davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-03-27
THE COOPERATIVE PLAN.
ida Agriculturist:

Editor Florida Agriculturist:
The caption of this article would seem
to imply that there is at present wide
spread tendency among my friends, the
orange growers, to lay the responsibility
of the 'bearish" condition of the market
atthedoor of thecommission merchants.
That such tendency exists, and that it
is rapidly assuming the proportions of a
Landslide OF Indignation the columns
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-03-27
So per Annuln, in advance.

thence distributed to their agents as they
call for them, and the ghosts of those
twin bugaboos, 'soverstocked markets"
and "over-production, 'wll be laid IN the
same grave.
This is practical business proposition,
and sooner or later, in one form or
another, it must come; for it represents
the difference between order and chaos
COT" answers some doubling Thomas,
"this is all very we'll in theory, but the
cost would be something enormous"
Well, my friend, let us see Would you
consider $4,000 per year excessive for
the running expenses of such an organi
zation? (This, of course, not to include
freight or the cost of handling paid to the
various agents.) If you would SO con-
slider it, | should beinclined to agree with
you, as think it very liberal estimate
for salaries, insurance, etc. But do you
realize that the Florida oranges growers
will pay nine times that amount to the
commission men this year for service so
vile that the columns of the Florida
papers are filed with the wailing and
lamentations of growers who see the poor
house staring them in the face? Who Of
us would object to an assessment of $25
or $50 a year in return for an organiza-
ton that, rightly managed, would render
such efficient service and give us a weapon
of defense fashioned to our hands?
What say the big grove owners, the
men who count their boxes by ten thou
sands? This should be vital. question
with them, and their views expressed at
this time would do much to 'clear the
air" preparatory to action.
trust, Mr.. Editor, you will pardon the
length of this article, but it seems to me
that the future of the orange industry,
and in no small measure the prosperity
of the State itself depends upon how the
producers grapple with this question dur
ing the next few years Let the impor-
tance of the subject, therefore, be my ex-
cuse.
Any step that the growers take in the
direction of organization, even in small
way, must be regarded as long stride
forward; for it will be a recognition of
the principle, which once accepted will
never be abandoned, that ''in union there
is strength CHARLES w. ADAMS.
Boston, Mass
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-03-27
MR.. M'KIBBIN's PLAN.

Editor Florida Agriculturist:
Please publish the following appeal to
the orange growers of Florida
The timehascome when it is imperative
that someconcert of action must prevail,
somecombination and organization must
be effected if we would prevent the total
Generalization and destruction OF our in
dustry. Believing the time is ripe for
such combination and organization |
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-03-27
DeLand, Fla, wednesday, March 27. 1889.

Of the AGRICULTURlsT and many Other
Florida papers abundantly attest. +,
Being a land and grove owner, on a
somewhat limited scale although not at
present a resident of the State-I am
deeply interested in everything pertaining
to Florida, and especially in anything
touching the orange question, and / beg
to disclaim at the outset any intention of
defending" the commission merchant.
Perhaps he is quite as bad as painted.
Possibly, as Artemus Ward would say,
he is a pusillanimous cuss," anyway,
and deserving of all the tOnguelashing
he gets, on general principles. Granted;
but that is begging the question.
The vital issue that confronts the
grower, and for which he demands an i'm
mediate solution is, "What is the reason,
when he foots his balance sheet at the end
of his seasons work, that he finds he has
received but 85 cents net per box for his
oranges, when he ought to have received
$3.50" Who is responsible? The COM
mission merchant? Notso. Simply and
solely the grower himself, and the absurd
system, or rather the lack of system
under which he hustles his oranges to
market, in utter defiance of all laws of
supply and demand, with no means Of
ascertaining whether or not that partic-
ular market is already glutted, and ap-
parently not caring, SO long as he gets
his fruit there ahead of his next door
neighbor; sort of every man-for-him-
self, cut-throat game, that for guileless-
ness and stupidity isentitled to "bear the
palm" unquestioned.
venture the assertion that there is no
other industry in this country, involving
productionOf' $4, ,OOO,OOO annually, in
which the producers are placed at such a
disadvantage. Forced to face an over
crowded market, their very numbers,
which should be at once their greatest
strength, becomes an element of weakness.
In the hands of the transportation lines
they are utterly helpless, by their own
confession; and when to this is added the
dishonesty of the commission merchant,
which is by no means rare, the only cause
for wonder is that theaverage of 85 cents
per box does not dwindle to q balance
actually against them.
In conversation with friend recently,
who is the owner Of 8. thrifty little grove
sixteen miles from Orlando, he told me
that he had lately shipped 300 boxes OF
the choicest qualityT Of fruit to his COM
mission merchant in Boston. They ar
rived in splendid condition, but along
with them came 25, 600 boxes more, con-
signed to the same man. Ca beautiful
and touching example of how the Florida
growers unwittingly cut each others
throats in their dog -eat-dog scramble to
find market.) Well, the consignee could
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-03-27


