1899 
THE RURAL NEW-YORKER. 
453 
Transportation of Hudson River Fruit 
HOW THE GROWERS ARE HAHDICAPPED. 
TWO REFORMS CALLED FOR. 
What the Transportation Companies Say. 
A meeting of the Committee on Transportation of 
the Eastern New York Horticultural Society was 
called at Newburg on June 7. J. A. Hepburn and the 
writer attended—the other members being detained by 
other business. The National Express Company sent a 
route agent to meet us. He listened to complaints 
and requests, but could not make definite promises 
or statements. He said that the Company will estab¬ 
lish a refrigerator-car service this season. It has 
ordered 16 cars already. The chief use for these cars 
will be for shipping perishable fruits to Boston or far 
western points. A service of 36 hours from the Hud¬ 
son to Chicago will be established. But little use 
for this service to New York will be made except for 
Saturday night shipping. 
Empty Crates. —The shippers around Marlboro 
submitted a petition to the River Transportation 
Company for better service on returned empty crates. 
At present, these empty crates are returned free, and 
the transportation companies have little respect for 
them. They are dumped out of the car or boat, and 
piled in yard or dock without supervision or care. 
Farmers drive up and help themselves to crates with¬ 
out giving any receipt or check. Many farmers use 
crates which are supplied by the New York commis¬ 
sion men, having but few of their own. The com¬ 
mission men send up the crates, which are frequently 
the same as were used in shipping fruit from the 
South. Sometimes a farmer will order 100 crates, and 
the commission men send them up by boat, they being 
carried free of cost. They are put on the dock, and 
the farmer who ordered them may come late with 
his wagon, and find that some one else has carried 
off the crates that were intended for him. The shippers 
want some system of supervision, so that these empties 
will be carried and delivered like other freight. 
Don’t Lik« “ Empties.”— About four years ago, 
most growers shipped in their own crates. The con¬ 
test over gift packages induced some commission men 
to guarantee the crates to their customers. Many of 
these crates are made in the South. They are first 
used by the southern growers, and shipped to the 
North, the commission man paying half the cost of 
the crate. It does not pay to ship the empties back 
to the South, and so they are frequently sent up the 
River, to be filled with fruit, and shipped back. One 
result of this has been that both shipper and trans¬ 
portation company have little respect for an empty 
crate, and the present system of handling them in 
docks and yards causes great annoyance. The National 
Express Company representative merely listened to 
this petition, and said that, as they got nothing for 
carrying the empties, he could not see that his com¬ 
pany should go to any expense in caring for them. It 
was pointed out that the company charges enough 
for carrying the full crate more than to make up for 
returning the empty. But to this he had nothing to 
say. W. H. Weston, President of the Consolidated 
Transportation Company, promised to consider the 
petition, although he said that it would be hard to 
arrange the matter fairly. He says the boats bring 
back thousands of empty crates for nothing. Many 
of these crates never go back on the boat, as fruit 
growers get them free of cost, and then ship them to 
other points over other transportation lines. He saw 
the necessity of some sort of supervision, but did not 
know just how it could be done. 
Pay for Them.— He said “ Let the growers pay a 
small price for carrying these empty crates, and we 
will consider the plan of charging less for those crates 
when they go back filled with fruit.” He admitted 
that the present rate on fruit was supposed to cover 
the cost of returning the empties, but he fell back 
upon the old idea that because nothing is paid for 
these empties, they should not be classed as legitimate 
freight, so that the Company is held responsible for 
them. He says every Spring, docks and storehouses 
are filled with empty crates, and nobody knows to 
whom they belong. If some scheme of paying freight 
on the empties could be devised, the Company would 
take charge of them, and he thought a cut in trans¬ 
portation could be made, so that the cost of carrying 
the full crate and returning the empty would not be 
greater than at present. 
Freight on Strawberries. —Mr. Weston says that 
his Company has reduced the cost of carrying a crate 
of strawberries from 20 to 17 cents. 
