230 THE UNITED STATES 



was particularly well adapted to the raising of fruits and 

 vegetables, the territory in the vicinity of Cobden taking 

 the initiative in the matter. It was at this station that, 

 about twenty-five years ago, the first Fruit Growers' 1 

 Association was formed, establishing what is known as 

 the Granger System of shipping. The associations formed 

 under this system are organized under the laws of the 

 State, and are capitalized at from $1,000 to $5,000. The 

 stock is issued in shares of $10 each, and any person 

 engaged in the growing or shipping of fruits and vege- 

 tables who has subscribed for a share is considered a 

 member. The officers of the association generally consist 

 of a president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer 

 and six directors, elected by the shareholders at the 

 annual meeting. The business of the association is 

 controlled by the board of directors and officers, who 

 appoint a local manager, and also, at destination, a 

 receiver or general consignee. The local manager looks 

 after details at the shipping point, such as ordering cars, 

 checking the packages from the farmers 1 waggons into 

 car, giving receipts for them, and making up a detailed 

 manifest of the shipments loaded into car, which manifest 

 accompanies the car to destination, and gives the name of 

 the shipper and commission merchant to whom consigned. 

 The shippers are given the privilege of consigning their 

 shipments to whatever commission firm they choose, and 

 the packages are so marked. The way-bill shows the car- 

 load to be consigned to the general consignee, who meets 

 it at destination, pays the railroad company the freight 

 charges, which are assessed on car-load basis, and makes 

 delivery to representatives of the different commission 

 houses, who will be on hand with waggons. He then 

 adds to the freight charge his charges for handling, 

 prorates the amount, and fixes a package rate in propor- 

 tion to the size and contents. The commission merchant 