Thepre-eminenta and all-absorbing ques-
tion in South Florida is the production
ofcitrus fruits. Coincident with it and of
coequal Importance is the question of
marketing and obtaining remunerative
prices for the same. Unless this phase of
the questionis satisfactorily solved, unless
our fruit producers can realize fair
profit for the fruit produced, unless we
can formulate plans which will improve
the present system preventing gluts and
the overstocking of the market with for
= eign and domestic fruit-the orange busi-
ness does not, promise as much for the
future as those engaged in it could wish.
In the following communication which
we have selected from a large number in
our possession, two remedies are pro-
posed. The one thatappeals most directly
to the producers and the one that is most
practical-because it does not require the
aid of slow-moving legislation, and is
entirely within the province of producers
lis cooperation and organization. This
subject is treated in extenso i'll the COM
munication of Mr. Adams and the circular
of Mr.. McKibbin.
The tariff question is also discussed at
some length by our othercorrespondents,
and while we admit its Importance, we
are necessarily compelled to acknowledge
that it is question entirely beyond the
solution of the producers. That Florida
is Justly entitled to the same protection
of her Industries as other sections Of the
country cannot be gainsaid; still, we are
at the mercy OF our law makers, and on
this point must "bide our time" But
while we are waiting for the crumbs of
protection which may fall from Congress,
let us not siU with folded hands and drift
into bankruptcy; let us rather be up and
doing; take our salvation in our own
hands, and while the tariff is righting
itself (Which it eventually will do) let us
improve our condition,, our system of
marketing by organization and co-opera-
ton. ~
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-03-27

not begin to handle them; he was COM
pletely blocked with oranges. He bundled
them off to Harris auction rooms and
sold them to the highest bidder, % per
cent. less than they should have brought
in the regular'way. In this one transac-
ton my friend laid down 500 as his con-
tribution at the shrine of stupidity, and
the consignors of the other %, 900 boxes
little trife OF $8, 900 more. Whose fault
was it? The commission merchants? :?
Hardly.
This is by no means an isolated case. /
have not the smallest doubt but it has
been duplicated many times the past
season, not in Boston alone, but at all
the large distributing points. Probably
the grower does the best he can under the
existing state of affairs. No man can be
expected to foresee the condition of the
market from six to ten days ahead, but
submit that he shows something nearly
akin to foolishness in continuing in a
game where the conditions are all against
him. He is playing against loaded dice.
Individually and alone he is sbucking''
against uncertain markets, unscrupulous
transportation lines, possibly dishonest
consignees, and last and worst, against
his own neighbors and business associates.
Is the picture overdrawn? Not at all,
for the growers themselves admit it.
What, then, is the remedy? Clearly
there can be but one, and that one is to
be found in organization.
Granting, for the sake of argument, if
you please, that the grower needs no pro-
lection from the railroad companies; as
suming that he is now given the best and
quickest service for the lowest rates con-
slstent with fair dividends; even allowing
that the commission men are all para
gons of honestly What then? Does it
not emphasize the fact that he has no
protection against glut in the Boston
or New York markets, while Chicago or
ST. Louis may be practically empty?
In contrast to the system, or want of
system, that prevails to-day in the con
signment of oranges, conceive of the
5000 (more or less) growers of the State,
banded together into mighty organiza-
ton, representing a production of $4,-
100000 annually, governed by board
of directors chosen by the growers them
selves, with Jacksonville or Ocala for the
great distributing point; vast store
house located there, with capacity for
hundreds of thousands of boxes, in charge
of an experienced, energetic business
manager and assistants, and reliable
agents in twenty or more of the principal
cities North and West, either working on
salaries paid by the association or at q
fixed rate per box (no commissions).
Then let the growers ship all their or
anges to their headquarters, to be from
The Florida agriculturist., 1889-03-27
The Great Orange Question.

