Arizona republican., 1921-09-20
PLAN ORGANIZATION TO PROTECT VALLEY
 LETTUCE GROWERS

Following an examination of the returns on this years cantaloupe crop which showed that more than 60 per cent of the gross selling value of the crop was absorbed by the railroads in freight charges, the United Produce company of Arizona has taken steps to perfect anzorganization which will protect the growers of the coming lettuce crop. The chamber of com merce committee appointed yesterday to assist in this work includes Mar shal Humphrey, Phoenix Feed and Seed company; J. J. Gould of Greene and Griffin, and Fred Tait, president of the Maricopa County farm bureau.
 The pertinent facts in the matter are contained in the following letter from William T. Thompson, secretary of the United Produce company of Arizona:
 Replying to your favor of the l14th inst, I must express my apprecia- tion of your continued interest.
 was not at all surprised at results from cantaloupe shipments, taking into consideration conditions that we were called upon to face.
 Inasmuch as this association Is the only shipper that is likely to publish real facts I felt it my duty to make real facts public.
 Results from our shipments are fair sample of entire movement from en- tire valley. The firms of Gerard and company, operating in the Mesa district, and the American Fruit, Inc, operating at Glendale and Alhambra, have issued final returns to their growers, and almost without excep- ton growers are shown as being in- debted to them. And since they is- sue returns to each individual grower complete returns on seasons opera tions are not available.
 There can be no blame attached to these firms, they are old operators and absolutely reliable. and will give every assistance toward getting both the cantaloupe and lettuce industries on a paying basis.
 My report deals with total of 9s cars only, shipped by this association out of a total of 1900 cars shipped by the combined interests. Therefore we have not to stretch our imagina | ton to any great extent to get a fail idea of the enormous toll paid foi transportation from the valley dur l ing the past season in round figures l S1, 100000 a total of nearly 50 per cent | of the gross selling value of the entire crop.
 I feel quite sure that your body | W1SQ 10 see Ln1S lHQuStTy saved to lnt
 valley, and would suggest that vol | place the whole matter before you | executive, and suggest calling al open meeting to cantaloupe and let tuce growers from the entire valley to be held in Phoenix, including thu Japanese through their association 1 for a full discussion of the whol' matter. Then at once take steps tt | try and get a reduction in transporta- | ton charges made effective. Nov 1 that we have actual results before u there Is something definite t' | work on.
 It is important to get to work a once By October l lettuce plantini 1 should start and since this involve some 1,500 acres. and cantaloupe con ditions apply to this crop, grower
 are facing the same problem and q
 very serious loss.
 I Landowners leasing to Japanes are just as much interested a
 thought they were actual growers
 since loss to Japanese means loss t
 them in reduced rental values.
 It will give me extreme pleasure t I render any assistance, and to addres any meeting that you may call.
 A meeting of the association an
 those cooperating with it will held at the chamber of commerc
 next Saturday, when definite pla
 of procedure will be agreed upon.