Arizona republican., 1910-07-24
Large AssembIage Welcomed
 ArizOna's Representative MELONS FOR MULTITUDE
Salt River Valley Melon Growers Association In augurated An Annual Festival With a General Celebration On Plaza

A large crowd of people assembled
 on the city hall plaza last night to greet Ralph Cameron, delegate to con sress and do him honor and also en- joy the hospitality of the Salt River Valley Watermelon Growers associa- ton. which in its inauguration of an annual watermelon day" served tons and tons of that delicious product without money or price.
 The celebration was under the aus pices of the Maricopa County Commer- cial club, which rendered MT. Cam erOn an invitation to be present and meet the people under its arranging as a testimonial of the clubs appreciation of MT. Cameron's work. The bandstand was taStefully decorated. On both the Washington street side and the oppo- site side of the stand a huge heart had been attached to the railings and on each was inscribed, Tn the hearts of the people, Cameron the man who does things" on either side, at the top of the stand was an immense sign bear ing the name of Cameron in large let ters and above and below the name respectively, were the words state hood" and federal buildings" Several huge American flags and many smaller ones completed the decorations.
 The Pioneer band played at inter vals during the exercises. At the con clusion of the speaking Delegate Cam eron took his place at the foot of the stairway leading into the bandstand and the populace passed by shaking his hand in congratulation, many meet ing him for the first time.
 Councilman Cisney presided, first in troducing II. Ii. Howard. who spoke at length on the purposes of the Conner cial club.
 The next speaker was MT. Leek, who addressed the audience in behalf of the Salt River Valley Melon Growers as sociation. presenting some figures in- dicative of the magnitude of it's busi- ness. He said the association has tWenty-four members who this year raised sixty-five acres of watermelons. To date 150 tons of melons had been sold in the Phoenix market at an aver age price of S45 per ton and 205 tons had been shipped to other markets and disposed of at an average price Of S14. To date the receipts for this years crop have been S9,G50.62 The highest price received for melons was S60 per ton, in Phoenix, showing that Phoenix people are willing to pay good price for the good things of life to the limit of their consuming ability, but the melon busi- ness has grown to such an extent that the local market can no longer take care of the product and the melon growers must depend on other markets. The highest price received for melons out side of Phoenix was S25 per ton and the lowest price that any of them have been sold for this year was $10 per ton, the average being S14. As melons can be produced at a profit and sold at SS per ton the association feels that it is doing fairly well and hopes to do better with larger markets. The speaker said the local representatives of the railroads had done all in their power for the accommodation of the association and to facilitate it's busi- ness, but it is still felt that some of the rates to outside markets are too high and should be reduced. Conclud- ing, the speaker said the melon grow CTS were glad to be recognized as par ties to the celebration and their do- nation of melons was free as the air and they hoped the public would en-