Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-11-12
kENNEBEC POMONA
MEETS ON WEDNESDAY
WITH CAPITAL GRANGE
Fifth Degree Conferred on Class
Of Candidates-Dr. G.. M.
Twitchell Delivers an Inter-
esting Address on "Co-opera-
ton"

|
! Capital Grange of this city, the ses
sions of the all-day meeting being
held in Grand Army hall. The at
| tendance was large considering the
| weather. fully 100 people being pres
| ent and the meeting was very inter
| esting throughout.
The morning session opened at 10
| O'Clock, E. H. Tillson of North Au-
| gusta, master of Kennebec Pomona,
| presiding and leading feature of
the forenoon was the exempliffoation
of the Fifth degree upon a class of
! five candidates. At the adjournment
of the session at the noon hour an
excellent Harvest dinner was served
! TO the gathering by the members of
Capital Grange.
Following the dinner hour the con-
Guiding session of the meeting was
opened, and the program for the aft
| ernoon was an interesting one. The
address of welcome was delivered by
Edward l.. Ripley, master of Capital
Grange, and the response by District
Deputy Daniel z. Foster of East Ken
nebec Pomona, and following these
were musical and literary numbers.
|
noon was DR.. G. M. Twitchell of Au-
burn, former master of the Grange,
who spoke interestingly on the sub
| ject of Corporation" as follows:
In opening, DIR. Twitchell spoke of
| his pleasant relations with Capital
Grange, where for many years he was
master or lecturer. and of Kennebec
Pomona, which he served as lecturer
several terms, noting the changes so
manifest. and then passed to the dis
cussion of his subject an abstract of
which is here given.
Change is written everywhere, and
! in no place more clearly than in the
methods controlling the Industrial life
of the people. We are, all members
of one family. and the producer is
| governed by the same general laws
as the manufacturer in any other
line He is the only one who actually
produces Others change form, i'm
prove quality, and distribute. He must
take the rays of the sun, the potential
energy CT the soil, and the elements of
the air, and. through his knowledge of
natures laws, transform into food for
man and beast.
The first law in the manufacturing
ton. No producer can hope for
place in the market until this is COM
passed. What does it cost to produce a
barrel of apples, bushel of potatoes,
or a ton of hay. Knowing this, the
farmer is prepared to go to market
and make a price. otherwise he asks
for offers. Through our merchants
associations there's mutual under
standing, and competition is eliminat-
ed placing the producer at a tremen-
dous disadvantage unless he knows
the cost. Figuring cost of apples, as
the trader figures his business inter-
ests, taxes, wear and tear, deprecia-
ton, insurance, all overhead charges
must be figured. in addition to labor
and then the profit added. Without
this close attention to details, failures
must multiply. Upon this basis, every
barrel of apples costs s1.50 when ready
to pick. IT has cost me So 1-2 cents per
tree, yearly, to spray, prune, dig for
borers, fertilize, cut the grass and
mulch. and so keep the trees in
healthy condition. Add fifty more for
interest. upon a valuation of ten dol
lars two per cent for depreciation.
taxes. machinery and implements and
other necessary items. and this cost
is placed at low figure. Add to this
the cost of picking. 20 cents. barrels.
At cents. hauling to and from station,
5 to Is cents, shrinkage in packing, 10
per cent, and you have the cost OF
barrel of apples, to the grower, when
ready to pack
Seeking the producers rights. all
these facts must be clearly established.
Under wise laws the grading of apples
is now clearly defined. and conformi-
ty to law is absolutely necessary.
Price is to a large measure deter
mined by confidence in the character
and uniformity of the goods. II pro-
ducers want a better price the grade
Of barrel or bag must be improved.
/ Contents must be strictly according
IN representation The brand must
be made good inside. Traders seek the
lowest price in buying and highest In
selling, but a profit of 200 per cent on
anpIes is a crime In all our towns
and cities, ST to $1.25 is the price paid
per barrel for No. / fruit, yet the SELL
ing figure is 25 to 80 cents per peck, or
sa.75 to $3.50, without the barrel. SO
long as this extortion holds, produc-
ers can find their rights only by
seeking consumers direct.
Free from heavy expenses, neces-
sary to all trades, in rents, handing
and distributing. the producer, oy al
yiding the middlemens proht watn
the consumer, can open the door to
sure and safe market Growers nave
this season, by this method, SOLD tneir
applos for $1.75 net, good price Tor
the year, every barrel guaranteed
.strictly No is, sound and free from
defects" The result is that consum-
ers have engaged their supply Tor
NEXT wear, and, in addition, ordered
| supplies of potatoes and vegetables.
Here is an unlimited market to be
onened by producers who will meet
consumers half way. How can we get
| This market, do you ask? BY advertis-
ing in metropolitan dailies. by sending
samples and guaranteeing all future
shipments. and by writing frlenos IN
! the cities. A..
one grower sent a sample basket TO
| a clerk in large establishment, nam
| ing price at which he would denver
| in Boston, and sold his entire pack
Another by small ad. in the want
colmun Of big city daily got the Gus