Efforts to Secure Better Shipping Facilities 
and Rates. 
By B. J. C. Chase. 
Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen : 
It is recognized that we have entered 
upon an era of economy all over the 
world. The factor of shipping facilities 
and freight rates is important in the cost 
of an article to the consumer. The less 
value there is in an article the greater 
the importance of the element of freight 
cost. We do not undertake to say that 
the rates in general are too high or too 
low. All we ask is a square deal and 
equitable rates compared with other sec¬ 
tions. Rates that are given to other sim¬ 
ilarly situated localities producing com¬ 
modities that are marketed in competition 
with ours. This is a very complex 
question and we do not undertake to pass 
judgment on whether general freight 
rates are too low or too high. We merely 
say that when rates are established, Flor¬ 
ida and Florida products are entitled to 
equitable consideration. 
The Florida Fruit and Vegetable 
Shippers’ Protective Association was or¬ 
ganized in Jacksonville, Fla., January 30, 
1907, by Florida growers and shippers 
upon a call issued by the Gainesville Melon 
Growers’ Association to co-operate in the 
establishment of carload rates and car¬ 
load minimums on Florida vegetables to 
eastern markets. The purpose of the or¬ 
ganization was afterwards changed to se¬ 
cure more equitable rates of transporta¬ 
tion to all markets on all Florida fruits 
and vegetables, material and supplies per¬ 
taining thereto and to otherwise protect 
the interests of the fruit and vegetable 
growers and shippers of the State of 
Florida. 
Investigation developed the fact that 
Florida fruits and vegetables were called 
upon to meet constantly increasing com¬ 
petition from like commodities from 
Cuba, Jamaica and Porto Rico, Califor¬ 
nia, Mississippi and other states market¬ 
ing competitive products at the same time. 
Upon comparing rates it was found that 
these like commodities grown elsewhere 
were favored with lower freight rates 
whether based upon the package or upon 
the hundred weight and whether trans¬ 
ported by water, by rail and water, or by 
all-rail. 
At the time of the formation of this 
association Florida rates had been in ef¬ 
fect between twenty and thirty years and 
little or no effort had been made during 
that time to better conditions. While 
carload rates and carload minimums were 
in effect to western markets no carload 
rates or carload minimums (except on 
cantaloupes) were in effect to eastern 
markets. In spite of the alleged water 
competition, rates were and still are high- 
