Rocky Ford enterprise., 1898-11-24
MELON GROWERS
ASSN. DIFFICULTIES,
Secretary Matthews Makes Satisfactory
Explanation on Many Points.

they were accepted as per contract.
Mr.. Whitley took the position at
the fair grounds meeting that if
they lacked the excepting" quality
they were not No. l. The Mexi-
cans say, "Quien sabe?"
The next portion of the letter
worth coNtradicting is the state
ment that after Sept. S the direct.
ors said the growers would real
iZe 75c per crate. Most emphat-
ically NO! They never said SO.
They did say ihe st. Louis goods
would bring that money. and they
did. The board knew that the ice
would not be provided free, that
the inspectors and men who han
died the melons would not work
for nothing, and by experience ex-
pected a slump in the western
markets in September. The FORE
seen occurred and the goods only
realized, after taking out expenses,
u little over 5Oc.
This party asserts that cants
were received at two o'clock in the
morning. This is certainly untrue.
Also that some growers put poor
cantaloupes in the center OF the
crate. We can not deny it. It
occurred at all shipping points.
The insinuation that the board
tried to put off payment Is base
and without foundation, directly
or indirectly. The causes of the
delay have been fully explained.
The inspectors, during the rush,
eoald not get Just the sort OF men
who should have written the tick
cts. We also know how scarce
hands were. Very many tickets
had wrong numbers, ON them, and
it was found to be absolutely nec-
essary to examine the inspectors
receipts This took. nearly three
weeks. The bookkeeper,. trying to
help people out named earlier
days for payment than subsequent
developments showed to be prac-
ticable. This occurred several
times. Delay in. sending in lists
of receipts caused delay in balanc--
ing the books.
Then, when the board thought
they were in shape to 60 ahead
and pay out, it was discovered that
there was not money enough to 90
round. After days and nights Of
investigation it was found that the
bookkeeper had made a serious En-
ror. How it was. done he does not
know, nor any one else. II was a
simple error but it led to fearful
results and $4,000 were wrongfnl-
ly paid during the first part. of
September. The board disclaims
any responsibility for the terrible
mistake, just as q board of coun-
ty commissioners would refuse to
take the responsibility Of erroxs of
a county clerk, treasurer or asses-
sor. The hookkeeper has the rep
utation of being an expert in fig
ures in this county, 30 naach 30
that the directors never questioned
his ability, knowing that he knew
more about books than they did.
As perhaps there might be other
errors, and to straighten out the
errors shown by going over the in
spector's receipts, it WAS thought
best to commence at the bottom
again and make out new distribu-
ton sheets, which will now be in
telligible to the auditing commit
tee. This has taken an enormous
amount of work, but is now com-
pleted and the statements are be-
ing made out.
No one regrets all this more
than the directors do, but at pres
ent they are powerless. and we
must all appeal to the humanity
and integrity of our neighbors to
repay, as soon as the statements
shall be rendered, any money that
is not Justly theirs, so that those
who have received nothing for
their crop, or comparatively moth
ing, may have something to pur-
chase food and clothing. Men
and women, the situation is ap-
palling!
The only streak of sunshine to
be seen is the hope (deferred) that
the w. p. d. G. Co. will come to
us next Saturday with a check for
$4,000. They know that if they
do not they can not handle crate
of cants from this valley next sea-
son for love or money.
The over-payment was for the
period of the dump-Aug. q to