The record-union., 1899-08-10

the spring. Various plans have been
proposed. Some have been agitated
for time and found to be lacking in
some element of success.
The plan by long odds the most pop
ular at the State Convention OF May
23d and which had the almost united
support of the Placer County growers
at the convention of June 10th. was
that now in successful operation by the
raisin growers of Fresno and which has
been adopted by the Fruit Growers
Association of Placer County. In
| brief it consists of the forming of
what is known as "Co-Operative As
ISOLATION" among the growers (this IS
a form Of corporation in which the in
| terests and liabilities Of all members
are equal and the amount of liabilities
| is restricted by the by-laws), and in
| placing all of the fruit of the members
in the control of the association, to be
| disposed of by it to the best possible
advantage, with a view to maintaining
fair prices and preventing competition.
| In order to do this, such an organi-
Zation must embrace a large percent
| age of the growers in the territory in
terested
| The Fresno Raisin Growers Associa-
ton commenced business with 70 per
cent. Of the Iaisin growers in that vlcln-
| ity as members; this year it embraces
over 80 per cent. Of them. When it
was formed the raisin industry was on
| the verge of ruin from the same causes
that are now running US. Now it is on
sound and prosperous basis. This
has been the history also of the orange,
walnut and deciduous fruit industries
| of Southern California, which are now
also organized and on a sound foot
ing. These organizations all control
| large percentage of the growers in
terested.
The Fruit Growers Association of
Placer County has decided to- secure
control Of 20 per cent. or more of the
deciduous fruit and grapes grown in
Placer County before attempting to go
into the field to better marketing con-
ditions. With that percentage it feels
that it's members will be safe in placing
their fruit at it's disposal. With less
percentage it is thought unsafe, as the
opposition may be depended upon to
| make every effort, and to spend large
amounts of money, to prevent the sue
cessful operation of growers organi-
| cation; and would certainly be able to
| injure if not entirely destroy an Or
| ganiZation composed of but a limited
number of growers or We think of any
percentage of them less than seventy.
| With this percentage secured, it is high
| ly probable that we will be able to per-
| feet an organization of the entire de-
| ciduous fruit industry of Northern Cal
| ifornia during the winter months.
| There is strong sentiment throughout
| the entire territory concerned, in favor
of general organization along the lines
we have adopted.
| Indeed such a plan of organization
would, in all probability, be now we'll
towards realization, had it not been for
the personal preferences of some MEM
bers of the Executive Committee APP
pointed by the convention of May I'D.
| Some locality must take the lead and
various circumstances have assigned
that duty to Placer County. The first
essential is to get 20 per cent. of the
| fruit here in order to show that we
mean business: after that the mat
| ter of marketing or of extending the Or
| ganization is comparatively easy.
| The task is no greater than was that
Of organizing the raisin industry, and
| the reward to be realized is we'll worth
whatever trouble and expense we may
| incur.
The Earl and Porter Fruit Compa-
mics have made millions out of the bus
! mess of handling our fruit; this money
we should have had; and we can have
| it henceforth if we organize, withhold
our fruit from the commission houses
and handle it ourselves. We are the
masters of the situation. The fruit
is ours By simply Withholding it
| from the commission houses we render
them entirely unable to injure us, and
place ourselves in a position to make
| money; by giving it to them, as we do
now, we commit folly unheard Of in
any other line of business and pave the
way to certain ruin. Even those grow
ers who now receive special concessions
! from them need expect no other fate
when they have served the purposes for
which they are now being used. We
are making little out of our fruit this
year because the commission houses
cannot prevent it. There is so much
| money in California fruit this year that
even with their ability to absorb profits,
they cannot take it all. The sales re-
port we receive here are no criterion as
to the state of the Eastern market
Every dictate of. reason and common
| sense is for organization; there are
arguments innumerable in favor of
such a course, and not one sound one
against it.
The plan adopted here has been emf
nently successful elsewhere and is pc
culiarly adapted to the fruit business.
The movement in it's support is honest
and enthusiastic and gives every prom
Use of success, so that no grower, who
has the best interests of the industry
at heart or who wishes to continue to
own a home of his own, need hesitate
about doing everything he can in its
support.
An agreement has been prepared by
which growers bind themselves to be-
come members OF the Fruit Growers
Association. of Placer County and to
sign a crop contract placing their fruit
at the disposal of said association for