Smyrna times., 1888-04-11
Fruit and Produce Exchange.
A SUBSTANTIAL ORGANIZATION OF
GROWERS AND BUYERS,

GROWERS AND BUYERS.
The Fruit and Produce Exchange
which was organized at Baltimore last
week, by a conjunction of Eastern
Shore fruit growers with Baltimore
merchants, appears to be on a good
deal more substantial basis than any,
thing of the kind ever attempted in
the Peninsula. OF the proposed $1O,-
600 capital $4,000 was subscribed on
Monday night and the Baltimore mer-
chants pledged themselves to subscribe
$1,000 if it was necessary. The East
ern ShOremen did not deem it neces-
sary. They propose to control the ex-
change, having nine out of the twelve
directors, and hence they are willing
also to subscribe the majority
of the stock. One of the Baltimore
banks will establish a branch on the
wharf, to be used by the exchange,
thus enabling members to do their bus
iness on the spot. J. P R. Polk, ESQ.,,
of Wilmington, was largely instrument
tai in bringing about last Mondays
action at Baltimore, and the american
of that city, reported his remarks as
follows:
Mr.. Polk said "The business has
so expanded during the past three
years that three hundred cars of fruit
daily pass over the Delaware road to
New York. Three million new trees
have been planted, and we must look
ahead. The bureau of fruit distribu-
ton proposes to so arrange its tele-
graph system that any one having a
car shipped to New York can order his
car shipped to any one of the three
hundred towns to which the bureau
may distribute, according as the de-
mand indicates whether the market of
New York, Philadelphia, or any of the
three hundred places is the best. Thus,
in one minute the whole Peninsula can
know that New York is full, and what
cities are the best to ship to-"
Mr.. Polk, who owns two large fruit
farms on the Peninsula, also said he
only shipped to Philadelphia because
in Baltimore he could only sell to can
ners and could not reship. Said he ::
Now, if you had wharf floats along
the wharf with cars you could compete
in fruit all along the Peninsula, and
the bulk of the trade of Kent county
would come here. The way to do it is
to have competent paid agents to can
vass for the trade throughout that ter
rltory, and give to local agents COM
mission on subscriptions to your ex-
change, and also have another subscip-
ton paper for those who do not sub
scribe, but agree to ship fruit to the ex-
change. The association can charge
once cent per basket to all fruit ship
ped to commission merchants through
the exchange. The great thing needed
is a concentrated effort throughout the
whole area, and we have got to go in
prepared to wia and to make a fight
for it, for there will be opposition by
the steamboat and commission men.
Get the farmers aroused and it will be
lively, with the business men of Balti-
more to help them. Baltimore must
furnish men to help the farmers. The
Pennsylvania and Baltimore and Ohio
roads can send cars direct to Browns
wharf, which has a front of 100 feet,
and which has been offered by the
banking house of Brown Brothers at a
rental of $500 the first year, $4,000
the second year and $1,000 thereafter.
l believe 2 per cent. will not only pay
expenses, but also rapidly accumulate
fund, which might be applied to pur-
chasing wharf. We want to ship the
fruit as though one man controlled the
whole business by cooperation, so as
: to prevent gluts. 1t means, if you can
save 8 per cent. on commissions, the
s savings to Maryland farmers of $780,.
f 600 on the 100000 of produce han.
7 died annually, or half million a yeal
7 when the new trees come in. That
means more money to buy clothes, car
riages, groceries, luxuries and phos
) phates."