The semi-weekly messenger., 1907-08-23

I rave not taken in the almost fabulous
figures of our four millions of dollars
that have been realized from our veg
etable production; half Of this amount
have gone into and through the hands
iof our laboring people, merchants,
basket, barrel and crate makers-the
other half or more, possibly as usual,
has been taken care Of by the trans
portation people.
"The shipments OF vegetables, can
taloupes, etc, for the same length or
time have been approximately between
two million and two million hve nun
dred thousand packages. Taxing two
million packages as safe basis, anu
estimating the gross sales at sZ.Zo per
package, foots up S4,500,OO0 Deductlng
all expenses, at s125 per package.
would leave a net 20 the grower OF
$4,000, 900 Add to this the net from
the strawberries and we have the gf-
gantic sum of s6,474,118. This is no
mere speculation for all the evidences
are right before you in the Increased
value of your farms, the improvements
of same, your residences, barns, etc,
the establishment of graded and high
schools, in your various tOWns-church
es, banks, brick stores and hotels, and
every other evidence of prosperity ed
IlcatiOnal and moral, openly attest the
value of this strawberry and trucking
industry to the people of this section
of North Carolina
The cost of conducting these opera
tions is shown to have been less than
s25OOO. He referred to the activities
of the legal department and to the in
fuence of the association in bringing
about favorable legislation and in set
Ting affairs satisfactorily between the
growers and the railroads.. He
thought relief was in sight from un-
Just minima rate discrimination and
imperfect service, matters which the
directors will see are adjusted at the
proper time.
THE EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE.
Following the reading of the presi-
dents report the report of the execu-
tive committee was read.
This recited the activity of the COM
mittee in it's efforts to secure now
minimum load of berries, which was
finally established at 25O crates this
being accepted in the nature of COM
promise. The transportation this sea-
son with a few exceptions, has been
very good. The express service was an
improvement over 1906 as to despatch,
but the deliveries were poor as usual.
The refrigerator service was good as
a rule, but as to refrigeration was un-
satisfactory from the standpoint o.
extra or detention charges. The agents
in the different cities, the report de,
clares, served the purpose for which
they were appointed.
There was a great improvement in
the telegraph service this season and
the bulletin was always ready for the
Of shippers.
AS to revenue report says:
1--WE regret that no revenue was de-
rived from the shipments this season
as we We're unable to provide ways and
means for it's collection. A suggestion
was made to the committee, which was
submitted to your board at the time,
that the association take over the
loading of all refrigerator cars this
season, for which we should receive
$40 per car; provided the A. c. L. R.
R. Co., release the Armour Car Lines
from all responsibility as to loading.
ETC., under their contract.
"This the A. C. L. refused to do.
and as the plan was of no value to the
association without this release, it was
abandoned, in the meantime, Mr.. J. 0.
Carr, our attorney, had drawn a bill
to be presented to the legislature, and
your board was called together on
March 9Th, 1907, to consider the same.
A committee was appointed to take
charge of this bill and urge it's passage
in the legislature. Every effort was
made to have this bill enacted into
law, but as you we'll know, it was
defeated. That the measure appealed
to your body however, was evidenced
by the adoption, and the action taken
to have it adopted into law. We
have no apology to offer for the part
taken by the directors and executive
committee of this association for Il
measure that clearly protected the in
terests of all growers and shippers or
in this territory, and our
regret is, that we failed to accomplish
it's purpose"
The treasurer's report shows suffi
cient balance to carry the association
another season and Mr.. S. H.
Strange the treasurer is commended
for his faithful and accurate services.
The reDOrt saws that there is a men,