Arizona republican., 1921-06-10

growers paid for freight and refrig eration in 1920.
 A very large percentage Of the Ari- zona crop of cantaloupes is marketed east of the Mississippi river, mostly in Pittsburg, New York and the far eastern cities.
 Calling attention to the critical sit uation of the cantaloupe industry in the Salt River valley, Governor Campbell has written the following letter to Sims Ely in Washington asking that immediate steps be taken to bring the matter before the Ari- zona delegation in congress and the interstate commerce commission that some relief may be secured before July 1, when the harvesting season begins in this valley:
 My Dear Mr. Ely:
 It is with great anxiety for the probable fate of the cantaloupe in dustry of the Salt River valley that call your attention and through you the attention of the members of the Arizona delegation in congress to the certain serious effects of the present high freight rates. With the 1921 harvest season within three weeks of beginning, this important industry faces the most critical period in its history. Hundreds of growers in this valley will be unable to market their crops without losses which will ruin them financially unless there are inn mediate and decisive reductions made in the freight rate charges to eastern markets.
 Big Loss Possible
 At the present time growers. dis tributors and others interested in the marketing of Arizona's 2000 car loads of cantaloupes are purchasing sup plies most conservatively in prepara- ton for the shipping of the cror which is almost grown No one hardly hopes to profitably market more than one-half the present croI if it is necessary to pay the excessive transportation charges now in effect
 The growers and land owners IT this valley will lose hundreds ol thousands of dollars if half of thu crop is not harvested. They face tht sa me losses in making shipments un- der existing high freight rates Int fate of these growers depends entire r ly upon action taken prior to July by the santa Fe railway, the South ern Pacific and the interstate com merce commission.
 The above statements are based entirely upon actual facts and fig' ures complied from the records of tn, transportation companies, authenti' lrecords of growers, and several years records of market reports made D, the United States department of agri culture. bureau of markets.
 Practically all cantaloupes grown il | this valley are sold on consignmen basis in eastern markets. The grow CTS must depend for their profit upo Ithe average selling prices, less freight i refrigeration and expenses of grow l ing, harvesting. shipping, etc.
 Present Rates Mean Loss I According to government marke l reports. the season average sellin I prices for Arizona cantal0upes durin 1 the last five years has been less tha I$3.5O per standard crate of 45 melon It would be folly to expect highe market prices this season than thl average. However. even at the hlgn I est expected market prices Arizon growers will lose money unless ther Lis reduction in freight charges I By reducing production expenses [ l a very minimum and estimating normal yield per acre, the actual cos of a standard crate of Salt Rive valley cantaloupes in New York Clt this season Will De as lOilO w 5. l Fl l is without profit to growers or dis tributors.)
 Cost of production to harvest
 time (seed, blowing. irrigation etc.) -.-.S :. Cost of crate, nails, paper ; Cost of labor, harvesting, pack
 | ing, etc. - : !. .. 1. Cost of hauling
 Material and labor, loading, in-
 speeding :. v Distribution expenses, telegraph. Cost of marketing
 Freight and refrigeration. basis
 present rates -s.. |
 Total cost F. 0. B. New York, E.
 At the highest probable seih
 prices this will mean loss to
 growers of II cents per crate or.
 proximately s1s for each acre ha
 vested
 With a reduction to basis of ls
 rates, the grower would make re Fl sonable profit of 25 cents per crate Relief Necessary at Once
 From the above figures it is qu | evident that the cost of producti
 harvest. material. distribution. e
 each amount to small portions of - total selling price, while the trar