The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1902-03-28
FALSE STORIES.
Boston Rivals Jealous Of Tho
New Providence Fruit Firm.

The success OF the new fruit company
OF this city-the Nerley company-scems !
TO have greatly disturbed rival merchants
Of Boston, who through certain press
sources have not hesitated to circulate
stories OF the most improbable character,
In fact so far fetched arc the stories and
their purport OF such an unjust character
that tho matter has bccn taken in hand
by the Providence B6ard OF Trade and
some interesting correspondence has pass
ed between Secretary Webb and the l3os-
ton News Bureau which seems 90 bo both
prejudical and OF inimical motives to-
wards the Providence firm.
Today, Mr.. Webb mailed another letter
10 the Boston bureau, embodyng addi-
tional information he has received from
Charles u. Eddy, the agent OF the Nerlcy
Brothers in this city. Mr.. lfddys state
ment 10 Mr.. webb contained tho follow
ing facts:
ITO prove 90 YOU that thorc Is hardly
n word OF truth in either statement out
side OF the per cent Of ripos on each
ship, which was about correct, | viii
state that the first cargo arrived about
40 per cent ripe, but that this market
was short Of ripe fruit, so we sold the
ripes for almost as much as the green
fruit. The fruit was not damaged by wat
er. In fact, the cargo sold 10 good advan-
tage. The water was forward of the COLI
sion bulkhead. and as far as we know
not a. drop OF water came in contact with
the fruit.
"The second cargo. upon tho steamer
Astraea, arrived i'm fine condition and
sold at good prices
'sThe statement that the cargoes were
| composed OF five and six hands fruit Is
as far from the truth as any OF these
| statements. The Grand Lake had
punches that were larger than hve and
| six hands and the Astraea had uS
| punches that were larger. Many of them
| were of nine hands,
| "As far as an arrangement with sea
\ verns a. Co, is concerned. and that we
\ will have 10 look elsewhere for our fruit
| AZ Is too foolish TO deny. There was nc
| arrangement with either to supply u'
| with cargo of fruit at any time. Th'
| Messrs. Verley have contracts for all the
| fruit they wantt on the south side OF tn'
| island of jamaica. where the best frui
| is grown and they have their own plan
| tations. This company Is in no way al
| fected by the absorption of the Dumoi
| company. We consider the article pub
lished as libellous, and far from IN
truth I'm every particular.
The principal Providence dealers wh
| handle bananas to any extent all sa!
| that the first cargo, to which particuia
| attention has been palu III tHe no"sP''
| pers, was not damaged a particle by wal
er, and Il would have shown az once o.
the fruit IL IL had been so. The mrs
cargo" said one OF the principal jobbers
was a good cargo and the second one wa
| extra fine. They came in with good car
| goes and the bananas sold high
The Providence importers are not piao
ing any corporation stock on the marke
| and are not concerned with the rumor'
| -, thn Prevalence Board of Trade Is al
| xious that so praiseworthy local entei
prise should not be misrepresented eis'
| where.
The reply, as well as outcome,
awaited with deep interest not only oy !
, | cal merchants but the public Ill general