“ Why should it cost more to carry a crate of straw¬ 
berries than a crate of currants ? ” 
We asked that question of both men. The express 
agent said that the standard weight of a crate of 
strawberries is 50 pounds ; the standard weight of a 
crate of currants is 40 pounds, therefore, the express 
company charges 25 per cent more for carrying a crate 
of strawberries because it is supposed to weigh that 
much more than the currants. He gave no other 
reason for the extra cost. Mr. Weston did not con¬ 
sider the weight question, apparently. He said his 
company reduced the rate on strawberries because 
the farmers demonstrated that the price had fallen, 
and that they were paying too large a proportion of 
the price for transportation. The cost of carrying a 
crate of strawberries is now 17 cents, with five cents 
added at the dock for cartage. This is a saving of 
three cents a crate, or a present total of 22 cents. 
With strawberries averaging 50 pounds to the crate, 
this makes a cost of $8.80 per ton. During the grape 
season, the boats carry grapes for $4 a ton. The cost 
of handling the grapes is greater, for the carriers 
generally carry two baskets at a time, while they 
carry one crate of strawberries at a trip. 
“Why should not strawberries be carried at ton 
rates ?” 
The answer to this was that the strawberry season is 
a short one, requiring extra work and extra hands. 
This did not seem to cover the question. 
Difference in Kates.— Mr. Weston said, when 
asked about this difference in rates, that they tried 
to make their classifications so as to get most freight. 
When other sections began to compete in the New 
York market, with certain products, a transportation 
company found it necessary to regulate its rates so as 
to make it profitable for the farmers to raise that 
product. Here was the very point in a nutshell. It 
was pointed out to Mr. Weston how, all over the 
country, farmers are producing berries, grapes and 
other fruits, which are also grown in the Hudson 
River Valley. Other sections are obtaining better 
freight service, and thus are able to put their products 
into the market so that they compete fiercely with 
those from the Hudson River Valley. Unless the 
Hudson River farmer can secure fair transportation 
rates, he will be driven out of his business; that is, 
he will raise less and less of the products which now 
provide the best-paying freight carried on the boats. 
The interest of the transportation company and 
the farmers is largely identical, and the transporta¬ 
tion company must make it an object to farmers to 
produce fruit if they hope to keep up their freight. 
To this Mr. Weston replied that the Company pro¬ 
posed to be fair to all, that he would not charge the 
small farmer any more for carrying freight than he 
would a large producer. 
“Combination” Freight Kates.— “But,” was 
asked, “ suppose 50 farmers were to make a combina¬ 
tion, and pool their issues on shipping. Tney then come 
to you and say, ‘We expect to ship between June 1 
and November 1, 5,000 tons of fruit, and we will give 
that shipment to the company that offers us the best 
rate.’ What would you say to that ? ” 
Mr. Weston said that his own opinion would be that 
he would not make any reduced rates in a case of this 
kind. He said it would not be fair to the small grower. 
“ But, suppose these small growers combined ; they 
could in that way secure better rates on their ferti¬ 
lizer, their flour, their tools, their plants and trees ; 
in fact, on any articles they buy ; yet, you would not 
encourage combination by giving them advantage of 
a wholesale shipping rate ? ” 
To this, Mr. Weston had little to say, except that 
he considered the transportation business different 
from any other in this respect. He promised to con¬ 
sider the matter of crate returns, although he said he 
could not see any practical way for handling the mat¬ 
ter, unless some change was made that would give 
the Company something for returning the empties. 
In spite of this answer about wholesale rates for ship¬ 
ping fruit, I will guarantee that, if 50 farmers at any 
point would pool their issues in this way, they would 
receive a very respectful hearing. In fact, this is one 
way out for the Hudson River grower. The various 
steamboat lines have combined to secure economies in 
their business. It seems strange if they are to dis¬ 
courage farmers from attempting something of the 
same thing. H. W. C. 
Events of the Week. 
Domestic.—The Texas Health Department has refused to 
admit freight from New Orleans, even after disinfection, owing 
to fear of yellow fever. As a result of two deaths in Chicago, In 
which the victims were treated by Christian scientists, the 
Board of Health will compel the employment of medical attend¬ 
ants. . . At Lowell, Mass., the editor of the Morning Mail was 
fined 1100 for soliciting custom for liquor dealers by Inserting 
liquor advertisements, and a similar charge has been filed 
against the owner of the paper. Lowell Is a no-license town. . . 