THE DIFFERENT PLANS PROPOSED FOR M
PROVING THE CONDITION OF ORANGE PRO
DUCERs-THE QUESTIONS OF CO-OPERA-
TION OR TARIFF-WHICH PLAN PROMISES
THE MOST FOR OUR PEOPLE?
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
BRIDGE ACCIDENT.
Two Men Instantly Killed and Several Others
Narrowly Escape on the Interna-
tionaI Railroad

Special TO the Gazette.
SAN ANTONIO, TEX, Feb. s.-A
bridge accident on the International and
Great Northern railway fifteen miles
south Of the city, in which two men lost
their lives and several others barely es-
capped, occurred this morning a force
of men were employed in repair
ing an iron bridge across the Medina
river. About 1890 a m a heavy
south-b bound freight came along while
the men were engaged on the lower cord
about thirty feet from the ground. The
vibrations from the passing train caused
two heavy pieces of iron to give way and
fall, striking George Goodie and Sandy
Mcdonald, crushing the life ont of them.
The other men, realizing the danger,
Ieaped from the lettering struct-
ure and in the jump Max
Hadley received broken leg
and dislocated shoulder blade. The body
OF Goodie was horribly mashed. The
heavy bar of iron knocked him to the
ground with such force that he re-
bounded, and in the rebound a swaying
piece of timber drove him against stone
wall, splinter passing clear through his
chest and pining him to the wall.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
Pleads Guilty of Embezzlement.

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, Feb. 7.-Ambrose
T. Secor, formerly book keeper and
cashier for the American district tele-
graph company, pleaded guilty to-day to
embezzlement of funds of the company !,
and was sentenced to three years impris-
onment. The amount involved is said TO
be about ST. 600. The money, it is
alleged, was taken in sums of 500 or
$500, and vouchers made TO cover the
amounts
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
The Finest Racers in the Wess
AT Anderson IS gun store.
The New Mexican Cable

Special to the Gazette.
GALVESTON, TEX, Feb. S.-The cable
steamship Faraday arrived here to-day
from New Orleans, where she had to coal
after buoying the new cable about 100
miles off the coast of Galveston, which
she had been engaged in laying from
Coatzacoalcos, Mexico, TO this point,
when she ran out of fuel. Tomorrow
the shore end of the cable will be laid .
After this is accomplished the Faraday
will commence paying out from here un-
till she reaches the bdoyed end of the
cable in the Gulf, when a splice will be
made, the cable tested, and if found in
complete working order viii be lowered
and the Faraday will then proceed to
overhaul and repair the old cable now III
use between this port and Vera Cruz.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
An Unsolved Case.

NEW YORK, Feb. THE people living
in the boarding house where George E.
Frazier, the Young man found dead last
night, deny that he committed suicide.
He was subject to fainting spells and in
the habit of using hypodermic injections
to obtain relief. 1t Is claimed the latter
caused his death. A memorandum found
in his room reads: 81 have had one of
my fainting spells. If anything happens
telegraph to George f. Taylor, Caldwell,
Ohio Money is in the chalk box. . The
letter to his father, who is expected to
reach here tonight, remains unopened.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
Not Guilty of Murder.

WILEEsBARRE, Pa, Feb. THE jury
in the case of Constable Dennis Gala
CHER, charged with killing Thomas Ryan
Of Syracuse, y. Y, was out ali night,
came into court at noon to-day and re-
ported 4 verdict of not gniity. Ryan
was one of crowd of men who was
gathered about Gallagher when he was
making an arrest, and Gallagher be-
heved they intended 10 attack Aim and
rescue the prisoner.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
LOUISIANA YIGILANTES.
Every Man Who Has Not Employment to Be
Driven Ont of the Country.

