The record-union., 1899-05-17

combining a majority in the agree
ment to act together they could pre-
serve their capital stock and prevent IL
from passing into the hands of outsid-
ers
WHAT THE SOUTH DID.
A. H. Naftzger, President of the
Southern California Fruit Exchange,
who was present, was called on by
Mr.. Stephens to give his views on the
situation
He said he had not come for the pur-
pose of speaking, but because he was
interested in the fruit business. He
was not a deciduous fruit-grower, but
was interested in everything that would
forward the interests of the fruit
growers He would like Mr.. Stephens
to indicate the subject ON which he
wished him to speak.
Mr. Stephens said he would like to
hear the system used by the southern
association.
Mr. Naftzger said the Southern Cal
ifornia Fruit Exchange grew out OF
practically the same conditions as he
understood now confront the deciduous
fruit growers. In the main, they con-
fronted the southern fruit growers
years ago. In 1892 an organization
was formed, but it was not until 1899
that it became a strong organization
In some way the orange growers were
led to believe that only the spectators
and commission men could control the
machinery and agencies for marketing
their fruit for them. He had nothing
to say against the commission man, for
it was the growers themselves that
made him, by giving him a chance to
plant his feet. These men then claimed
that with their knowledge of markets,
their agencies in different cities and
various other advantages, they were
the only ones that could sell the orange
crop with advantage to the grower.
Just make up your mind said Mr..
Naftzger, that that is all cheap talk.
Nobody monopolizes the knowledge of
all these things, and any man of good
ability can learn them. The Fruit Elk
change managed to do it, and now it
gets more money for its fruit than any
other locality. 1t ships it more cheap
ly and gets better results than any
others. 1 can produce figures to substan-
tiate my assertion. and if other par
ties wish to show their books for COM
parison 1 am willing to show ours.
When we can make profit at both
ends, the proposition is a hard one to
beat
The organization was told that moth
ing could be done by it because other
people had the machinery, but it put
it's men in the markets, and now it
has the best organization in the mar
ket. They were told they were a lot
of grangers, and did not know enough
to market fruit, but in 1896 they sold
in bad debts, and last year sold over
So 600 GOO, with only $500 in bad debts.
This year they have shipped 5000 car
loads so far. 1t has not only benefited
the growers, but has forced the specu-
lators to buy fruit instead of taking 1t
on commission.
He wished to say to the Northern
California growers that they have the
matter in their own hands, and that no
combination can beat them if they will
keep their property in their own hands.
The railroads. shippers and consumers
will come after the people who hold
the fruit. The first thing is to be pre-
pared to market their own goods
Mr. Stephens asked what rate of
freight the exchange had to pay and
Mr.. Naftzger replied 1925.
Mr.. Stephens said that growers here
had to pay $3.50 besides the refriger-
ator charges. and that is where the
refrigerator lines had the advantage.
Mr.. NaftZger said he knew that was
the difficulty. In the South it is an
incident of the matter. Here it is a
, factor but here the growers can con-
troll the situation if they can control
the tonnage, and that they must do by
! organization. There are many small
growers without facility for marketing
their fruit The exchange employees the
best men and pays them we'll If the
northern growers wish, at any time. it
will join with them in agencies. and
use the same agencies for both-in the
summer for the north and in the winter
for the south, as their crops come in,
and thus reduce expenses to the lowest
figure by cooperation In all such
things there must be mutual giving
way and concessions. At present the
fruit-growers are paying away enough
money to secure competent mana gers.
Mr.. Stephens thanked Mr. Naftzger
for detailing the methods in the south
KATZENSTEIN GIVES FIGURES.
The Chairman, Mr.. Stephens, called
attention to the fact that George B.
Katzenstein, the Manager of the Earl
Fruit Company, was present as the rep
resentative of that firm, and no doubt
those present would be glad to hear
from him.
Mr.. Katzenstein (who was received
with applause) in responding to the
Chairman's invitation, disclaimed being
present as the representative of the
Earl Fruit Company, or in any official
capacity, but that his presence was due
to his general interest in horticultural
affairs, since he was personally inter-
ested in the fruit business as a grower,
in this and adjacent counties, and in
deed his coming was on the invitation