TWENTY-FOURTH ANNUAL FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 35 



2. The grower promises to pick and cure said prunes at his own 

 expense and deliver them to some packing-house, which he may select, 

 but said packing-house must be approved by the association. The 

 grower also agrees that his fruit may be mingled and sold with other 

 fruits of like grade and quality. 



3. The association, in consideration of such transfer of prunes, agrees 

 to inspect, grade, pack, and sell the whole crop, under its own trade- 

 mark and guarantee of grade and quality, as speedily as possible, and 

 at a rate not lower than the minimum price fixed by the association. 



4. The association also agrees to store said prunes, or cause the same 

 to be stored, in proper warehouses, and to insure them ; to employ all 

 necessary managers, inspectors, agents, and other employes ; to give 

 each grower a warehouse receipt for his prunes, which receipt shall state 

 that said prunes are held subject to the terms of agreement ; that the 

 proceeds thereof will be paid to the grower, or his assigns, on the return 

 of such receipt, and that said receipt may be assigned by indorsement 

 thereon, subject to the conditions of this contract ; that the whole of 

 said fruit shall be accounted for and the net proceeds paid to the grower 

 or his assigns, payments being made from time to time, as the proceeds 

 of sales are received. 



5. It is specially agreed that all expenses incurred for inspecting, 

 grading, packing, insuring, storing, selling, and salaries of employes 

 shall be paid by the grower out of the proceeds of sales. 



6. If at any time there shall be a controversy between the grower or 

 his assigns and the association, either party, on complaint to the board 

 of directors, may have the same submitted to a board of three arbi- 

 trators, one to be selected by the grower, one by the board of directors, 

 and the third to be selected by the two so chosen ; and the controversy 

 must be adjusted by this arbitration board. The award must be made 

 in writing, and shall be final. 



The association proposes to transact its business with and through the 

 existing channels of trade; consequently, the various unions, associations, 

 and packing-houses now dealing in cured fruit will sign a packers' con- 

 tract, similar to the growers', and proceed with their business. 



Provisions may be made in the by-laws for limiting the liabilities of 

 stockholders, electing the directors, requiring the officers to give proper 

 bonds, and for other safeguards and necessities. 



The founders of the Pacific Coast Fruit Association hope and believe 

 that this organization will be of great value to producer, packer, and 

 consumer. By fixing a minimum price for cured fruit the speculative 

 element in buying and selling fruit will be eliminated and this business 

 put upon a stable foundation. Eastern and foreign merchants will then 

 buy earlier in the season and keep a larger stock in store. If protected 

 by an established association price, which cannot be lowered during the 



