The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1890-07-09
MELON MEN In THE LURCH
THE SYNDICATE REFUSES TO RE
CEIVE SHIPMENTS.

Attempts to Palm of Inferior Fruit
Believed to Have Caused the Action.
The Balance of the Crop to be
Handled by the Commission Men.
Boston, GA, July S.-Every one was
very much surprised to-day when 1t was
announced that the melon syndicate had re-
fused to receive any more melons from the
growers This has been the chief topic Of
the day. J. s. Norton, agent Of the Geor-
gia and Carolina exchange, was seen and
talked freely about the matter.
"Mr. Norton, it is generally understood
that your syndicate has refused to receive
any more melons from the growers. Will
you give us the facts in the matter"
''Yes, was notified by our president to
decline further shipments. Our banker, too,
has been notified to pay no drafts on
melons"
NATURE OF THE AGREEMENT.
"What do you attribute this suspension
to- The public has been of the opinion
that both the growers and syndicate were
working nicely together"
ITO speak of this agency proper, believe
there has been no cause for complaint on
either side. The contract we make with
the growers is this: We to receive and pay
them S75 per car for all melons shipped up
to july l from July l TO July Is $50. and
from July 10 to Aug. l $50 per car. These
figures are based upon melons weighing
eighteen pounds and upward. The melon
market was exceedingly good at first, and
our syndicate advanced the growers so per
cent. on the first half of their crop, ana we
were to receive the advanced so per cent
back on the last half shipped
THE ADVANCE NOT RECEIVED.
''Has the syndicate received back yet
their advance-50 per cent. q
mo, not all of it. The growers were
paid for their first shipments SIP so per
so per cent The melons we were to receive
from now to Aug. l would have cost the
syndicate only S22 so per car"
''Is it not heavy loss for the syndicate
20 drop the growers at this momentM
Eyes, it seems so to me. The melons
that are now being loaded by members of
the exchange are large and very choice,
and show no signs of sun-burn or anything
that would prevent them from bringing
good prices. The commission meu are
guaranteeing to-day $40 to $50 for the
stock that would have been turned over to
the exchange"
WHY CoNsIGNMENTS ARE REFUSED.
"You have not vet given an explanation
as to why the syndicate declines to receive
any more melons,"
"My opinion is that some of their agencies
have imposed upon them by permitting
small, sun-burnt, and otherwise unmarked
able melons to be shipped"
"How about your sgency"
Each car was loaded either under my
personal supervision or our classer,
J. C. Standard. We have had, in
melons, but, take it as a whole, the
growers have offered only good, marketable
stock. eighteen pounds and upward. The
remaining crop will be sold to commission
merchants direct from the growers"
About 800 crates OF LeConte pears we're
forwarded by express from here tonight.
The shipments will be very heavy for some
time.
AGENTS BLAMED.
ATLANTA, GA, July S.-The combination
formed at the beginning of the season to
handle the melon business of this ueighbor-
hood has proved a failure and practically
suspended business yesterday. The concern
was known as the Carolina and Georgia
Watermelon Exchange, and had headquar-
ters at Atlanta. Yesterday a circular tele-
gram was issued to all agents to receive no
more melons, Still good deal of business
has been done to-day and will continue to
be done until the exchange disposes of the
stock on hand.
HAS NO LIABILITIES.
One of the most active officers of the
concern said tonight that the exchange had
been paying cash for everything, and has
no liabilities, but on the contrary owns
large number of acres upon which advances
have already been made equal to the full
value of the land The failureis attributed
to the ineficiency of some of the agents in
Southwest Georgia, who were instructed to
load nothing under eighteen-pound melons,
but who, disregarding orders, shipped
great many weighing hardly more than
twelve to sixteen pounds. The melons
were also shipped in bad cars and reached
Atlanta in bad condition.
COULDN'T BE SOLD.
When reshipped to the connection of the
exchange they were ruled out, and thrown
back on its hands, which, of course, was
attended with considerable loss. The ex-
change will continue to handle melons until
it disposes Of all it owns. II anybody suf-
fers from the failure of the
project the officers insist that the
loss will fall upon the stockholders,
whom they represent as both able
and willing to shoulder all obligations. A
large number of cooperative cars have
been consigned to them since they first be-
gan business. The owners of stock shipped
in this way, it is declared, will be settled
with out of the funds now on hand, as soon
as thew can ha lOcatad