THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
91 
FREIGHT CLASSIFICATION. 
Committee Calls Attention to Need for Prompt Action—Suggests 
that Special Committee be Appointed to Confer with 
Railroad Classification Committee, East, ffesf 
and South—The Report. 
The report of the committee on transportation, presented 
by E. Albertson, of Bridgeport, Ind., one of the most im¬ 
portant matters before the convention at Atlanta, is as 
follows: 
The Committee on Transportation has nothing t.o report 
in actual results accomplished. As reported last year, it 
was not thought best to bother the railroad officials with 
petitons for revision of rates or classifications while they 
were already overloaded with business. 
But it seems that advantage has been taken of us in some 
matters and that it is time now when the Association should 
appoint a “special” committee to meet with the Western 
Classification Committee, which meets in Manitou, Colo., July 
July 12th; and also the Eastern Trunk Line or Official Class- 
ficatiort Committee, which meets in New York in October, 
and if possible secure a revision of rates and classifications. 
In the Eastern or Official Classification we should insist 
on and do all in our power to secure the third class rate on 
trees in boxes, of which we had the benefit until two years 
ago, when it was raised to second class, making an average 
increase of about thirty per cent. 
Also we should work for change in their classification of 
seedlings as plants instead of trees, which change was made 
by them last January. This change affects especially impor¬ 
tations where the consular invoice accompanies way bill, 
showing contents, and does not affect shipments originating 
here which are billed as trees and railroad officials or inspectors 
do not see invoices—but if this goes unnoticed they will 
make other oppressive changes. 
Effect of Rate Change. 
As a sample of effect of above change, last season we had 
an importation of about 17,000 pounds in one shipment, 
billed out of New York by Merchants Despatch Transporta¬ 
tion Company as car trees at thirty cents per 100, but when 
the papers came before the Official Trunk Line Inspector 
the rate was raised to seventy-five cents per 100, a difference 
of forty-five cents per 100, or over $75 there being no carload 
rate. On several other shipments we had the same exper¬ 
ience, and have not yet been able to get refund. 
While other seedlings are classified and rated as plants, 
osage hedge is rated as trees. Why there should be this 
difference we do not know. 
In the classification on carloads we do not think we have 
been hurt any, as they have given us a minimum of 16,000 
pounds on cars not over thirty-six feet six inches in length 
nside measure, 20,000 pounds minimum applying to cars, 
not over forty feet six inches. Cars over fifty feet six inches 
taking a minimum of 40,000 pounds, with proportionate 
minimums for cars between these lengths. Carloads taking 
fifth class rate, which is about the same as rate “ B ” in Western 
Classification. 
Now in the Western Classification we have been notified 
by some of the Western Nurserymen of a proposed change 
from the flat minimum of 20,000 pounds regardless of size 
of car to a minimum of 20,000 pounds on thirty-six feet cars, 
which would make forty feet cars 22,400 pounds and fifty 
feet cars 28,400 pounds. 
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After much correspondence we found some of the larger 
Western nurserymen very much opposed to any change, 
claiming it would be a great hardship to them. While others 
thought if the Western Classification Committee could be 
induced to adopt the Eastern Classification with a minimum 
of 16,000 pounds, on thirty-six feet cars it would be an 
advantage. So we did not know what to ask of the members 
of the committee, owing to so much difference as to what 
would be to their interest, but after much correspondence 
the writer met Mr. McDonald in Chicago, the 8th inst., and 
after talking the matter over we concluded we were not in 
position to go before the members of the Classification Com¬ 
mittee and ask anything, but that it, was best to refer the 
whole matter to the Association for discussion and instruction. 
We called on the Acting Chairman of the Western Classi¬ 
fication Committee and in conversation with him am led to 
think that if we appear before their committee with request 
that no change be made it would be granted and that possibly 
we might be able to secure the adoption of the Eastern Class¬ 
ification, so that it would all be uniform. But that we would 
have to appear before the sub-committee, which will meet 
about the 6th, as they would receive and hear us and report 
to the committee. We have the names of the subcommittee. 
We think the Western Wholesale Nurseryman’s Associa¬ 
tion have also taken this matter up and have been working 
on it, do not know just what they have done, but understand 
they will also have a committee to meet the Classification 
Committee, and it would certainly be advisable that the 
special committee of the National Nurseryman’s Association 
should be instructed and act in harmony with this committee. 
Perhaps F. W. Stannard can tell us something* of how the 
matter stands with the Wholesale Association, as understand 
he is president and has had the matter in charge. 
Do not know of anything else to report at this time, but 
would urge that action be taken at once to protect our inter¬ 
ests at the meetings of both of the Classifications Committees, 
and that strong committees be appointed and fully instructed 
by this Association. 
Obituary. 
William S. Failing, of East Portland, Ore., died May 24. aged 64 
years. 
Cyrus M. Kauffman, of Brownville, Neb., died at Tippecanoe, Ind., 
last month. 
Thomas Smith, Stranraer, Scotland, died May IS, aged 84 years 
He had been in the nursery business in Scotland 43 years. 
Melville C. Reynolds, secretary of the Albaugh Nursery and Orchard 
Company, died at his home in Phoneton, Ohio, on May 20. He was 
born in Western Pennsylvania, and was 62 years of age. He had 
been secretary of the firm 25 years. 
The fifteenth annual report of the Missouri Botanical Garden con¬ 
tains reports for the year by the director and officers of the board : 
also scientific papers and a list of library contributions. 
