Delaware gazette and state journal. (Wilmington, Del.) 1883-1902, 1889-05-16
PEACH GROWERS CONFER
WORN OF THE BUREAU OF DIS
TRIBUrION.


|
transacted at the mesgerly attended ses-
sion of the Delaware Fruit Exchange
Bureau Of information and Distribution,
yesterday afternoon, was the oreaniza-
tion OF the board Of directors, or execu-
tive committee, as they are termed by the
rules Of the organization. John P. Il.
Polk was reelected chairman, and it was
| decided to continue the work so success
fully inaugurated last year, OF distribut-
ing the Peninsula peach shipments
among the best and most profitable mar
i kets.
Opinions differ as to the extent OF this
years crop. but the prevailing impression
Is that it will at least be equal in sizs to
last years. The work of the bureau will
be directed towards so Distributing the
shipments as to avoid the customary glut
at Jersey City and Philadelphia, and get
the peaches into other markets, where
profitable returns can be realized. That
the bureau did O good work last year,
was amply shown by Mr.. Polk, in the
| report which he presented to the meeting
yesterday, and which is given in full
below. Hon. e. l.. Martin also gavs q
convincing instance in relating his con-
versatlon with q grower who Rrowled
about paying his bureau dues because he
had realized no particular benefit. what
did you realize on your peach crop in
1875 n qusried Colonel Martin This
was the year of the big crop and the
great gluts at Jersey City and Philadel-
phia. "About 10 cents per basket" was
the reply. "And what were your returns
last year?" The grower admitted that
last years prices netted him over SO cents
per basket, and he saw the result of the
bureaus work when Colonel Martin in
formed him that there were nearly as
many peaches shipped from the PENN
sula last year az during 1875.
The great drawback last year was the
difficulty in collecting dues from the
members and it was for this reason that
Mr.. Polk suggested movement To re-
quire the commission men who handle
peach shipments to pay l per cent Of
their sales to the bureau. This will give
the bureau ample working funds and en-.
able it to buy free telephone service
for its members during the peach season.
With this service, shipper, before con.
signing his fruit, can inquire OF the
bureau by telephone as to the condition
Of the different markets and thus know
exactly where to ship to the best advan-
tage. Some OF the commission houses
voluntarily made this payment last year
aud 1t is believed all the good houses will
willingly do so If the growers insist upon
it. The first work of the executive COM
mitiee will be to endeavor to put this
arrangement ia force for next season and
to induce all growers to cooperate with
the bureau this year. he said he would
be willing to guarantee growers 80 cents
per basket If all would agree to make
their shipments through the bureau.
President Folks detailed report of the
work of the bureau last year is az follows:
THE FIRST YEARS WORK.
The members OF the bureau have reason
to congratulate themselves on the work
done by 1t duclng Its first year. l. was
task OF no small magnitude to canvass the
Peninsula with a view of enlisting the
growers In the work of the bureau. Meet
ings were held at all the larger towns, and
most OF the participants In the same testi-
hed their interest by uniting with the
bureau. Local boards have been generally
organized Throughout. the peach belt, rep
resenting, In the aggregate, members who
control two millions and half of peach
trees. The further work OF appointing
agents at each Of the shipping points, and
the selecting OF reliable commission houses
In the north and west, necessitated such an
immense amount OF work, that 1t cannot be
readily realized except by those directly
engaged In 1t. Difficulty WAS encountered
In securing shipping agents at some points
owing largely to the hostility OF tho5e who
assumed that the Introduction of the
bureaus methods would lessen their own
gains, but the bureau established agencies
at thirty railroad stations, and almost with.
out exception, these agents showed zeal
and earnestness in procuring business. The
names OF 7S commission-houses appear on
the bureaus list, a very encouraging show
I M fteaa
and middle states had been well canvassed
before being visited by the representatives
of the bureau. It was chiefly through the
efforts OF the bureau that the arrangements
were made, whereby the tax was removed,
and peaches shipped this season, for the
first time, direct TO Canada, thus opening
up q large and new market.
The distributors headquarters were
opened at Clayton on the 9th day of August,
| and from that time until the middle of Sep
tember, daily shipments were made through
the bureau. Full returns from all agents
have not yet been received, SO that the exact
| figures can not be given, but when 1t is
| taken into consideration that the bureau
| was an entirely new departure" that out
side shipping agents opposed 1t at numer-
GUS points, and that some growers fought
| 1t most bitterly, ON the ground that their
rights were being interferred with, 1t must
be admitted that the accomplishments OF
| the first year merit the commendatIon CT
each member. If.all OF the fruit controlled
by members fthe bureau had been shipped
under It's directions, the years business
| would have been materially increased but
It WAS impossible to expect this for the ilrst
year. Many sold their fruit to local buyers,
and others, welded to old associations,
hesltated about turning their fruit into new
| channels, until 1t was shown by actual ex-
perience, that the principles OF the bureau
| would succeed when brought Into practical
| "a az
numerous individuals have been practically
carrying out the primal Idea OF the bureau
In hunting new markets, and thereby CIV
ing wider distribution TO the fruit, Is a
very conclusive proof that the doctrines
enunciated BY the bureau have been con-
vincing to the minds OF most Of the grow
ers who, for one reason or another, may not
| nave Joined this organization.
Any one doubling the practlcaDility of
the bureaus methods would have been con-
verted had he seen upon the distributors
table at Clayton, Del, kilograms from
numerous consumers In distant places, re-
| questing shipments and giving full In
| formation as to the needs OF their markets;
and upon the other hand, inquiries from
| numerous growers aud shippers as TO
where shipments could be made with
safety and profit. Thus were shipper and
consumer brought together before one off,
GER, enabling him to expsdltiously advance
| the interests of both. The bureaus system
OF registering cars was constantly used
| during the season to much advantage, and
its Introduction was instrumental in avoid
| ing glrts at several points; but the ulti-
mate success Of this season can only be
reached when every shipper co-operates,
by informing the distributors office OF the
| proposed destination OF every car that is
shipped. No shippers have been found
who dispute the usefulness and practi-
cability OF the registration system,
| but there are YET few indl-
| vtduaIa who entertain the mistaken