The daily sentinel., 1900-11-24

sSry IL all to one market. He would dis.
thbuto it according to the needs OF the
yrrious communities. In his individual
capacity any grower can ascertain the
supply on hand in any particular mar
ket, but he cannot, in his individual ca
pacity, determine how many men will
ship to the same market tomorrow. This
can only be determined and controlled
by association, and to be most successful
the collective business of all must be
conducted in the same manner as an in
dividual would. This is CO. operation.
Ten years ago the fruit growers Of
Colorado found in the cities and camps
OF Colorado demand for their fruit
which was much in excess Of their sup
ply. 1t was possible then for any grow
er to ship his product with profit and
while excellence IN pack made selling
easier, yet as a rule, Everything went"
the shipper practically got his own price
and glut and competition were little to
be feared.
Conditions have changed. Our pro-
duction has far out-stripped the home
demand. We are forced to seek the
open markets of the country and to meet
the competition OF other sections. These
changed conditions must be promptly
and wisely met.
1t is a matter of common knowledge
that successful business today rests up
on combination for it's foundation and
that this condition has come to stay. II
the grower is to continue to realize fair
prices he must recognise this ruling, con-
trolling fact, in the commercialism Of
the twentieth ceatury and combine.
Combination which results in monopoly
takes legitimate profits from the many
and bestows it upon the few. Combina
ton which results in cooperation re-
serves to the many their just protits by
lessening expenses, insuring honest re-
turns and by wisely distributing the
product according to the needs Of the
market.
Anyone knows that one hundred grow
ers, welded into an association and work.
ing under one competent head, command
infinitely more respect and can obtain
greater concessions from all companies
and corporations with whom they deal
than can one hundred individuals work.
ing at cross purposes who are compelled
to accept whatever may be offered.
Freight rates are based on the volume
of business The association which con-
trolls the product Of one hundred or more
growers is something to be reskoned
with Concessions in freight rates,
which often mark the difference between
profit and loss, are only to be obtained
by cooperation. II the means for easy
communication are present, the larger
tho area united under one management,
the better will be the results for all.
In 1897 the Grand Junction Fruit
Growers ASSOCIATION handled its first
large crop, and for the first time in the
history of fruit growing in Grand Valley
its products had to seek the open mar
kets OF the country and meet competition
upon its own terms. This association
probably handled one-third Of the crop
that year for Mesa county. Everything
indicates that that portion Of the total
crop handled outside Of the association
was mar keted at loss, but tho 1bs 600
boxes sold for it's members by the asso.
citation nett ID $54 ,O85 to the growers or
about "a cents box, while the associa-
ton divided in profits among it's share
This
was successful cooperation.
One of the evils to be avoided . in mar
keting fruit is bad packing Everyone
admits this fact, but until a common
standard of excellence in packing is ss-
tablished through an association OF
growers this evil will never be remedied
and good fruit will continue to be grown
and marketed at a loss.
Business methods must be pursued
under cooperation if success is to be
had. 1t is impossible to illustrate in de-
tail these methods, but business sagacity
when exercised in behalf of the many
will As surely bring its rewards as whom
exercised in the interests of few. Co
operation, combination will be the secret
Of business success in the twentieth CEN
tury and must be adopted by the fruit