The San Francisco call., 1896-03-06
Former .Dissensions to Make
Way for One Harmonious
Union.
MIDDLEMEN TO DE CHECKED.
Plans Contemplated by the Combine
Which Has a Capital of
$1,000 900.

FRESNO, CAL, March 5.-From present
appearances the future of the raisin indus.
try of the San Joaquin Valley is bright
with promise. Various packing and grow.
ing factions, heretofore thought to be ire.
concilable, are about to be brought into
one harmonious union, having for its OBJ
ject the good of all concerned. The dis
cussion of these matters by many leading
packers and growers before the Hundred
Thousand Club up to a late hour last even
ing has resulted in infusing new life and
hope into the subject.
The importance of this movement may
be realized when it is known that such an
organization can absolutely control the
raisin market of the United States, and
that many millions of dollars are repre-
sented by the interests concerned. The
great difference between the price which
consumers pay for raisins in every part OF
the country and that realized by the pro-
ducers make the fact very apparent that
"the middlemen' have not only manipu-
lated the market to suit themselves, but
have made all the money from the indus
try. This has not only caused business to
lag. but if continued will, as all concede,
ultimately destroy it.
At meeting again this afternoon of the
packers the ground was gone over, and in
view of the fact that the cooperative
packers have about agreed to the plans so
far form ulated, the way seems open to q
perfect organization that will insure i'm
mediate and permanent relief to this
greatest of California products.
l. - l.
and again this afternoon were: DIR.
Washer, w. r. Forsey, E. &. Chaddock,
A. Albrecht of Fowler, G. B. Noble, Will
liam Noble, J. H. Kelly. Fred Nelson OF
Fowler. John D. Gray, Lee L. Gray, A.
Gartenlaub, Thomas H. Lynch. w. NJ.
Griffin of San Francisco, w. F. Rowell of
Easton and J. w. Alexander. The organ
ization will be ca apitalized at 81 900, COO.
The plan contemplates holding raisins
for f. o. b. prices, entirely eliminating all
consignments. It also contempt ates SELL
ing through one central head controlled
by the corporation. The prices are to be
made subject to the approval of a commit
tee of three representing the growers in
terests, to be appointed by and from the
managers or presidents of the several
banks in the raisin district.
1t also contemplates pooling of all the
raisins, based upon the grading from the
stemmers, which grading shall be under
the supervision of the corporation.
1t contem plates further the pooling OF
the money which the raisins bring, each
grower to have his proportionate share oil
all sales, based upon his grade. quality and
the amount of raisins delivered, without
reference to whether they are first or las
sold, and the proportionate sharing of any
loss that might be sustained by the
failure to market any portion of the
raislns.
1t contemplates reasonable advances IL
the growers for picking purposes, either
on the delivery of the raisins or in cases O
special need, to be given in loans on proper
security before delivery of raisins, and
that at least rs per cent of the output O
raisins shall be in the pool