Rocky Ford enterprise., 1903-02-13
NICHOLS IN THE DEAL.
WIN Continue TO Push Plan Of Cash
In Hand.
IFrom IN, chlearo Paeker.l


loupe deal with favorable prospects,. Mr.
Nichols has perfected arrangements by
which he will handle the output OF over
800 earlots OF cantaloupes. In addition.
he has Just secured another association
which will give him from Z5 to 80 cars
10 handle. over and above the 500 earlots.
This is but the nucleus OF his business.
as indications are he will handle many
times the amount Of last year. When
Mr.. Nichols entered the cantaloupe deal
last season. failure 10 make il successful
were freely predicted. Evidently these
prophets knew little concerning Mf. Mich
OILS character. his previous record or his
ability.
1t will be 5Z years in March since E.
r. Nichols started in business on South
Water street. His record speaks for It
self. Mr.. Nichols himself says he does
not believe there is one shipper with
whom he has done business during these
nearly forty years. who can truthfuliy
say he did not receive fair treatment.
He says when he cannot do business hon
estly he will quit
The firm has ample capital TO carry on
business OF any magnitude il desires,
Banks with whom Mr.. Nichols has
done business give him the best endorse
ment and have high regard for his
method OF uansacting business. Mr,
Nichols is careful and conservative in his
business dealings. but when he has care
fully looked over 4 matter and decides
to embark on any particular enterprise
he generally stays TO tho finish.
4 year ago he conceived tho idea that
the Rocky Ford melon deal was not ju-
diciously or economically handled. both
as 10 the grower and the consumer. He
entered tho field TO do business on a dif-
feren, plan To that in operation. He pro-
posed TO give tho growers cash in hand"
for their melons and To bring buyers 10
tho growers instead Of growers seeking
the buyers through various expensive and
uncertain channels.
Mr.. Nichols expected opposition. but he
is a fighter. and before the season was
over he thoroughly demonstrated to the
growers tho wisdom Of his plan. While
no started late in the season and his ay-
erage returns TO shippers were cut own
by reason Of his having no early melons
TO sell At high prices and SO help to raise
tho aversge returns Of other. yat his sea-
sons work compared moro than fasorably
with those who operated on tho old meth
cd.
Mr.. Nichols argued tina, such deli
eious product as tho genuine Rocky Ford
ean,aloupc should be more widely dis,ri-
bu,od and handled in such way that
tho general consuming public would be
able TO consume more Of these wholesome
and beneficial delecaeies. His logical
line Of argumcn, was that Il tho melons
were handled SO the consumers could get
them at reasonable figures there could be
no limi, To tho amount grown and profit
ably marketed. He realized that there
were too many who had picking out OF
the profits between tho producer and the
consumer. He was satisfied his position
was correct and he was willing TO stake
his financial resources on tho result.
Ho. therefore, undertook TO handle in
safe. economical manner tho output OF
the growers and to place il within the
reach Of the consumer at moderate yet
profitable price. Paid local influence was
against him. but as the season advanced
and one grower learned from another the
exact condition Of affairs. tho business Of
E. R. Nichols G. Co. increased. and was
the bes, in volume a. the close Of the
season.
This year the growers seem to be alive
to their interests and are with Mr.. Mich
OILS. Those who 90 business with him
will find their interests as carefully
guarded this year. and next and the year
after. and SO long as he continues in bus
iness. as they were last year, and as well
as others have been during his 81 years
Of business in Chicago.
Such men as Mr.. Nichols are helpful
to producing community. and growers
will do well by themselves to foster and
encourage the movement he has started |