Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-01-27
MELON CONTRACTS.
Important Information Con-
cerning Denver Business

SSA k444AfS &~SAAs ~ -ONso@&%S~S
for the Season of '98.
Two weeks ago the directors of
the Melon Growers Association
sent committee to Denver to con-
suit with, and if possible, make
friendly arrangements with the
commission men there. The lat
ter had been corresponded with
for weeks previously and request
ed to formulate some feasible plan
for disposing of our products, so
as to have no hitch when the ship
ping season would arrive.
The old producers here had had
the experience of several years
and were unwilling to place them
selves at the mercy of the whole
salers of Market street, but were
not only willing, but anxious to
meet the latter half way, and in a
buisnesslike manner settle how
our goods would be disposed of.
not only to our advantage but to
theirs.
The matter was thoroughly in
vestigated from all available
sources, both through conferences
with committee Of the commits
sion men, retail associations and
disinterested parties, and the only
certain conclusion arrived at was
that promiscuous shipments
would lead to endless trouble and
the old style, unsatisfactory pc
cuniary results.
The commission men had no
proposition except that they would
organize an Auction Co. to which
all fruit including melons, would
be consigned and by them sold in
lots to suit purchasers to the high
est bidder every morning. The
sales would be made only to men,
bers of the Auction Co., thereby
cutting off absolutely, if the men,
bers would see fit to pool, all legit-
innate competition. The plan
might be a good one if there was a
large number Of members but in
this case there are not more than
6 or 8 who do business of any
magnitude and they could natur-
ally control prices.
After consideration of the report
the directors thought it best to
contract with H. Woods, who
handled most of our goods last
year, on commission basis, he to
be guided solely by the directors
as to price each day and agreeing
on the margin at which he will
sell to other commission men.
Our Fowler friends are under
going the experience of an attempt
to disrupt the Association and re-
turn to the old cut-throat game of
creating jealousy and competition
among home producers, the newt
able result of which would be poor
returns and slim pocketbooks.
They had a meeting at Fowler
last Saturday to hear the details
of q proposal for a contract engin-
eered by Mr.. Alexander of Denver,
the terms of which are stated
price for cantaloupes at the track,
the purchasers to receive or reject
what they may choose and do the
packing themselves. This looks
plausible but is merely an enter
ing wedge to destroy whnt the
growers had learned by bitter ex-
perience was tlieir only salvation
a united front. A vote showed
that the melongrowers would stand
solid for what they knew to be
good.
Mr.. Alexander was to have been
present with the bidder, Denver
commission man, but owing to
some hitch at the other end both
parties failed to appear. Mr..
Alexander wrote that his time had
been 80 much occupied on Tues
day in organizing the association
formed at La Junta, the object of
which is to make an exhibit at
Omaha, in the interest of the val
ley, that he could not attend.
There mast have been some hi l.
den reason as the gentleman was
neither n delegate nor representa-
tive at the organization but was
there simply ms a spectator as any
one else could be.