118 
THE NATIONAL NURSERYMAN 
WHAT THE AMERICAN ASSOCIATION IS DOING FOR 
ALL NURSERYMEN 
The National Association is working for the interests of 
the Nursery Trade as a whole. No Nurseryman can 
conscientiously receive the benefits without 
becoming a member 
To All Members: 
TRANSPORTAION. 
April 17, the following was issued and distributed to all rail¬ 
road officials: 
AMERICAN RAILROAD ASSOCIATION 
COMMISSION ON CAR SERVICE 
718 EIGHTEENTH STREET NORTHWEST 
WASHINGTON, D. C., April 17th, 1920. 
W. C. Kendall, Chairman Pile 516-142. 
W. L. Barnes, 
A. G. Gutheim, 
W. J. McGarry, 
Complaints in considerable volume are reaching us and the In¬ 
terstate Commerce Commission as well, from nurserymen in var¬ 
ious parts of the country, indicating that there is little uniform¬ 
ity among the various roads with respect to exempting nursery 
stock, a highly seasonal and semi-perishable commodity, from em¬ 
bargoes. 
To establish a uniform practice, it appears to be important at 
this season, and it is therefore suggested, that whenever general 
embargoes are placed which exempt food, feed, perishable freight, 
live stock and fuel, that such seasonal articles as field and garden 
seed, seed grain, and nursery stock, be considered next in order of 
importance to receive preference in transoortation. 
W. C. Kendall, Chairman. 
Since the roads were returned to private ownership 
and control on March 1, the American Railroad Associa¬ 
tion has occupied the only position of central direction 
and while it acts in an advisory capacity, its suggestions 
have the weight of orders. 
It will be noticed that the urgency of the situation 
gives Nursery Stock a far more favorable rating in 
priority than did Circular CS—A1 of the former classifi¬ 
cation under Government control. 
Also, it gives special emphasis to Nursery Stock by 
making it the sole subject of a general circular. 
This action was taken as the result of conferences with 
the Secretary of Agriculture, the Interstate Commerce 
Commission and at the request of various Members of 
Con gress. 
Prompt handling of Nursery Stock new depends only 
on the physical ability of the roads to move their freight; 
our goods are given preferential handling after only such 
vital necessities as food and fuel. 
Yours truly, 
John Watson, 
Secretary American Association of Nurserymen. 
Princeton, N. J., April 19, 1920. 
LETTER FROM SECRETARY JOHN WATSON 
Princeton, New Jeisey, April 26, 1920. 
To the Members of the A. A. ot N.: 
If this reaches the Editor in time and if he has still 
some unoccupied space, I want to make just a short re¬ 
port to you. We have all been so busy with this trans¬ 
portation situation that we have had little time to think 
of much else. 
On my return from Washington the first of the week, 
I mailed each of you a report including the Circular is¬ 
sued by Chairman Kendall of the Car Service Commis¬ 
sion of the American Railroads Association. After the 
return of the roads to private ownership and control on 
March first, it was difficult to find the central head of 
authority in transportation matters. It appeared that 
under paragraphs 16 and 16 of the Esch-Cummins Rill 
that turned the roads back, very broad powers had been 
given to the Interstate Commerce Commission and so I 
went to Secretary McGinty. While it was admitted that 
the I. C. C. could act, it declined to do so. I judged that 
the Commission did not wish to embarrass the roads 
just at this time and under the distressing circum¬ 
stances, by taking action that would be in effect placing 
the roads where they were under the Director General 
of Transportation. And as the railroads did not want 
that, the effective urging to action relieving our situa¬ 
tion had to come through the Interstate Commerce Com¬ 
mission to whom, as you know, our appeals were di¬ 
rected through Senators and Congressmen. Dr. Taylor 
of the Rureau of Plant Industry, Mr. White and Mr. Liv¬ 
ingston of the Rureau of Markets and Secretary Mere¬ 
dith himself were all very active in our behalf, the 
Secretary writing out and personally delivering to the 
I. C. C. a statement of the urgency of the situation. The 
promptness of members in wiring their representatives 
was an example of the effectiveness of team-work. 
If stuff does not now move at once, it will be because 
the roads are still handicapped by the congestion of ac¬ 
cumulated freight, the lack of rolling-stock, none hav¬ 
ing been bought during government control, and by lack 
of men. The latter have not returned to woork. Many 
have but many thousands are still out. 
The express company has been tendered much more 
than it can carry with its equipment of cars and men. 
The express people ask our co-operation to the extent 
that we depend on them only for transportation of ex¬ 
press, leaving the freight to the railroads. Everybody 
is willing to pay express charges to get quick transpor¬ 
tation but the situation is beyond the physical ability of 
the roads and the express to handle all the traffic. We 
have assurances from all sides that we will get the best 
service possible with the equipment. If shipments are 
refused it is because in such cases, to accept what can¬ 
not be transported in fair time is to invite claims. If we 
chafe under these restrictions, we can bear in mind that 
Washington is full of early-fruit anad vegetable grow¬ 
ers from the South, whose stuff is rotting in the field for 
lack of cars to carry it. 
Radge Rook —I will mail you a circular on that in a 
few days. On account of the situation in the printing 
industry all over the country, we have to hand in our 
copy early to get it out on time. Will you be getting 
your advertisement written up for the Radge Book so 
as to send it to me as soon as you hear from me? 
Exhibits— You might pack up some of that good 
stock and put it in storage for showing at the Conven¬ 
tion. Write A. M. Augustine, Chairman Arrangements 
Committee, Normal, Illinois. He will tell you about 
cold-storage facilities in Chicago. 
Dinner —There will be an informal get-together din¬ 
ner Tuesday night, the 22nd at the Congress Hotel with 
everybody and bis family and the neighbors on hand. 
It is a good idea for everybody to get acquainted with 
everybody else in preparation for the Big Meeting. Mem- 
