The Chickasha daily express. (Chickasha, Indian Territory [Okla.]) 1899-current, 1913-04-15
Conference Of Melon Men and Rail-
road Officials Held Freight
Rates and Marketing Of
Products Discussed
SMALLER ACREAGE is
EXPECTED THIS YEAR
Organization a Necessity to Give
Farmers Fair Price Urged
that Small Town Markets
be Invaded

Yesterday afternoon at The city hal |
the watermelon growers from this sos.
ton met with representatives. OF the
Rock Island and Frisco railroads to
discuss ways and means for better
facilities and markets in the market
ing Of the 1913 crop Of melons. 1t was
stated by the growers present that
the 1912 season had not been entirely
satisfactory and profitable to them,
which Prof e. r. Bennett, industrial
commissioner of the Rock Island. said
was because of the lack Of organi-
zation among the growers II was
shown last year, two Of the larger
northern markets were showed under
with waterinelons breaking the prices
there and making it almost impossible
to dispose Of them at a profitable
price to the grower, while other mar
kets, declared Prof Bennett, were far
from crowded and that the entire crop
could have been profitably handled
had the shipments been distributed
For this reason a strong organiza.
ton was urged, not necessarily a large
I organization. but an organization III
each community that would stand to-
gether. cooperate with other like or
ganizations in the territory and form
the nucleus Of a great and harmonious
| organization OF the watermelon grow.
ers in this vicinity that would insure
that the crop in the future would
be handled at Q profit to the farmers.
It IS estimated that the crops in
and around Grady county will be cut
to so per cent Of last years acreage.
This condition, stated the represents
tiyes. is due TO an oyer.production last
year, and in many Instances losses to
the farmers. The following estimates
were made concerning the compara
tive acreage this year with last Rusl
Springs, last year, 20O0 acres. thi.
year. lOO0 Alex last year, 2ooo acres
this year 1000 Ninnekah, last year
80a acres. this year 900 Terrell, las
year, 2o0o acres this year 500 acres
Several instances were shown wheri
The farmers had been the victims 0
dishonest commission men in the mat
tef Of freight bins One instance wher
the farmers had been charged s107
freight by the commission men whe
with the freight bills produced shove
that the freisht on the same shipmeu
paid to the RAILROAD company by tn
commission men was $500
At the beginning Of last season,
high freight rate was quoted By tn
transportation companies and later RI
7 dueed. It was stated that in some II
l stances the differences in the hig
B freight rate aud the low rate esta
lished later. was refunded. An i
stance was shown where SSi was pa
according TO the high freight rate az
s later on the same shipment, a refur
y Of $50 was made 70 the commissis
men, who in their settlement with u
IN shippers. did not mention the refun
but charged them with The original SS
n Among the representatives Of u
es Frisco and Rock Island railroads pre-
ent were Prof e. r. Bennett, indl
ie. trial commissioner OF the Rock Islam.
]. b. johnson, assistant general freig
IN. agent Rock Island at Little Rock: ?
II, Partell. division freight agent Ro
Island, Oklahoma CITY; H. O. Conl'
I'd assistant general freight agent Fris'
Oklahoma City, vi L. English. sup
las visor Of agriculture, Frisco, st. Lou
II. fC. o. Finch. local agent Of the Ffis
les and 3. NJ Higgins, travelling freie
agent Of the Rock Island, with he
H. quarters in 'hiekasha
IN an address to the growers, Pr
Bennett declared rs an illustrat
that there was enough demand
ley year to use every peach grown Nm
hat United States Il properly placed,
ton that from lack Of organization, mi
as. markets we're flooded and the pi
Of hammered down He said that an
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