A train on the Union Pacific Railroad was held up June 2, near 
Wilcox, Wyo. The express car was blown open, and the con¬ 
tents secured by the robbers. . . Two Chicago women, mother 
and daughter, have become mentally deranged through the 
study of Christian science, one of them believing that she was 
divinely commissioned to kill and sacrifice young children for 
the salvation of unbelievers. The women have been committed 
to a sanitarium for treatment. . . A sharp earthquake was 
experienced throughout northern and central California, June 
2. . . A business alliance has been formed between the well- 
known publishing firm of Harper & Bros, and the S. S. McClure 
Company, publishers of McClure’s Magazine. The idea seems to 
be that a combination of thlB kind will render possible publish¬ 
ing plans which will be advantageous to both firms. . . The 
new Spanish minister, the Duke d’Arcos, was formally presented 
to President McKinley at the Executive Mansion on June 3. . . 
Lightning-rod swindlers have been fleecing the farmers in 
Gloucester County, N. J. . . The American Malting Company, 
of New York, has purchased the entire line of over 30 elevators 
along the lines of the Chicago, Mil waukee & St. Paul, Chicago 
& Northwestern, and the Winona & Southwestern Railways. . . 
The History Committee of the Grand Army of Confederate Vet¬ 
erans of Virginia adopted resolutions against the use of certain 
school histories in the public or private schools of Virginia, on 
the ground of their unfairness to the South. . . Prank Thom¬ 
son, president of the Pennsylvania Railroad Company, died at 
his home near Philadelphia on the evening of June 5, in his 58th 
year. He had risen from an apprenticeship in the shops of the 
company to the presidency of one of the greatest railroads in the 
world. It is said that he could not only build an engine com¬ 
plete, but was also able to run it as an expert engineer. . . 
There is an active contest for the position of speaker of the 
next House of Representatives, to succeed Thos. B. Reed. Gen. 
Henderson, of Iowa, a one-legged veteran, seems likely to be 
chosen. . . Gov. Mount, of Indiana, is seriously ill. . . The Com¬ 
monwealth Roofing Company, of Brooklyn, N. Y., with a capital 
of *500,000, and the Liquid Air Refrigeration and Power Com¬ 
panies, of New York, with a capital of $10,000,000, were incor¬ 
porated in Delaware, June 5. . . The International Navigation 
Company, owners of the stranded steamship Paris, have given 
her up to the underwriters. The Paris was insured for $1,000,000 
in 30 or 40 companies, about 15 of them New York companies. 
Her cargo was insured for $242,000. The underwriters will make 
one more effort to pull her off the rocks, and failing in this, will 
begin the work of breaking her up. . . The Guggenheim Ex¬ 
ploration Company, whose alleged object is to explore for mines, 
and whose capital is $6,000,000, was incorporated at Trenton, N. 
J., June 5. . . Somebody in Baiting Hollow, L. I., stole the 
foundation of a small church one night last week. . . The 
pastor of a church in Jersey City, last Sunday evening, requested 
that all women wearing high hats would remove them. . . 
Congressman Richard P. Bland, of silver-dollar fame, is at the 
point of death at his home in Lebanon, Mo. . . Mrs. Mary 
Miller, the Christian scientist whose Incantations rendered 
necessary the amputation of the foot of a 12-year-old girl, has 
been sentenced to five months’ Imprisonment in the Kings County 
Penitentiary. . . A project is on foot to make a public park of 
the burned district on Coney Island. . . The Mazet Committee 
of the New York legislature is still at work unearthing corrup¬ 
tion In the city government of New York. . . Negotiations are 
reported to be in progress for the consolidation of the American 
Sugar Refining and Glucose Sugar Refining Companies. . . 
June 0 was the hottest June day in the history of the New York 
Weather Bureau, whose records extend back 27 years. The 
highest temperature officially recorded at the Weather Bureau 
was 98 degrees at 3 p. m , but on the street, it was a good many 
degrees warmer. . . Martin O’Malley, a crossing flagman on 
the Milwaukee Railroad tracks in Chicago, was instantly killed 
in rescuing a four-year-old girl from in front of a train. . . 
Anthracite coal prices are to be advanced 25 cents a ton after 
July 1. . . A baby at Wappinger’s Falls rolled over a 60-foot 
precipice in her carriage and although badly bruised, escaped 
serious Injury. . . Sheriff Hazen, in pursuit of the Union Pa¬ 
cific train robbers, was killed in a fight with them, in a gulch 
where they were forced to abandon their horses. . . A New 
York law passed in 1894, making the Moose River and its tribu¬ 
taries in the Adirondack region, public highways for the floating 
of logs and timber, has been declared unconstitutional. . . Men 
armed with rifles are guarding toll gates in the vicinity of Mays- 
vllle, Ky. . . The kidnappers of baby Marion Clarke were in¬ 
dicted in this city June 5. The first Indictment is against Geo. 
