Evening capital and Maryland gazette. (Annapolis, Md.) 1910-1922, 1920-03-24
Vim. Hall,
Ferd. Weems.
Fritz Sander.

Fritz Sander.
The packers had been invited to at.
tend this meeting. but only one packer
spoke. Mr.. Tate made an address Civ
ing his figures on the cost Of produc-
ing can of tomatoes. Mr.. Tate's fig
ures were evideitly very accurately
made as he had his itemized costs
down TO the X cent. He then proceed
/ ed 10 give his idea of the cost of grow
ing tomatoes. and while no one in the
meeting doubted his ability to grow
them for the price he stated, namely
thirteen cents per basket, they were
very much aware that they could not
do it. In the iiTst place. Mr.. Tate rent
ed his land al the rate OF four dollars
per acre, and it is genesally known
| that four hundred baskets of tomatoes
cannot be grown on this kind of land
However, Mr.. Tate claims that .he
did grow eight thousand baskets on
twenty acres of this land. All his
prices We're extremely low for the vari
Gus operations and he declared that no
man had a right to chafge his over
head expenses against the Cost of grow
ing an acre of tomatoes; that no one
was allowed the interest on the money
Invested in his lands; and that no one
should charge up taxes to the cost of
the crop; that a farm horse should be
charged only for his keep not taking
into consideration that a horse depre
cfates at the rate OF ten per cent per
year He claimed that SIPS per day
was enough TO allow for the use of
horse. He spoke of $3.50 labor This
is something almost in the class of an
cient history in Anne Arundel county,
Mr. Tate then proceeded TO appeal to
the patriotism of the farmer by giving
figures of the amount of pack in Mary
land as compared with the amounts
packed in other states, stating that
California was packing twice as many
cases of tomatoes as Maryland and
that the industry was slipping West
ward as had the peas. peaches and oys
ters (?). 1t was the general opinion of
those present. that it Was not up to the
farmer to hold the bag. If the indus
try can be kept in Maryland with a
profit to the Farmer they are perfectly
satisfied to be patriotic to that extent,
but if the Farmer has to put up with
the cost of this patriotism, then it had
better go where the Farmer is more
able to bear the expense.
The question was discussed in very
orderly manner, every man having the
right to the floor. Questions were put
to the packers and the direct question
was asked, What are you willing to
pay this year for tomatoes?" and the
reply was I'VE are not in a position to
state at this time" 1t is quite evident
that the packers have not gotten to-
gether or that they are. not going TO
pack this year. After about two hours
of discussion the following motion
was made by Mr.. Feldmeyer and car
ried unanimously. Resolved: That
the Report of the Committee from the
Agricultural Society be adopted. and
that no contracts be made for less
than sixty cents per live-eight bas-
ket at the shipping point.
a SeCoHu rSSoiutioH was ihti0uuNCu
by Frank Sears that the farmers cut
their acreage so per cent. This reso-
luton was adopted by a majority
vote The Southern Anne Arundel
delegates voting against it.
A committee was then named to
draw up a proper contract between
the Gamer and farmer Messrs. G.
W. Norris, Philip Barrett. NJ NJ.
Stewart, f. Sander and H. f. Burner
were put on this committee. The
meeting adjourned sine die