THE FRUIT EXCHANGES. 



147 



New York, Boston, Baltimore, Wyoming and other 

 points. About fifty thousand baskets of fruit were sold 

 on the exchange, at prices better than were realized on 

 other markets, the exchange charging for their services 

 one cent per basket on fruit sold. Each buyer is com- 

 pelled to deposit funds for the payment of fruit with the 

 secretary, so that when sales are made the grower takes 

 his money home with him and is not compelled to wait 



the stockholders was called and the number of shares 

 increased to four hundred, and the par value decrease d 

 to ten dollars per share ; this was done in part to effect a 

 stronger organization, knowing that in "unity there is 

 strength." It cost the producer fifteen cents per basket 

 to land his fruit on the commission stands in New York ; 

 this was thought to be excessive, and the railroad com- 

 panies were frequently importuned to reduce the rate 



and find out which he is to have — the price his fruit sold 

 for on commission, or whether he is only to have the 

 commission ! 



After operating the Exchange during the season of 

 1887 it was found that it was more desirable to have 

 more growers interested, in order that the Exchange 

 could regulate prices, freight rates, etc. A meeting of 



but with no effect until they began to realize that grow- 

 ers were backed by their organization, and through the 

 untiring efforts of the officers of the Exchange a reduc- 

 tion of two cents per basket was procured. The Ex- 

 change has also bought the baskets themselves at a 

 reduced rate. 



The headquarters of this organization is at Fleming- 



