and $43.07 
for express, or over 20 per cent. The express com¬ 
pany charged 25 cents a crate for strawberries, but 
only 16 cents for the same-sized crate of currants, 
though the currants brought more than the straw¬ 
berries. 
Figures can be multiplied to show that fruit farmers 
are now paying for handling and selling, from 10 to 
15 per cent more of the returns from their crops than 
they did in former years, though there is every reason 
to believe that the three C.’s (Carrier, Commission man 
and Cartman) are all doing their business at a cheaper 
rate. All their fixtures, from steel rails to postage 
stamps (except the high salaries of the officials), have 
been reduced, yet the reduction in their rates for car¬ 
rying fruit has been insignificant as compared with 
the reduction in prices for the fruit. 
From a central point like Highland, shipments to 
southern markets will cost, at least, 25 per cent of the 
gross sales. East and west to Boston or Pittsburgh, 
by express, this cost will reach 35 to 40 per cent. The 
grower must, also, pay 12 or 15 per cent more as the 
cost of gift packages. A car loaded with fruit at that 
point, for Boston or Worcester, and sent by express, 
is worth to the express company $300, or to Chicago, 
$450. The local agent receives a good per cent of this, 
in addition to salary and other commissions. The 
boat from Poughkeepsie will carry grapes to New 
York at from $2.50 to $5 per ton, and where such op¬ 
position exists, the express company gives more favor¬ 
able rates, and caters to the New York trade. 
Figured in another way, the goods sent from Pough¬ 
keepsie to Worcester paid the following tribute to the 
three C.’s: Strawberries were sold at from 5 to 8 
cents, ah average of $2 per crate. The express charges 
were 50 cents, commission and cartage 25 cents, 75 cents 
in all, leaving $1,25 for the grower. The crate and 
baskets cost 25 cents, and the picking 48 cents, leav¬ 
ing 52 cents for the growing, packing and carting to 
the express company. In other words, slightly over 
25 per cent was left for the inan who assumed all the 
cost and did all the work. In another case, grapes 
sold in Boston for 50 cents a crate. The expenses 
were 25 cents express charges, 5 cents for cartage, 5 
cents commission, and 13 cents for the crate, which 
makes 48 cents, leaving 2 cents for the grower. 
Cartage and Conclusion. —The cost of cartage 
runs from 2% to 10 per cent of gross sales. The com¬ 
mission men say that some firms own their trucks, 
while others are served by a trucking company. The 
price seems to be set by these trucking companies ; it 
is charged as piece work—four cents for a crate of 
grapes or peaches, or basket of peaches, and five cents 
for a barrel. The payment for unloading is three- 
quarters cent per crate. The truckmen would, prob¬ 
ably, do the work for less money if they could be 
guaranteed regular full loads. They claim that they 
are often sent to the pier or railroad, and after wait¬ 
ing several hours, get only about 20 packages for a 
load. Some system of cooperation among growers, 
that will guarantee full loads of uniform fruit, would 
soon settle this cartage business. The truckmen claim 
that fruit is often injured or stolen in unloading from 
the boats or trains. 
In fact, there does not seem to be much hope that 
the individual shipper will be able to cheapen the 
tribute he pays to the three C.’s, to any great extent. 
The present high charges are due partly to divided 
shipments sent to dozens of different commission men, 
without uniform packing or proper study of the 
markets. 
In Connecticut, the apple growers are getting to¬ 
gether to control their crop. In Vermont, the maple- 
sugar growers are organizingto handle the year’s pro¬ 
duction of sugar. If the Hudson River fruit men could 
get together so as to control 75 per cent of the fruit 
grown in this section, they would find that three good 
agents in New York could handle the fruit to better 
advantage than the 100 or more commission men now 
do, and at a saving of four per cent in the cost of cart¬ 
age and commission. 
The Association of Boston Market Gardeners asks 
the Department of Agriculture to appropriate money 
for the purpose of extending our squash market. Our 
hard-shelled squashes cannot be grown in the British 
Isles, and as they will bear a long shipment, they 
could be exported in very satisfactory condition. As 
our British cousins are usually prejudiced against 
novel foods, and will buy only that which appeals to 
their tastes (a fact strongly realized by our dairymen), 
it is considered that a rquash missionary, who will 
push the use of these vegetables, and instruct pros¬ 
pective buyers in toothsome modes of cooking them, 
would be a very sound investment of the $5,000 asked 
from the Department. One fact that would hinder 
the sale of squashes in the British market is that 
their place is already occupied by the vegetable mar¬ 
row, a cucumber-shaped cousin of the squash. Al¬ 
though the hard shelled squashes could be put in the 
market at a time when there would be no competition 
from vegetable marrows, the latter are so much 
milder in flavor that the contrast would be disad¬ 
vantageous to the squashes until a taste for the 
American vegetable was formed. The suggestion, 
however, that instruction be given in the cooking or 
preparation of any novel or little-known food, when 
introduced to a new market, is excellent, though we 
think the request that the Department of Agriculture 
spend money for such instruction establishes a bad 
precedent. 
