Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1928-06-22
ENDORSE MOVE
FOR EXCHANGE
AT SAN BENITO
Growers and Business
Men Back Plan For
Cooperative Pack
ing Plant

Cooperative Pack
ing Plant
SAN BENIT0, June 2.-San Benito
VII get q packing plant Of the Texas
citrus Fruit Exchange, representing
a total Investment Of around 100000,
4 the enthusiasm of the mass meet
ing held here Thursday afternoon is
an indication Of future support Of
this section.
The packing plant Of the exchange
here hinges on the number of farm
ers in the section who are willing TO
sign up as members, as John 7.
Lomax, who presided at the meeting,
said "the $4,000, or $4,000 or 500, 900
stock which business men here are
are being asked TO subscribe in the
project - no question, If we are as
sured that the farmers in the dis
trict vii back the Exchange plant in
San Benito."
A committee of farmers headed by
John G. Plott, will start at once on q
tour of the farming section in the
vicinity Of San Benito, including the
Browne tract, and Los Fresnos, to
find out the number of citrus fruit
growers who are willing to sign as
members OF the Exchange when the
plant is erected here.
A committee headed by James c.
Bowie will go TO the business men Of
the city, and see to the raising Of the
required amount Of stock.
A committee headed by James G.
Bowie vii 60 10 the business men Of
the city. and Sc 10 the raising Of the
required amount Of stock.
Ask Cooperation
The support which the city and
rural section is expected TO give was
not put in the form OF definite fig
ures by the Exchange, the officials
Of that organization merely stating
that they would build the large pack
ing plant here IL citrus growers in the
section, and business men Of San Be-
nito showed sufficient support Of il
to justify belief that it would be q
success"
II was intimated that a sum Of from
$4,000 to $4,000 in stock should be
subscribed by San Benito people, in
order 10 make the project more of n
local enterprise, as well as TO help
In standing the expense of erection.
All Of the dozen or more growers
who attended the meeting, and an
equal number Of San Benito business
men, expressed themselves in favor Of
an exchange.
The necessity Of sound marketing
of Valley citrus fruit at present, and
in the future If the industry Is TO
continue on q paying basis was
brought out in the talks at the meet
ing.
This point was particularly empha-
sized by Mr.. Bowie, who declared
that the marketing Of Valley grape
fruit through cooperatiyes Is essen
tiai if the industry is 10 continue.
"All the fine orchards you have now.
worth $4,000 an acre, in a few years
will not be worth anything, without
cooperative marketing" Mr.. Bowie
said.
Would Aid Section
point, and growers and business men
alike expressed the feeling that the
packing plant here will be a great aid
TO the section.
The meeting was opened by Mr..
Wv A&&LA aG &AaAA AA4A AA1
explained the matter, as ii had been
discussed at the meeting held pre-
viously with John III. Shary, president
of the Exchange.
Mr.. Lomax said that the Exchange
has expressed its desire 10 erect a
plant here, IL the citrus growers and
merchants showed themselves in
favor, and pledge their support, the
business men by subscribing some
stock in the Exchange.
He then introduced y. NJ. Melden,
manager for the Shary interests, and
the Exchange. and Mr.. Melden told in
brief the plans of the Exchange, its
operation. and why IL proposed "a
come to San Benito. He said the Ex-
change contemplated several new
packing plants. and eventually would
probably have plants at practically
every shipping poinx in the Valley.
He said the San Benito plant was
looked upon as the next logical place.
since IL could handle the citrus from
Brownsville, Los Fresnos. the Browne
tract, and surrounding community
until such time as plants are built
at Brownsville and other points.
What we want from San Benito
people is n sincere expression Of CO.
operation" Mr.. Melden said.
Action Almost Unanimous
After considerable discussion, dur
ing which growers told OF favorable
experiences with the Exchange, a
vote Of all farmers present was TAX
en-, and all of them except one ex-
pressed willingness to Join the ex-
change, and the one said that he
felt sure he would join also, but that
he did not know anything about Il
yet. and wanted 10 find out more
first.
When Mr.. Lomax called for an ex-
preston from the business men,, Mr..
Bowie spoke enthusiastically in ia
vor of the Exchange, and cooper
m -keting. He said there is nc
question as 70 the dependence OF city
business upon the farmer, and no
question but that the farmer must
market his produce by cooperative
marketing, or 20 broke.
Mr.. Bowie told of the failure Of
growers in both California and
Florida until they worked out state
cooperatives. and said that the
could not hope to invent q new
Of marketing in the face Of
these failures. but should follow the
footsteps Of these states in cooper
After the conclusion of Mr.. Bowie's
talk several others spoke briefly.
Brown White. a local shipper. said
thta "while the Exchange may tread
IN my toes some, ! am in favor Of II.
and am willing to help" Mr.. Lomax
informed the meeting that Davis
of Wade g. Newton, large
shippers with headquarters
here. said that while he was in the
.itrus packing and shipping business.
md did not contemplate giving up the
business. that he thought the Ex-
would be a good thing for the
:ity.
A molten Of Mr.. Bowie's putting
he meeting on favor as endorsing the
nroposed plant was adopted unani-
nously. and the chairmen then ap- |
-It---- ~ II