Rocky Ford enterprise. (Rocky Ford, Colo.) 1887-1950, 1898-09-08

AT Ill clock Saturday morning
when Senator Swink called the
Melongrowers' Association to Or
der, r. w. Engllsh's grand stand
was full of melon growers and in
terested friends. AS the stand has
a seating capacity of over 700, it
is evident that the cantaloupe bus
mess has II strong hold on the
people of the Valley and Otero
County.
Senator Swink stated that the
membership had been called to-
gcther that they might hear all the
facts which the Board of Directors
had in their possession. That
they. then, knowing as much about
the unfortunate situation as the
board did, might advise the man
agement what steps to take; that
"whatever instructions you give
to-day will be carried out"
Parties not members were re-
quested to take seats in the eastern
end of the stand.
l.. r. Wiley, OF the Western
Poultry and Game Company, was
called on by the chairman to make
statement. Mr.. w. said that
for the past week he had been
,,,.Io,. b, ,r,o,t ,,,nnt,l ofr,ip in ra
gard to this business. All knew
Of the great shipments, but how
did they arrive in the eastern
markets? The first few cars re-
ceived sold well on the fine repu-
tation of the Rocky Ford cnnta.
loupe. OF the first eight cars
which struck New York, three
sold for :s1.50 per crate Qess than
cost, and the other five sold for
less. Here was our best market,
where we expected TO make money,
making us suffer heavy losses. We
had bad luck in Chicago. the first
car arriving overripe and destroy
ing the market for over week.
Here was New York and Chicago
falling us OH account of bad stock,
and thirty cars arriving daily.
Here Mr.. Whitley read number
of kilograms from Mr.. Wetzel and
from their agents throughout the
Union, from which we make the
following extracts:
August 3lst Lyon Bros. wired from
Now York: "RockoFord nutmeg melons
arc arriving in por ordcr-fully three
quarters are soft. Have appcarancoo OF too
much water; many bruised spots: grow
ers are putting poor ones in center OF
crates. The trade complains Of irrcgu.
lar qualify, which has hurt demand, and
market to-day only about freight charges.
There hro lnrge quantities OF natiye.g, own
here, and the association should replace
shipments made during rush with cars
and ship after Sept. g."
A Chicago dispatch from Porter Bros.
reads: "Cantaloupcs arriving over.ripe-
rotten. Car No. 23l very bad. Good
stock selling at 10 cents to 81"
Wetzel telcgraphed Whitley as follows:
"Sold eight cars to New York for 40
cents; Boston same; -Pittsbarg, 81: Buf-
falo, 50 cents; Philadelphia, CD cents;
Washington, 81; Cleveland, 81; Chicago.
20 cents. For heavens sake, don't prom
ise anything more than you have for
shipments III transit unless situation at
end of season will warrantl Brundage
advises from New York tnat the whole
fault Is III quality OF melons. IL stock IL
better after SUNDAY, with moderate ship
ments TO begin with, 1 think We can
finish strong, and satisfactory to every
body. a great many very. very bad cars
are passing here. Now, bc careful. Good
stock only will pull it out; stock in tran
sit won't more than pay freight"
Another OF Mr.. Wctzers kilograms
reads: 81 a,n turning heaven and earth.
and If tho boys will all stick and give me
melons that will hold up after Saturday
/ will win them aud ourselves out SURE.
We arc in all we've got: cant do more.
Mailed some cold facts tonight. Tell
them 1 Viii die Tor their cause-cant do
more"
Another OF Mr.. Wc,zels kilograms to
Mr. Whitley reads: "rur,hcr aud care
iul developments confirm conciusively
the whole ironble is in the quality. By
cutting melons you will see they are
watery think this "a positive key tol
tile situation"
On Sept. / Mr.. Wcizel tclcgrnphed