Events of the Week. 
Domestic.—A fire was discovered February 16 on Market Street, 
Philadelphia, in buildings owned by John Wanamaker. Shortage 
of water hampered the firemen, and the loss was $700,000. . . 
Richmond, Va., was flooded and in darkness February 17, owing 
to the sudden rise of the James River, due to melting snow. 
Electric plants were all flooded, and serious fires resulted from 
the flooding of unslaked lime. The ice gorge apparently caused 
the river to cut a new channel through valuable lands. A false 
channel would destroy much work done by the Government to 
imxjrove the river. . . Lieut. Castner, U. S. A., has failed to 
find an all-American route to the Yukon, and says that all maps 
are incorrect. . . The Dutch oil-tank steamer Rotterdam ar¬ 
rived at New York February 17, with 42 men rescued from the 
cattle steamer Rossmore, which foundered in tnidoc'ean February 
6. Other survivors were carried by the British steamer Trojan 
to Glasgow. The rescue was performed with great difficulty, on 
account of terrific weather. . . Lewis Miller, one of the found¬ 
ers of the Chautauqua Assembly, and widely known in the 
Methodist Church for his Sunday-school work, died in a New 
York hospital, after a surgical operation, February 17, aged 70 
years. . . Prof. Geo. H. Stephens, who set fire to Pardee Hall, 
Lafayette College, Pa , after numerous acts of vandalism, has 
been sentenced to nine years’ solitary confinement in the Eastern 
Penitentiary. . . The three indictments found against Gov. 
Tanner, of Illinois, for his action in the Virden riots, were nolle 
prossed by the State Attorney; no explanation is given for this. 
. . . P D Armour, of Chicago, has made an additional gift of 
$750,000 to Armour Institute, which is one of the best technical 
schools in the country. His previous gifts amounted to $1,500,000. 
. . . The American Cereal Company (the Cereal Trust) was 
Incorporated in New Jersey February 20, with a capital stock of 
$33,000,000. . . An express car on the Santa F4 Railroad was 
broken into at Cherryvale, Kan., February 21, and robbed of 
$60,000. . . The American Car and Foundry Company, incor¬ 
porated in New Jersey February 21, looks like a car trust. The 
capital stock is $60,000,000. . . South Dakota has passed a 
new bounty law for the extermination of wolves, which have 
caused much damage to stock during the Winter. . . The 
steamer Vittoria arrived at Baltimore February 22 with four of 
the crew of the missing steamer Bulgaria. They tell a shocking 
story of suffering and suspense; later advices announce the 
arrival of the Bulgaria at the Azores. 
Philippines —The rebels attacked our lines outside Manila 
February 16, but were repulsed. An outbreak in the city was 
feared, but was prevented by tie arrest of 150 natives. . . The 
insurgents made an attack on our outposts at Manila February 
18, but did no damage. Reeaforcements have been sent to Gen. 
Otis, and as soon as they are received, he will organize an aggres¬ 
sive campaign. . . February 20 the natives at the village of 
Paco, near Manila, tried to burn the quarters of the First Wash¬ 
ington Volunteers. The natives are still very restless. . . 
Since last August, when our forces assumed charge in the Philip¬ 
pines, we have received nearly $2,000,000 from taxation. . . 
February 21, evidences of a Filipino plot were discovered, the in¬ 
tention being to massacre all foreigners. This was prevented, 
but on February 22, the rebels tried to destroy Manila, setting 
the city on fire in three different places. Foreign residents aided 
our troops in fighting the fire, which was finally controlled. There 
is no doubt that a massacre was planned to follow the fire. It is 
estimated that the loss will be heavy. During the confusion of 
fighting the fire, native sharpshooters, who were concealed in 
the vicinity of the burning quarters, fired upon the troops. Seven 
soldiers were wounded. Strong guards were stationed through¬ 
out the city. . , The Island of Negros, in the Visayan group, 
has voluntarily raised the American flag, and offers aid in fight¬ 
ing the other Filipinos. 
