The Dawson journal., 1883-08-09
What Mr., o. b. Stevens Thinks
of the Melon Business.

We never saw a man iilbre in
demand and more eagerly 6ourted
by his many friends than has been
Mr.. 0. b. Stevens since his returu
from the great watermelon eentre.
1t is certainly very fiattefing to
Mr.. Stevens to meet with such an
ovation on his return to his hottie;
He had been absent nearly tvs
months, and had gone mainly in
the interest of the melon growers
of this immediate section. Indeed;
his trip had been purely an expez
riment, his object being to test the
melon business thoroughly for
himself, and, now, that he has
done so, as an honest man, in
whom the people have implicit
confidence, he is ready to make
his report.
After giving him good time to
shake hands with his many friends;
a representative of the JOURNAD
approached him on last Tuesday
morning to know his opinion and
views Of the melon business after
having tested it by actual expert
ence, The reporter found Mr..
Stevens inclined to keep back moth
ing, but, upon the contrary, as he
had gone in the interest of the
people from this section he felt it
to be duty to give them the full
benefit of his experience.
"How much money did you
make as the result of your trip on
melons?' asked the reporter.
"Well, sir" said Mr.. Stevens,
Il paid my expenses while absent
and landed at home on last Sun
day evening with 81. rs more mon
ey than | started with"
'1s it true that you only made
SLIPS above actual expensesp'
''Most emphatically, sir, it is; and
/ had to work very hard and live
very close to do that"
''This being true, Mr.: Stevens,
the reporter naturally infets that
you have had enough of the melon
business.
''Not at all, sir; such an infer
ence would be entirely erroneous.
Upon the contrary / have demon
strated to my perfect satisfaction"
said Mr.. Stevens, "that the melon
business is a big success" Con-
tinued Mr.. Stevens, "while it is
true that | have made no money /
think l got at least $500 worth of
experience; and, besides, | shall be
able another season to turn this
experience to a good account, both
in the interest of myself and the
planter too"
"Why did the melon business
not pan out better this year?"
Because, in the first place, the
freights have been too high. In
the second plate the producer has
shipped any and all kinds. Of stock.
regardless of quality. 1t is a great
mistake to ship any. but the best
of melons. From this point I'd
st. Louis the fright on car load
of MELONS has been $780,, whereas
it should not exceed $40"
"Do you think the freights will
be cheaper another season p"
Decidedly. I think not more
than half of what it has been dura
ing the present seasof1."
ado you think enough of the
business Mr.. Stevens to plant mel
ons yourself?"
II do. At any rate / shall
plant another season.. I do not
wish; however, to be understood as
saying that there are fabulous for
tunes in this business; but if it is
well directed and well managed
there is quite as much money in
the melon business as may be
found in anything else. Besides,
the facilities for handling the mel
on crop will BE greatly improved
upon by another yeSrJ and / think
parties fatorably Situated for. the
cultivation and handling of melons
will always find money III them