The Ocala evening star. [volume] (Ocala, Fla.) 1895-1943, 1910-04-25

MARION COUNTY TRUCKERS
The Marion County Truckgrowers
Association met at the armory Satur-
day afternoon at $50 o'clock, IN their
second meeting. There were about
twenty members present Mr.. Lee
Howell acted as chairman in the ao-
sence Of Mr.. T. G. Chambliss, and Mr.
John Talton secretary.
After some discussion among the
members Mr.. Charlie Howell offered a
resolution which, in substance, was as
follows.
That the association open a central
office in Ocala and employ a compe
tent man to take charge OF 1t during
the shipping season for cantaloupes.
melons and other truck; that the man
ager should receive reports from the
different markets by wire, also from
the railroads of the condition OF the
different markets and the number OF
cars received there and en- route each
day; to wire or phone this informa-
tion to some person authorized by the
association to receive same at each
loading point, and also to attend to OF
see that all refrigerator cars are prop
erly iced before leaving Ocala: that
the manager should be selected and
be appointed by the chair and the
| manager should be amenable to the
committee for his conduct and his
duties should be defined in detail by
such committee
| The expenses of maintaining the
central office in Ocala shall be deriv
| ed from an assess ment per acre
against the membership OF the asso-
| citation.
| This association is going to be Of
| vast assistance in the proper distribu-
| ton of the vast melon, cantaloupe and
vegetable crops of Marion county, and
no one market will be glutted by the
blind shipment Of car after car to
! given point when other markets are
not receiving any. and thus getting a
| much lower price for produce than 1t
should bring when properly distribute
ed.
Mr. Merfert didn't want a man in
charge Of the office who loafed around
barrooms 1t was thought by some
that a good man could be secured for
SIS a month, others thought 500 and
still others that $3.50 would be a more
appropriate sum, per month. Then the
growers drifted off on icing cars and
the need of their being we'll iced. Mr..
Walter Huffman OF Sparr. sad their
trouble was with insuffciently iced
cars and result, produce reached the
market in poor order.
II was the general opinion that cars
loaded around Ocala were well looked
after by Armour's man. The trouble
was that he had more territory than
he could cover and as he was Lot pro-
TO walk to the different stations and
to do this on hot summers day was
not an easy task.
The talk then drifted back TO a
manager who was to work under an
| executive committee of three. The
question of salary was held il abey-
ance until as Mr.. Mayo of Reddick,
said, get the man first and the salary
would adjust itself. Mr. Arnold Of Ook
proposed Mr.. Duncan as a good man.
but it was thought best to secure a
man in no way connected with the
growing of these crops.
| Then the question of how to obtain
money to pay this man came up. Some
| thought so much on a crate AM others
per acre. How to get ell WHO grew
the 5000 and more acres in Marion
to join the association was then taken
up. Members were essential to the
success of the organization; the more
Meffert suggested to get a good man
at every station who grew canta-
loupes and melons and have him can
vass the growers and get their sigma
lures to a membership application.
! The chair, appointed on the eXecu-
tive committee Messrs. Meffert. Luff-
man and Mayo. The chair then NAM
ed parties to secure membership at
different points At Sparr. W. Luff-
man; Anthony, Mr.. Davis; Oak, A. J.
Halsell: Ocala. J. NJ Meffert and z. c.
Chambliss: Reddick, Mr. Brown: Lo-
we'll, F. s. Rou and Mr.. George; Mar
tin, E. B. Townsend and John Knob
lock; Kendrick. Walter Ellison and J.
A. DIN: Irvine, L K. Edwards; Board
man, J. A. Barton.
1t was suggested by the secretary
that III. NJ. Proctor. manager OF the
Dallas Truckers Union and J. Q. Reece,
manager OF the Oxford Truckers Tn
ion. be asked to join the Ocala organi-
Zation. Mr.. Light suggested unity of
action and while he did not grow cam
taloupes he would be willing to pay
five cents an acre on all the truck he
grew, which was hailed with satisfac-
ton. Mr.. Arnold urged the necessity
Of getting every grower interested in
this movement. Nathan Mayo was in
, structed to look after Summarized and
J. W. Chama after Micanopy.
1t was thought that the assessment
OF Ave cents an acre would cover the
expense Of doing the work and more
than repay the growers in the secur-
ing Of better markets and better re-
turns.
The next meeting will be held in the
armory building Saturday, May eth. at
IL o'clock, when a full attendance is
requested and as many new ones as
possible are urged to attend. as the
organization means great good TO the
cantaloupe, melon and truck growers
Of Marion county.