Army ami Supplies.—The Army Board of Survey, appointed 
to inquire into the condemnation of 300,000 pounds of refriger¬ 
ated beef consigned to Gen. Miles’s Porto Rico expedition during 
the war, has taken considerable evidence on this subject. It is 
stated that the beef was discharged at Ponce, and was then al¬ 
lowed to lie on the wharf for a month without care, before it was 
opened. It was then worthless. . . Gen. Miles was the first 
witness examined February 20 by the court of inquiry. He was 
asked concerning the newspaper interviews attributed to him, 
and denied responsibility for them. He said be had not eaten 
any refrigerated beef. Other officers testified that the canned 
roast beef was stringy, tasteless, and was rejected by the stom¬ 
ach. One witness stated his belief that it was the refuse meat 
from which beef extract or soup had been made. . . February 
22 several witnesses stated that the refrigerated beef was good, 
but that the canned roast beef was not, and the men could not 
eat it. As the refrigerated beef spoiled, this left the men without 
adequate food. 
Cuba.—Gen. Brooke reviewed the American troops at Buena 
Vista February 17; there were 14,800 men in line. . . Havana 
workmen are protesting against the action of Gen Menocal in 
placing Cuban soldiers at work in places where they strikr. 
Many cigar workers are now on strike. . . There is continual 
friction in Havana over the color question. American cafe keep¬ 
ers refuse to serve colored guests, and as many Cuban officers 
are colored, trouble ensues. . . Cuban authorities suggest 
bonding their municipalities to raise $7,000,000, this money being 
added to the $3,000,000 offered by the United States, for the pay¬ 
ment of the Cuban army. . . A rich farmer at Puerto Principe 
has been kidnapped by bandits, who demand a ransom of $3,000 
for his release. 
Congress.—The item in the Sundry Civil bill appropriating 
$20,000,000 for payment due Spain, has been stricken out under a 
point of order. A special bill was introduced to provide for this 
payment, and was passed February 20, by a vote of 215 to 34. 
, . Senator Frye proposes a subsidy not exceeding $100,000 a 
year, for the maintenance of a cable from the United States to 
Hawaii, Manila and Japan. 
Porto Rico.—Gen. Henry has dissolved the Insular Cabinet 
created by Spain in deference to the wish for autonomy, and ap¬ 
pointed a new one entirely subordinate to the military power. 
Much trouble has been caused by friction between the Liberal 
and Radical parties, and those in power were trying to play off 
the military authorities against their opponents. Gov. Henry 
would not permit this, and has created a new cabinet regardless 
of political affiliations. . . Complaint is made by an army sur¬ 
geon that there are many lepers in Porto Rico, and that since the 
Spanish evacuation, they have been at large, mingling freely 
with the native population, and displaying the ravages of the 
repulsive disease around the markets. 
The Navy.—Five light-draught gunboats, the Princeton, Cas- 
tine, Helena, York town and Bennington, are on their way to 
Manila. They will be sent to every island in the Archipelago to 
extend American sovereignty. 
General Foreign News.—Felix Faure, president of the French 
Republic, died very suddenly February 16. His death was 
hastened by worry over the national crisis. He was 58 years old, 
the son of a hard-working cabinet-maker, and a tanner by trade. 
His domestic life was ideal, aRd he was a man of great force of 
character, strongly in sympathy with the plain people. Emile 
Loubet has been elected as his successor, by the Senate and 
Assembly. The anti-Dreyfus press attacks the new president 
savagely, and riotous demonstrations have been made against 
him in Paris. . . A collision between express trains at Liege, 
Belgium, February 18, killed 21 persons and injured 100 others. 
. . . The passengers of the disabled Cunard steamer Pavonia, 
after a dangerous trip, have been landed safely at the Azores. . . 
Trouble has arisen between Russians and Chinese at Ta-lien- 
Wan, and 300 Chinamen were killed. . . The revolution in 
Nicaragua is over, and the province is virtually independent. 
The revolution was managed by Americans at Blueflelds. Feb¬ 
ruary 21, the cruiser Detroit was ordered to Blueflelds to protect 
American interests. The Marietta is already there, but the Navy 
Department has been unable to communicate with her com¬ 
mander, and it is believed that official messages have been sup¬ 
pressed by the Nicaraguans. . . Germany has sent another wai - 
ship to Samoa. 
