The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1903-08-05
Ideal State of Affairs in Ac-
ComaC County.
WHAT BRINGS 1T ABOUT
Eastern Shore Of Virginia Produce Ex-
change Has Wrought Revolution
for Good of Its Members-The
Sweet Potato Crop.

4.-There are not two hundred people
living in Onley, yet the business trans
acted In the village will aggregate
million dollars or more year. For Onley
is the headquarters of the Eastern Shore
of Virginia Produce Exchange, an or
ganization Of farmers, that was for some
time entirely unique In the United
States, and as matter OF fact. there
are no others precisely like 1t at present,
though Texas and Arkansas farmers are
trying to do that which has wrought al
most q miracle for the farmers OF the
Eastern Shore Of Virginia. The associa-
ton was organized January s. 1000.
II risk nothing in asserting that since
lands OF Accomac and Northampton
county have doubled in value" said Mr..
A. ]. McMath. the secretary and treas
urer. In conversation this afternoon. He
Is very careful In all his statements, In
deed: his conservative methods have had
great deal to do with the wonderful
success achieved by the farmers cx-
change.
The farming lands are worth so much
more now than they were three years
ago because OF the simple fact that the
products OF the soil bring SO much bet
ter prices. Reliable figures lead me to
believe that 1t is safe for the Peninsula
farmer to count on receiving twice as
much for his sweet potatoes and Irish
potatoes as he received IN i9oo. me o.
hcers OF the exchange and the farmers
themselves give all the credit to the ex-
change.
There are no more potatoes raised or
eaten than there were three years ago.
said one prominent sweet potato grower,
but they are better handled ana SOLO
to better advantage.
Before the organizacon- of the exchange
the sale OF potatoes was conducted In the
loosest imaginable manner. 1t was strictly
| case of every man for himself. Inc
| farmer dug his potatoes when the season
| arrived, and shipped them to any market
| trat suggested itself. with only the hazlest
| idea as to the price he would receive
| And generally the price he got made him
think the commission man had cheated
| him, and that raising potatoes didn't pay
| nohow." And be was right.
THE ORGANIZATION.
! It was thorough appreciation OF these
! conditions and a realization of the urgent
| need of some measure to improve the con-
| dition OF the potato growers that led to
the organization of the exchange Mr..
! suggest such an organization. He
| got the farmers interested. meeting,
two meetings, were held. The subject was
| discussed IN an IT'S bearings. Everybody
was inclined to go slow, for they were
| pioneers.
Finally, largely attended meeting was
1 held on the sixth day of January. 1900
| and the association was organized.
| In the sale of the berry crop the follow
I Ing spring, the benefits of the exchange
| were fully realized. Better prices were
| received than in years. The same was true
| OF the potato crop. and the growers
| thought the problem of successful potato
| growing was solved. They think so to-day.
Organization and the application OF strict
est business principles has done It.
The exchange is composed of 1900 po-
| tato growers of Accomac' and North
| ampton. The general offices are at On
| ley which Is the center OF the potato
| growing country, 5ut twenty-eight ship
| ping points on the line of the New York,
| philadelphia and Norfolk Railway, from
| Cape Charles up to New Church. at the
( Maryland line, are connected with the
| Onley Office by private telephone line.
| The general manager Of the exchange
calls UP every local agent at the twenty
| eight shipping points every morning and
| gives him quotations telegraphed to the
exchange daily by correspondents In Bos-
ton, New York, Philadelphia. Baltimore.
Chicago and othre cities. The general
4
| the prices he Is authorized by the ex-
| change to pay for produce. II the pro-
| duce is consigned the local inspector
| brands the packages with the brand or
| the exchange and malls to the conslgnee
an invoice of the number Of barrels or
| packages consigned, the names OF the
| persons who have furnished the produce.
| the address of each. and the number OF
| packages each has In the consignment
The consignee makes separate returns
| to each of the consignors, after deducting
| five per cent. which he sends to the
treasurer Of the exchange
RIGID INSPECTION.
Why that commission to the exchange!
T asked the question of Mr.. McMath. and
! he smiled.
Eastern Shore potatoes are sold know
| our brand means exactly what Is SAYS.
he replied. ANY produce marked Red
| be produced on the Eastern Shore of Vlr-
| GINA The bell brand Is not so good.
and the Bell is third quality. BY the
| exchange insists. more than. anything in
| the world. we have been able to make
dealers come to know exactly what they
are buying before barrel of our pro-
1t was plain, to me that careful nspec-
ton and grading. was chiefly responsible
| for the wonderful success of the OK
| change, There Is an Inspector at every
shipping point represented In the asso-
|
II catch it pretty heavy" said an In
spector at one station In response to q
Z, did not often complain when he marked
their produce, grade lower than the
| best or second best. But I'd rather grade
EN- too low than too high"
This was, further evidence Of the rigidlty
! of inspection upon which the exchange
| has insisted from the first
| The membership Of the exchange is re-
| stricted to farmers of Accomac and North
ampton and of course only shareholders
The stock is valued at s25 a share, There
IS a local exchange at each q. Of the be-. TWEEN
ganlzation selects one member of the
Tine The presidant Of the exchange is Hon.
B. + sup.r' John rl FL Roberts sansrs; vice
| ager: A. j. McMath. secretary and treas
nrer Hon n Westco,t Is counsel for
exehange Is sroWin;EE all l,I the !. time It
apnlicants for membership as carefully
as the produce. :, I'VE e. have Rs !, to know
| ~ axcbanTe - said Mr. MCMath, When