The Florida star., 1901-08-02
PINEAPPLE GROWERS SCOLDED.


of the new league, the Florida East Coast
Pineapple Growers association, has re-
signed, and he gives his reasons in the
following salty letter, dated at Jackson
vile:
''The crop is about out, and up to the
10Th inst. have handled for the Florida
East Coast Pineapple Growers assocla-
ton 65, 900 crates.
''rbe old association is credited by the
railroad company with receiving 81 900
crates, and outside of the two associa-
tions about 65,O 900 crates have moved.
These figures are not exact, but are APP
proxiInately correct.
According to the agreement signed by
the growers and promises made TO me, l
should have received at least 1900
crates. mapped out plans for handling
more than this quantity, but all my plans
have been upset, and feel that / have
not been fairly tried or treated. | was
told after accepted the position of gem
eral agent on she strength of the agree
ment, that many who had signed their
names did not intend to ship through me-
Some of those named have not shipped a
crate to me. When the season opened l
found was not going to be dealt with in
good faith by many, and was sorely
tempted to- throw up the position and
lose the money | had spent, but felt
that such action on my part would not be
fair to those who signed and had begun
to ship In good faith. So determined
to stick till the end of the crop and to do
the best / could under very adverse
conditions.
WILD AND RANDOM SHIPMENTS.
'Instead Of being able to control the
supplies to different markets and give
protection To buyers, it took all my in
genuity TO dodge overloaded markets.
From June 26 till July 8, the period of
low prices in Boston, New York and
Philadelphia, was compelled to send as
many pines west as could find PLACES
for TO prevent the larger markets going
all to pieces, and the Boston, New York
and Philadelphia agents deserve great
credit for the heroic manner in which
they sustained prices In the face of auc-
ton sales that wOnld have demoralized
less strong and experienced houses. |
have given the three cities named barely
half the fruit calculated to give them,
and which they could easily have taken
care of at full prices if it had not been
for the shipments outside of the assoca-
ton, for the bulk of these shipments
went 10 these markets and caused a sense
loss Of br h.
in the handsIOf your pet or 5 per cent.
commission men can testify TO your cost.
'NO association fruit was slaughtered.
SUICIDAL POLICY.
"When asked growers to hold firm at
loading points at Sl.75, one man who did
hold and sent me car for which he was
offered Sl.70, and which | sold Oh arrival
in Jacksonville at $2.l0, netting him
$1.sI, will beyond doubt show the best
average of any grower on the river, and
he has marketed about 1000 crates. The
markets recovered as l felt sure they
would as soon as the pressure was divert
ed, but am sorry to say that many only
used my prices as basis to cut, and l
have seen memorandum of sales at 81 .35
for per cent. 42s, and larger sizes as
they ran, and at 75c. for surplus 42s.
81 sold here Monda.y ASS at $l5O, 42s
at $l.75, and balanceN~f car larger as it
ran, all one mans packin. At 50, mostly
36s, a few 30s and some Alb. kas. had
to turn down orders for two cars, good
average sizes as they ran, including a
proportion of 42s at 1920 during the last
week.
81 could have done good work for you
if you had let me. l can save you $1,000
to $40, 900 per year without altering your
present plan of marketing and get better
and quicker service, if you will let me.
l had expected and would have used
steamers to New York and Philadelphia
for ), 500 crates per week, but conditions
were such that could not and do you
justice.
IMPOSED UPON AND INsU LIED.
"When l accepted the position prom
ised to keep an Office open here the year
round, but you have not kept faith with
me and see no good reason why should
keep an office open at a loss to myself
Had the growers who signed the agree
ment given me the fruit they promised l
would gladly do my part.
al was used as a dumping ground for
haIIhaaIc and ~ -,