W. Barrow, otherwise known as Mark Beauregard, otherwise 
James W. Wilson. The second is against Addle Barrow, known 
as Addie Beauregard, otherwise Jennie Wilson. The third is 
against Carrie Jones, known as Bella Anderson. The last Is 
the nurse who abducted the child and was captured near Sum¬ 
mit, N. J. The detectives discovered the clothing worn by the 
Clarke baby in apirtments in this City previously occupied by 
the Barrows. 
Farm and Garden.—The Winter wheat crop of southern 
Russia, according to Odessa reports, has been destroyed by pro¬ 
tracted drought. The Spring wheat crop is In danger. . . Hes¬ 
sian Hy is ravaging the wheat in western New York. . . Farm¬ 
ers at Smyrna, Del , intend to start a steamboat line to Phila¬ 
delphia, to carry their freight. This is to fight a steamship com¬ 
pany which has bought out competitors for the purpose of 
holding up freight rates. . . Near Eskridge, Kan., 39 farmers 
and their teams went to the home of a widow who had lost her 
husband the previous week, and planted 75 acres of corn. . . 
The New York State Board of Health has inaugurated a crusade 
against adulterated food products. Particular attention is at¬ 
tracted to flour, sugar, tea, coffee and similar articles of con. 
sumption and fruit products, including extracts used in flavoring 
soda water. Samples of all these are secured by purchase 
throughout the State. . . At the stockyards in Chicago, June 
5, Gov. Tanner witnessed the slaughter of 27 cows, the test con¬ 
ducted by the State Board of Health and the State Board of Live 
Stock Commissioners; 25 were found to be in an advanced state 
of consumption, and the other two had well-developed cases. 
This herd came from a dairy farm that supplies the Governor’s 
household with milk. . . The Northwestern Plow and Imple¬ 
ment Association is the new name for the Northwestern Plow 
Association, a 25-year-old organization, the new organization in¬ 
cluding all makers of riding and walking plows, corn planters, 
cultivators and harrows. An advance in the price of these im¬ 
plements of 20 per cent was decided upon, this advance to apply 
on business done in 1900. . . Severe and long-continued drought 
is working serious damage to farmers and gardeners in this 
vicinity, and a shortage of many products is likely, with much 
higher prices. The total rainfall in this vicinity during the 
months of April and May was but 2.28 inches; the average for 
these two months during the last 29 years has been 6 43. . . A 
New York man convicted of selling oleomargarine as creamery 
butter, was sent to the penitentiary for four months. . . Re¬ 
frigerated beef from Australia was issued to our troops at Manila 
after being In cold storage eight months, and was as fresh and 
good as when first put in. Why shouldn’t our beef show as good 
a record ? 
General Foreign News.—Lleut-Col. du Paty de Clam, impli¬ 
cated before the French Court of Cassation as the probable in¬ 
stigator of some of the forgeries in the Dreyfus ease, was arrested 
in Paris June 1. . . A committee of the Peace Conference de¬ 
cided June 1 in favor of excluding flattened or explosive bullets 
from the uses of warfare. . . Spain has ceded the Ladrones, 
Carolines and Palaos Islands in the Pacific, to Germany. . . 
The British House of Commons voted Lord Kitchener, Sirdar of 
the Egyptian forces, a grant of £39,351. . . The issue of the 
New York Herald containing the song Hoch der KaiBer, has been 
suppressed in Berlin. . . President Loubet, of France, and his 
escort were attacked b: rioters at the races near Paris on June 4. 
The rioting was instigated by the royalists, a large number of 
whom were arrested. The French Ministry has acted vigorously 
against all disturbers. . . Capt. Dreyfus was transferred from 
prison June 8, and started on his return to France, where he is to 
have a new trial which, probably, means acquittal. . . It is 
now reported that the trouble in Samoa is over, and that the 
adherents of both factions have surrendered their arms. . t 
Johann Straus, the famous composer, died in Vienna, June 3, and 
was Varied with great honors on June 6. . . The Arbitration 
Committee of the Peace Conference, in session at the Hague, has 
drafted a scheme of mediation. 
