Arizona republican., 1921-09-14
55,000 CRA E
 MELONS SHIPPED. IN 1921 SEASON
Cantaloupe Association Re-
 port Shows Railroads
 Received 54 Per Cent Of Money From Gross Sales

president, directors and shareholders of the United Produce Growers as- sociation of Arizona.
 The average yield per acre, which was 66 per cent of normal, was the lowest ever recorded for this district, the reduction being caused by dam age by aphis. short demand for ripe fruit and extreme care in grading for the eastern markets to meet high transportation charges.
 The actual crop raised was above normal, however, not more than 50 per cent of the crop being shipped.
 The first shipment was made July 1 and continued daily until July 24. inclusive. During this period there was shipped to eastern markets to- tai of 98 carloads in addition to ship ments made locally by express and to the Fred Harvey system.
 Anticipating the probable serious effect of high freight rates and gem era1 disturbed business conditions, coupled with possible heavy ship ments from the Imperial Valley dur ing the Arizona shipping season. all contracts entered into by the asso- citation for eastern shipment were made on a basis of guaranteed min imum advance to growers, distribu tor to furnish bond to cover all transportation responsibility, thus in uring to the grower that all advances made on account would not be sub ject to claims by the distributor in the event that the average sales should not realize sufficient to cover freight charges, commissions and ad- vances made to growers. Fail to Get Rates Reduced Every possible effort was made previous to the crop movement to have the freight rates reduced. Ap- peals were made to railway execu- lives and to the interstate commerce commission. Active and valuable as- sistance in this movement is acknowl- edged from Governor Campbell, the Phoenix chamber of commerce, Glen
 dale Commercial club, Senator Ash
 urst, Senator Cameron. and Con- gressman Hayden, J. F. Lewis, local chairman of the American Farm
 Bureau, and to the press of Phoenix land Glendale.
 | Unfortunately all efforts in this direction failed and as a result the past season has proved the most dis astrous in the history of the canta- loupe industry in Arizona. Following Is a statistical report of the car lot shipments: 1 Total standard crates shipped, 21
 ATT.
 Total amount gross sales, ss1.- I773.S7.
 l Average gross sale per standard crate, $2,S76.
 l Total flat crates shipped. 24,o27.
 Total amount gross sales, $2s,- 667.34.
 1 Average gross sale per flat crate I $1.151.
 | Total combined gross sales as pel
 above, s90,441.21.
 Total freight and refrigeration Total paid account commissions $13,25125.
 il Total as advances to growers $27.731.25-
 F Of the total gross sales amountint to $90, ,441.21.
 l. Railroads received, 54.7 per cent. E Distributors received, 14.6 per cent Fl Growers received 30.7 per cent From the amount received by tn, growers there has to be deducted tn cost of crate materials, loading ol cars, harvesting crop and cost o HI growing same, the total of whicl amounts to more than $40, ,000, show ing an actual loss to the growers fo l their seasons work of approximate ly s45 per acre. ll The total sales amounting to $92, 703.51 were made up as follows: Car lot gross sales, $90,441-21. | Local shipments gross sales. s1, | 01010.
 Harvey system gross sales. s1. l 252.20.
 Actual gross sales for season, ss2. 703.51.
 ! From these the growers received II Advance from car lots, $27,731.2! From local sales. $1,010.10. From Harvey system sales, $1, 252.2o.
 Total gross receipts by growers | $29,993.55.
 Freight Charges Compared II The following comparison (
 freight charges is madei At pre-war rates freight charge would have amounted to s29,7oo. Excess charges on this accour
 over pre- war rates, s19,758.71. II At 1920 rates freight charges woul have amounted to s37,125- II Excess charges on this accour over 1920 rates, $12,333.71. II Following is a comparison ( prices received per standard crate II Average for six years endin il1920, per crate, $3.15-
 II Average for 1920 season per crat s425.
 | Average for 1921 season per crat s2.S7.
 II Assuming the average sellin | price over previous six-year perio | gross sales for the season under rs l view show a drop of 27.4 cents ps | standard crate, a deficit of s9,691.! on this seasons shipments. The 1T | creased freight charges paid tn | season in excess of the 1920 rat, | amount to s12.333-71, or a total S22.025.64 which should have a, | crued to the benefit of the growel and which would have enabled the | to show a small profit for their ses | sons S work.
 The future, says the report, is n | at all promising unless the trani | portation charges can be radical l reduced. It cannot be expected, | continues, that the average gro
 selling price in eastern markets w
 exceed the prices obtained over u
 six-year period, more especially sin l this period includes two years
 l great prosperity in the east, and Ill
 | til the cost of transportation is r
 | duced to a basis that will allow u
 grower a fair profit for his labor u
 1 future cannot be considered as beiI
 | in a healthy condition.
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