The Palatka news and advertiser. [volume] (Palatka, Fla.) 1908-19??, 1912-12-06
mwm A - - %
@(CITRUS EXCHAN0 Ec]A
Kmm 49, V - "a
"COME, LET US REASON TOGETHER"
AN OPEN LETTER TO THE ORANGE GROWERS OF
ARCADIA.
Tampa, Fla, Nov. &c, 1912.
Gentlemen:

Gentlemen
We care but little what by dealers brokers
oranges the of Florida but do great deal what
thought objects and methods by the genuine orange
growers of this State in what vicinity they may be located
certain letter Mr. Parker approved by the Arcadia Board
brought attention. from the general tone
of this letter. would that the themselves the vicinity
actually feel that the Florida Citrus Exchange to
growing industry of Florida and the Florida Citrus EX
change reality cooperative association of the themselves
the growers themselves and by the them
selves feel take notice Of this communication to which
will attempt reply full yet but would like to make few
suggestions which may bring forth communication in the form of con-
charges against the Exchange methods which will be glad
to fully,
the growers of Arcadia will get together given to under
the association growers for hcI
protection the industry, and will formulate after due consul
and thought letter be addressed to the Arcadia News harg
ing Exchange with those things which believe has done that
the detrment of the citrus industry WHOLE the Exchange
will gladly take such charges and them by explaining
why they things and endeavo clear the minds
you the slightest suspicion that the Florida Citrus Exchange
may have wluy houghesy done anything to mue the citrus
industry of this State
There no good be gained abuse abuse
ment caon evidence passionate declarations right
wrong to nothing in the clear light Of reason.
IT, therefore, you will take advantage of this suggestion part
will draw up of charges each charge separate paragraph
numbered that they be replied to by number the
will pledge you that the Florida Citrus Exchange will make its plea
thereto before the bar of the people, and endevo to- not
Justify at give having done or left undone anything
with which be charged that has injured might mue the cit
industry of this State
It, therefore, behooyes begin WITH ayyou brief
of the objects the Florida Citrus Exchange and what has
pished far towards the attainment of its Objects
"Ihe duty the Florida Citrus Exchange to obtain for
honest fruit, honestly packed honest price, and
against anybody who attempts to bring about other than
this" William Chase Temple.
that for which the Exchange organized and has
worked necessarily up date 1t claims that every that has
made public private has been for the sole purpose of bringing about
this result. How far has it attained this?
The first year the Florida Citrus Exchange of immense
difficulty 1t organizations its membership consisted of new
people who not accustomed such organization as this was
the machinery all from the SuEXchange officials
down to the growers themselves the familiar with the
cessites case with the steps necessary bring about the
suits desired.
In addition to all this freeze occurred the 2Sth December which
practically destroyed from third half the fruit left the State
and hundreds of thousands of boxes of fruit shipped after that
that should have left the State.
spite this the Florida Citrus Exchange averaged 81 Is per box
O. b. cars packing house for every box of fruit handled that season.
The second of the Florida Citrus Exchange averaged for
its growers $5 box packing house for every box Of oranges
handled that year
The third year the Florida Exchange averaged
growers $93 box b. packing house. for every box of
shipped that
It. therefore, raised prices received by growers
year year and 42c box its third year second year.
At the close of the third the results obtained by the Florida
Exchange being much beyond anything obtained before its adverse
res cast about find for the brilliant results shown by the
Exchange and its Methods and they finally decided that the proper
plea to make that in the first place the Florida
short during that third to wit the 9ll12 and d
in california still further aided and acted the Florida Cit
Exchange its objectionable securing for the this
the many years An honest price for honest
honestly packed
This brings us to the opening of the fourth season. at which time
admitted by all authorities that in the first place the Florida crop
the greatest citrus crop has ever had in its history and in the second
place the also the California crop and the Florida Citrus
Exchange is brought face with the difficult conditions pos
sie imagine wit: the marketing of the minor part of the biggest
crop Florida has competition with the biggest crop Cao
seem and the aycr~cS of the Exchange lay low and chuck
led deciding the Florida Exchange sight its
finish; that impossible for it, under these circumstances to show
results aproxmating those of the previous year.
the meantime the Florida Citrus Exchange realized