Driven Out of the Country.
NEW ORLEANS, La. Feb S.-A Times
Democrat Lafayette special says: About
O'Clock Wednesday afternoon small
groups of men began assembling in the
vicinity of Falk IS hall. These dis
tinguished gentlemen acting under in
structions of their leaders use the term
Vigilante for the name of their most
highly honored order. The present or
ganiZation seems TO have come
prominently into service last summer
and was intended for the purpose of
regulating the morals of the parish and
would have carried things with a high
hand but for the tirmness of the officials
1t is understood the meeting held Wednes-
day was for the purpose of arranging
committees with instructions to visit all
the homes of colored people in the parish
at the same time, ascertaining whether
they are employed or have made arrange
ments for the ensuing year Those who
have not yet been fortunate enough to
obtain work viii be required to leave the
parish instantly or be under pen
atty of the brutal despotism OF
these high-class society gentlemen. Your
correspondent interviewed the sheriff and
town marshal, the parish clerk and
mayor. He found them and many other
reputable citizens of Lafayette opposed
to the vigilantes and all expressed a
strong determination to aid in upholding
the law, and have pledged their support
to the proper officials in any emergency.
Many well-known and prominent farmers
of the parish are said to be members of
this organization and attended the
society's meeting Wednesday after
noon The mayor has through
the town marshal secured the arrest
of three ''vigilantes - who were engaged
in the delightful pastime of negro whip
ping near town. A company of seventy
FIVE vigilantes waited on the mayor and
demanded the immediate release of their
captured friends. Let it be said in honor
of the mayor that he fatty refused, but
instead gave them what he thought the
full extent Of the law. The vigilantes
are said to be between GOO and 1000 strong
in this parish, and are expected to COM
mence operations in a few days.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
To Helm the olrlnhnms ELL.

KANSAS CITY, Mo-, Feb. THE
Oklahoma delegation appointed at last
week s meeting met in this city to-day
and appointed a subcommittee of four
consisting of Mr.. e. H. Allen, Mr.. T.
3 Bullene and Mr.. Webb Withers OF
this city, and Mr.. I. w HeaIy OF Kan
sas City, Kas., who left for Washington
tonight in the interest of the oklahoma
bill. -Four more committeeman will fol-
low tomorrow night and take with them
a certified copy of a concurrent resolu-
ton of the Kansas legislature requesting
the passage of the bill by the senate,
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
a Socialist NeNsnaner.

PITTsBURG, Pa, Feb. THE daily
newspapers of Pittsburg will at an early
date include soeialistic sheet, the first
of its kind in the city. a few days ago it
was announced that German daily
would be put in the field by the German
trades assembly. Investigation developes
the fact that distinctive feature of the
new organ win be its championship of
soeialistic principles.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
INVADING THE TERRITORY.
What Would Have Happened If the Oklahoma
Bill had Failed

Bill mad Failed.
CALDWELL, KAs., Feb. 7.-Pawnee
Bill and Oklahoma Harry Hill were III the
city last night. Hill was one of the chief
agitators of the Oklahoma invasion, but
on the passage of the Springer bill
in the lower house took the part of stop
ping the invasion. He satisfied Pawnee
Bill that no invasion should be made I'M
til the senate took action on the bill.
When asked how they expected to get by
the soldiers into the territory in
case OF an invasion, he answered.:
elf the invasion had started we would
have had no trouble in crossing the
border as we had provided for all emer-
gencies. My intention was to enjoin
President Cleveland s orders, and hold
the soldiers still until we hlled the terri
tory fun of people, and by the time the
injunction could have been dissolved the
opening of the territory would have been
a thing of the past, as the military has
no jurisdiction outside of civil acts in
time of peace. As it is we are more sat
isfed TO await the action of the senate. -
Boomers are steadily coming into this
city.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
Supreme Court.
Special to the Gazette.

Special to the Gazette.
GALVESTON, TEX, Feb. S.-The
supreme court met to-day; fun bench
present. The following cases were dis
posed of:
Aflirmed-James A. Poe VS.. the State,
San Jacinto county; Mary r. and Beulah
c. Berry ct al. VS.. the Texas and New
Orleans railway company, Orange
county; the Moody heirs VS.. Anna NJ {.
and A. B Peticholas, b. F. Williams
Valentine Moeller ct al. Victoria county;
Creacy Kinlow VS.. Anna Kinlow ct al. i,
Washington county; Missouri Pacific and
international and Great Northern rail
way companies VS.. Frank Watson.
Reversed and remanded-S. A. DAN
iels ct al. VS.. s. L. Watson & Bro. Free
stone county.
Submitted Wegner Bros. VS.. f. G.
Biering, Galveston county, on briefs and
oral arguments; East Texas fire insur-
ance company VS.. L. s.. II. Blum, Gal
weston county, on briefs of both parties.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
A Hero of the Alamo Dead.

