The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1912-08-16
ARE .....' =. T.
~ RI. PRESENTED
Nj. ID. Buskirk Submits a
Few Statements Not
Yet Made.

l shall make no comments on for
mer publications other than to say
that Mr.. Prater saw my last article
before it was published and gave his
sanction to the statements made.
For the benefit of the growers of
this vicinity I am having published
in this issue extracts from a letter
from the Crawford Bros. of North
East, Pa, and the annual statement
of the Chautauqua and Erie Grape
Association of Westfeld, N Y. | beg
leave TO make some comments and
comparisons on the annual statements
of the two largest associations that
affect us as grape growers. Mr.. Dun
ham states in an article of July 25
that New York did not pay its growers
as much for their 1911 crop as the
Southern Michigan did and that it
was the custom in New York TO make
a daily average and not basket aver
age and to pool wet grapes by them
selves. The Crawford Bros. letter
answers this very fully.
The G. and f.. Association handles
grapes for one-half cent per basket,
and not having a salesman capable of
handling so large a business satisfac-
torily and profitably, they hire nine
travelling statesmen to look after their
interests in the most important mar
kets in which they operate, and they
pay this force in fees and expenses
80, $50 70 Then again you will notice
they pay =, 800 68 for inspection.
They want to know what they are
shipping, and they pay 70 find out.
They also pay s2,299.06 for labels to
make their package more attractive.
After all these expenses and many
others, they pay in 1911 81 cents net
to the growers for Concords.
According to the annual statement
made by Southern Michigan at its an
nual meeting i'll Lawton last January,
a copy of which have before me, Q
am not taking anyone's say so for
this) Southern Michigan paid its grow
ers S.07525 per basket, just S02175 less
than the c. and +. paid its members,
which would have made an advance
on the 4,SS8, 429 eight-pound baskets
handled by Southern Michigan of
Sto6, 1888. Quite neat little sum 10
| lose. More than one hundred dollars
| for each shipper both large and small.
Then again you will see that G. and
| f. sold ,625 cars of grapes in 1911
and paid their growers S46+ go. 90.
Southern Michigan's statement shows
1916 cars of grapes and paid their
growers S409, 9,914S "a, just S54, 800. GO less
| for 291 cars more than G. and f..
shipped,
Now, fellow grape grower. these
figures show that there is something
radically wrong with the grape busi-
ness in Michigan, and there ,are but
two places to look for it, either the
management or the growers them
selves.
The Creator has done more for the
grape growers in Michigan than he
has in the Chautauqua belt. The
enemies are fewer, our vines are big
ger and stronger with a much better
foliage, larger berry with quality,
if not their superior, at least their
equal. The remedy is in the growers
hands. First put up an honest pack.
age, then ship only with an associa.
tion that will cooperate, for cooper.
alton, not competition, is the grape
growers sole salvation,
North HAST, Pa, Aug. 9, 1912
Mr.. III. ID. Buskirk,
Paw Paw, Mich. rl - {
Dear sir H ~ 1
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