166 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
orbitant transportation rates discourage production, dis¬ 
heartening those who would otherwise invest capital for 
increase and production and the blighting effect of the 
present freight and express charges on all kinds of nur¬ 
sery material are matters of common observation to 
those conversant with the present status of this industry. 
4. Every argument and consideration applicable to 
the reduction of transportation rates on farm products 
and other staple articles we submit, applies, with equal 
or double force to the transportation of nursery stock. 
5. As the trunk line associations are employed and 
act directly in and for the interest of the transportation 
companies, little or no confidence is or can be placed in 
any practical reduction of transportation charges 
through these associations, hence the appeal to the In¬ 
terstate Commerce Commission who can and do act in a 
fair and judicial capacity in determining these vital 
questions. 
6. May we also call your attention to the almost 
confiscatory and prohibitory charges now made on all 
nursery and plant material, by the American Railway 
Express Company? My company has had recently some 
aggravating experiences where the charges were so ex¬ 
cessive as to produce an unavoidable feeling of react¬ 
ionary antagonism which should not exist against a 
chartered corporation by the public having practically 
a monopolistic business under governmental control and 
where citizens require the service. 
As practical illustrations of this condition of exor¬ 
bitant and almost confiscatory transportation charges, 
we refer briefly to a few of the many instances recently 
occuring in our own shipments, to wit: 
One car trees in closed boxes C. L. in bulk, Charles 
City, la., to Mt. Kisco, N. Y., weight 6750 pounds, value 
of contents of car $195. Freight charge paid at local 
rates (although shipped on through Bill of Lading) 
$125.27. One car shrubs, C. L. in bulk, Cresco, Pa., to 
White Plains, N. Y., distance 124 miles, weight nominal, 
value $174.50. Freight charged at local rates, though 
shipped on through Bill of Lading, $83.20. 
Consignment by American Railway Express Co.; one 
closed box nursery stock from Elizabeth, N. J., to Bell¬ 
ingham, State of Washington, weight 550 lbs., value 
$45.00, express charges and shipment declined at des¬ 
tination on account of these fabulous charges $74.00— 
instead of less than $60, the correct amount. 
One closed box shrubs nominal weight from McMin- 
ville, Tenn., to Danbury, Conn., value $29.50, express 
charge paid, $19.00. Two closed boxes containing 18 
small 3 to 4 ft. Evergreens, from Troy, Ohio, to Mont¬ 
clair, N. J., weight 830 pounds, value $24.00, express 
charges paid, $26.00. 
Copies of the above were also submitted to Secretary 
Wallace, Senator Capper and others in official authority 
and cordial acknowledgments received in reply. One 
of these responses reads, as follows: 
“I appreciate, as you do, the importance of securing 
reduced rates on agricultural products and I can see no 
reason why nursery stock should not be included in 
such an appeal. It seems to me you make a strong 
showing. I shall be very glad to hold your interest in 
mind and render any helpful service I can.” 
Another favorable reply refers to: 
Nursery products are very closely associated to the 
American idea of civilization, and it is indeed grat¬ 
ifying to know that there are people still who are devot¬ 
ing their time and energies in the direction of a wide 
distribution of both fruit and ornamental varieties. We 
have very recently been in co-operation with those 
directly responsible for the Arbor Day message which 
was sent by radio to every part of our great country. 
“All very agreeable and so far so good”, says Mr. Kel¬ 
sey in an interview, “but what are we unfortunate ship¬ 
pers of nursery and plant stock going to do about it and 
recover from the powerful transportation companies 
these monstrous charges already paid for the kind of 
service rendered. We are called on in shipping to out¬ 
side points ‘to stand and deliver’ before we can obtain 
possession of our own property. 
“Then to try and get an adjustment of such confisca¬ 
tory charges or practically the same thing to obtain a 
refund on charges based on local rates on through Bill 
lading shipments—twenty per cent (20%) or more 
higher than through rates—and earn the amount a good 
many times over both in patience and expense in meet¬ 
ing the hagglings, the evasions, the delays, and unsatis¬ 
factory conduct generally of the shrewd, cunning law¬ 
yers paid by the year for just this method of tiring out 
claimants, no matter how large or small or how fair, 
just and honorable such claims for outrageous charges 
may he. 
“It would seem high time that there should now be a 
co-operative co-ordinated effort by all shippers of nur¬ 
sery and plant material to obtain from those in author¬ 
ity an overhauling of the destructive transportation 
charges based on a quid pro quo, of weight, value, and 
service, between the corporations and the public. 
“My company will co-operate in this movement for 
practical results along constructive lines and ready to do 
its share toward that end.” 
QUESTION AND ANSWER COLUMN 
How long does it take to grow trees suitable for 
street planting? 
B. H. 
It depends entirely on the kind of trees that are need¬ 
ed and also what specifications if any govern the size 
that is allowed to be planted on the streets. Some mun¬ 
icipalities will only permit trees to be planted that are 
2 to 2 y 2 inches in diameter of stem, six inches above 
the ground and branched not less than six feet from the 
ground. 
The soft wooded or fast growing trees such as the 
Carolina Poplar are not allowed to he planted in some 
towns and cities. Trees of the dimensions given above 
of the Carolina Poplar may he grown in from three to 
four years. Properly handled silver maples will attain 
the same size in from five to six years while Norway 
Maples which perhaps might be termed the standard 
street tree would take about eight years. The Oaks per¬ 
haps even a little longer. 
