10 STATE HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY. 



one-half cent more per package than others paid for carriage from here to 

 Chicago, CO miles, and got four hours' quicker time than other shippers. 



W. J. Jones, of Oronoko: How does Mr. Whitehead secure better care? If 

 I go over to Chicago and speak to boatmen or expressmen about the handling 

 of fruit, they talk back. No individual can secure extra care for certain 

 packages as against others shipped with them, though we can get benefits 

 from watching the sales. We sell grapes for two cents per pound which the 

 consumer pays ten cents for. Fruit is sold on its merits, but we only get 

 what is left after charges are paid. No man can control packages in transit. 

 If he tries to he will be told to mind his own business. 



W. A. Brown: If we combine and send a man over, he will be recognized 

 by expressman, cartraan and merchant. We can say: "Handle that fruit 

 right or we shall have another man handle it." 



A. J. Knisely: We have agreed that it is perfectly right and legitimate to 

 have two stencils, one for best goods and one for inferior, but both marked X, 

 meaning exchange. We get better transportation, cartage, etc., and dealers 

 and carriers soon learn that X goods must be well handled or they will lose 

 exchange trade. We do not put the exchange brand on poor fruit. We need 

 a man over there to see where Mr. Jones' lost eight cents go. Mr. Whitehead 

 can do these things for all of us as well as each could do them for himself. 

 Ten thousand cases will command respect when ten would have no attention. 



Mr. Whitehead: When I first asked parties for space on boat or car, it was 

 refused. I said: "You give space to the express companies?" "Yes." 

 " Well, the Benton Harbor fruit exchange have the same rights as express 

 companies." "You can have space, sir." All we have to do is to ask for 

 these things. Our goods are off the boat as soon as express goods are, and in 

 time for the early northwest trains. All this was long ago demonstrated by 

 the Illinois growers, and the wonder is that our people are so slow to see the 

 advantages. We have brains enough to run our own business, and these car- 

 riers and merchants are in fact our servants or agents, and we have only to 

 insist on this. We can make them drive slowly and keep the packages right 

 side up. Cartage may be had for half a cent per case, and we can get a less 

 charge from merchants because we send daily large shipments. We can by 

 the exchange plan get our fruit sold for five cents. Much depends on size of 

 shipments and regularity. 



J. C. Gould, of Paw Paw : I believe the exchange plan is practicable. I 

 have been refused information as to where my fruit went; but, in one case, 

 finding out, learned that my returns were just half what the fruit sold for. 



Wm, Corner, of Ganges : I cannot see how this can be made to work unless 

 we get a general combination, for otherwise the commission men will head 

 us off. 



A. Hamilton, of Ganges : If commission men can do better than a fruit 

 exchange, why do they not do so? If organizations show best results, all 

 will join. 



Walter Phillips: Yes, but we must organize to make the test. 



J. N. Stearns, of Kalamazoo : Have you tried the New Jersey plan of sales 

 on track ? 



Mr. Whitehead: No, but knowledge that we have an exchange here 

 brought many buyers who took large quantities of apples. 



S. G. Antisdale, of Benton Harbor: The best of our apples sold right here. 



