Bridgeton pioneer. (Bridgeton, N.J.) 1884-1919, 1888-02-16
FOR $500 PER TON.
What the Tomato Growers
Want.

eoli"toes- puV tiieFe were TWO hundred
and eight persons in the Court
House in the afternoon who believed
there would be, and they were
there for the purpose of demanding
that they should be paid $500 per ton
for what they should grow. Last year
they received 5000 per ton, while in
Gloucester county they received 81 co.
The farmers claim that there is no
profit in raising tomatoes at the old
price. An acre of ground will raise
tomatoes sufficient to fill 400 cans, and
it is said that the packers make 2 cents
per can on what they packed, hence
the action of the farmers
The meeting was called to order, Mr..
William 0. Garrison, naming John
Tyler, Jr., Of Greenwich, for President.
That gentleman declining, Mr.. B.
Frank Maui, also of Greenwich, was
made chairman; Mr.. Thomas Ware
was made Secretary of the meeting
Chairman Maui opened the meeting
with few preparatory remarks. He
said the meeting was called TO give
the farmers an opportunity to protect
themselves and gaining for themselves
a fair recompense. He urged that
every member should stick to what
ever arrangement might be made
among themselves. He did not believe
that farmers as a rule would not stick
to their agreements, as has been stated.
He knew from his own experience that
the allegation was false. His motto
for the association was to be fair to
themselves and as we'll as the packers.
If you get a good price for your toma
toes, you must give the packers a fair
article.
BY request Mr. w O. Garrison
announced that Prof Cook, of the
State Experimental Station, New
Brunswick, would lecture in the Court
House next Thursday, and all the
farmers of the county were requested
to be present.
The chairman also remarked after
MIR. Garrison made his statement, that
the farmers should form an organiza-
tion as we'll as other industries, and
J ohm Tyler Jr, then made a motion
that was carried. that the farmers
should organize under the title of the
Cumberland County Association ol
Tomato Growers.
The following committee, one from
each township, were appointed to
draw up resolutions; (appointed by the
chair)-John w. Laning, of Fairfield
Alfred Studains, of Hopewell; Samuel
NJ. Watson, of Greenwich; John tar
rison, of Stow Creek; Adam johnson,
of Deerfield township, and G. Swart
out, Lawrence township. The com
mittee immediately retired to tho
Grand Jury room for deliberation.
"A representative from Greenwich
township, said that down his way the
growers had formed an organization
andthey had been called the Knights o
Labor. He thought inasmuch as the
farmers had TO wait until near mid
night to get away from the factories
and be there again before daylight tc
get their place, they were pretty neal
Might (of) Laborers.
a Bridgeton gentleman who owned
a compile of farms, said his tenant sale
that he would grow no tomatoes fol
less than $500 per ton.
A Hopewell farmer stated that the
growers of the township had orga
nized for $500 per ton, but that they
as an organization were willing to
abide by the decision of the County
! Association.
The Chairman stated that if the
tomato packers did not care to give
what the Association decided was 4
fair price, they could not preve II
them from raising potatoes and corn
These products, he said, were good
paying ones and the farmers would
! not make cent less money The
gentleman said that the packers had
made two cents upon every can they
packed and they should pay fair
price for tomatoes. The packing bus
mess was good and the farmers never
had a better opportunity to organize
for protection, than at present.
! The Committee on Resolutions then
returned with the following, which
were adopted:
Resolred, That the organization be
known as the Cumberland County
Tomato Growers Association, which
shall consist of President, four Wee
Presidents, and a Secretary, who shall
act as Treasurer.
| Resolred, That this Association shall
i hold an annual meeting on the first
Monday in January OF each year.
Resotred. That the price of tomatoes
shall be 81 90 this year, and that the
price shall be regulated hereafter, at
| each annual meeting.
This last resolution provoked con