LOUISVILLE, KY. Feb. Col. James
A. Woods died at Bloomfield, Ky, yes
terday at the age of seventy -four. He
was in Texas in 1885, and took part in
the revolution. He was said to have
been at the massacre of the Alamo, and :,
with others, to have made his escape, al
though the commonly accepted story says
that none escaped except women, serv-
ants and children. Col. Wood S state
ment is believed by his neighbors and
corroborated by other facts.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
SKIPPED TO CANADA.

The Boldest Skalper in the St Louis Mer-
chants Exchange-His Shortage.
ST. LOUIS, Mo. Feb. Quite a SEN
sation has been caused by the announce
ment that Henry Diekmann, n prominent
member of the merchants exchange, has
skipped to Canada, leaving q shortage Of
$50 900. His sudden flight was brought
about by the instituting of a suit
for $40, 900 brought against Diekmann
by his mother-in-law, Mrs. Winkle-
mann Meyer, for whom he has been act
ing trustee. Mrs. Meyer attached Sl1 900
of stock in the Mauntell- Borgess. milling
company, of which Diekmaun was act
ing president. The fugitive is about
thirty-siX years of age, is of commanding
appearance and was considered the bold
est scalper on the floor. Mrs. Meyer will
lose the bulk of the $50 900 Diekmann Is
short
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
west Virginia Legislature.

CHARLESTON, W. Va, Feb. Two
ballots were taken to-day in joint assem-
bly, for United States senator, which re-
suited: Golf, 40; Keni-a, SO; Goshorn,
8; ex-senator Hereford, Governor E.
Wilson and A. Preston, each.
Republicans in the matter of recount for
state officers to-day became indignant
and left the joint assembly, leaving the
body without a quorum.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
\ Mixed Up Affair,

BOSTON, MASS. Feb. S.-Glidden &
Curtis, selling agents of the Pacific guano
company aud Ohio and Western coal
company have assigned to John c. Ropes
for the benefit Of their creditors. Their
liabilities are quite heavy and are largely
endorsements on the paper of the guano
company. They have loaned that COM
pany large sums in addition to their en-
dorsements. The firm, it is said, have
endorsed the paper of the Ohio
and Western coal company, cor
poration with a capital of s. 900, 900,
Glidden being president. While it is
thought they will pay all their obligations
it is probable the company will be placed
III the hands OF receiver to protect all
creditors. The fertilizers on hand are
mostly sold in the South TO planters. The
liabilities of Glidden s. Curtis and the
Pacific guano company are mostly to
savings banks and trust companies, al
though the Boston banks hold quite an
amount
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
PErULANT ANNIE RAY.
Wants to Buy Her Own Ticket or Won't Re-
turn Home
Cincinnati Enquirer.

Cincinnati Enquirer.
ST. Louis, Mo-, Feb. Mrs. Annie
Ray of GAINESVILLE, Ohio, has been haunt
ing the Union depot here for two weeks,
waiting, she says, for money from her
husband, George H. Ray, TO return home
on. She left two weeks age with her two
children, aged seven and nine years, to
visit her sister at Wichita Falls, Tex.
but ran out of money. Her husband
sent them three tickets to return home
on. She let the children go back, but
wrote her husband she would return if he
sent her money to buy her own ticket
with, but would not return on the one
sent. She didn It want to be treated like
one of the children She has pawned
her trunk and all her jewelry and has
been put out of two hotels for non-pay-
ment of board.
Fort Worth daily gazette. (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1882-1891, 1889-02-09
Letter from an indianapolis AbseOnder

INDIANAPOLIS, IND, Feb. lit is
given out here tonight that friend of
John E. Sullivan, absconding county
clerk, received letter to-day from that
individual, dated Montreal, wherein he
tells of his safe arrival in Canada, and
remarks that he is enjoying himself. He
also says he intends to start a hotel i'll
Canada and become a loyal subject of the
queen. He states that he has seen
Moore, the absconding insurance agent.