The record-union., 1894-04-18
FRUIP-GROWERO IN COUNCIL.
They Held a Meeting at Changers
Hall Yesterday.
Will Probably Form a County Fruit
Exchange and Join the state
Fruit Exchange.

A large ana eHLnusldSLAo AhOSS"s
fruit-erowers was held at Changers Hal
yesterday at 1:30 P. NJ, for the purpose OF
considering the formation OF a County
Fruit Exchange.
The meeting was continuation OF one
held at Florin on the 7th inst, at whlch
the committee appointed at the prellm-
mary meeting. to formulate plan for
county organization, reported as follows:
First-That this company be cor
porstion.
Second-That each member have one
vote.
Third-The profits to be divided IN
proportion to the amount of fruit shipped
by each.
Fourth-It shall consist of members
who must be actual fruit-growers.
Fifth-The admission fee to be 30.
Sixth-That it be governed by seven
directors.
The report was adopted, and yesterday s
meeting was TO further consider the tor
nation of State organization and State
Bureau of Information.
George Rich was elected Chairman and
C. j. Hopkins Secretary.
Beside the fruit-growers, there were
present B. F. Walton of Yuba City and
Edwin +. Adams, respectively President
and Manager of the California Fruit E1-
change.
Mr.. Adams stated briefly that the ex-
change is owned and conducted by the
producers of California. It's object is
mainly to procure information as to mar
kets and disseminate it among its MEM
bers, being central point around which
county organizations will cluster.
Its object will be, by the dissemination
of the information gathered by it. to in
nuence the placing OF fruit products on
the market and prevent the gluts and the
ruinous competition which have reduced
the industry to SO low an ebb. 1t does
not seek TO antagonize the commission
men, but rather to reduce their expenses
in handling fruit to such degree that
larger profit may result to the producer.
Mr.. Walton stated that while in attend
ance at the Worlds Fair last year he had
paid almost daily personal attention to
the method of marketing fruit in Chicago.
He had watched it for months and had
found that the prices realized depended
very largely on the style OF packing and
condition of the fruit. Some brands
always sold well, and, on the other hand,
some that was sold never should have
been sent at all. He had taken particular
pains to see in what condition fruit ar
rived, and had noticed that some brands,
which he denominated "China packing"
being put up with intent To deceive pur-
chasers, would Immediately drop In price
far below what good packages had just
been sold for. Sometimes the poor fruit,
dropped on the market in large quanti-
ties, knocked the bottom out of it and
the good fruit had to suffer. To a certain
extent, however. this did not affect the
prices of good fruit.
Mr.. Adams said it would be well if
the association could keep a man in the
Il, vI1~lo
perience fitted him not only TO observe
what was being done, but also to point
out on his return where the trouble was,
and whose judgment was good enough to
make his opinion valuable. Not every
man is fitted for this post, for he must be
keen and experienced. There must be
general organization, which should in
1iuence the shipments. If each one goes
on his own hook he might as we'll butt his
his head against wall as to try to better
matters.
C. L. Johnson thought that if the asso-
citation could send on a man who would
receive the fruit and turn it over to the
auctioneer, who would charge only q per
cent. commission, the saving would more
than pay the salary OF the man who was
sent East.
Mr.. Stewart said that there must be
some one there to buy the Il nit, if neces-
sary, and by competition push others into
buying, In order to realize the best prices.
Adams said that the orange producers
were apparently going to solve the pro-
blem of conSignments. The producers
must all work together. The commission
merchants are often at a loss TO know
what to do. If one county wishes them
to do a thing. another perhaps wishes
them to do something different We must
unite if we wish TO accomplish any good.
In the State organization 1t is not pro-
{<xIf hut -ff 11rNlxy to
prove the methods of business before it
is too late. Sometimes market is glut-
ted and sometimes not. He believed if a
State organization were formed, that it
and the commission merchants would
come together to their mutual advantage.
The fruit of associations is generally
packed better than that of individuals
and arrives in better condition.
The packing. of course, must be done
here, but we ought to know in what con-
dition it arrives at the other end and
profit by the experience. Cooperation
only succeeds through the basis of many
failures. 1t is the duty of officers of the
association not only to do the right thing,
but to let the growers know why it is
the right thing.
They should keep in touch with the
members. Because this is not done some
organizations have failed, They should
practice discussion of the business by all,
so that ali VIII QQQ6rSLaQOs
Mr.. Walton and himself had come
over to tell this meeting what had been
done in other parts of the State, so that it
can judge whether it will be advantage
Gus to unite with others. If the State or
ganization sends agents it will know
that it mas the backing of the
smaller organizations for the common
good. The commission men probably do
as well as they can, but the organization
should have a man or a committee at
their elbow to keep them up to the work.
Those present decided to call another
meeting, to be held at Grangers' Hall at
10 A. NJ. on Friday, the 9th inst, and in
vite Messrs. Walton and Adams and also
Philo Hersey of Santa Clara to address
the meeting and fully explain the work
ings of the State Exchange.
A committee was appointed by the
Chair to personally endeavor to secure as
large an attendance of fruit-growers as
possible. 1t is composed as follows:
George T. Rich, d. Reese, C. +. Johnson,
C. j. Hopkins and Thomas Taylor of
Florin, j. Routier and E. Manlove of
REUTERS, Fred Gage and ]. II. Kerr of
Elk Grove, William Johnston and Sol
Runyon of Courtland, L. Booth of Co.
sumnes, Mrs. S. E. Moore of Freeport,
Charles Reed of Washington and Robert
Williamson of Sacramento.
The meeting then adjourned.