Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (October 19, 1934)
Dublin Core
Title
Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (October 19, 1934)
Alternative Title
Chase Correspondence (October 19, 1934)
Subject
Chase, Sydney Octavius, 1860-1941
Chase, Joshua Coffin, 1858-1948
Southern Railway (U.S.)
Citrus fruit industry--Florida
Description
An original letter of correspondence written by Joshua Coffin Chase to his father and Chase & Company business partner, Sydney Octavius Chase. The letter discusses a meeting Joshua attended in Lakeland about the specifics on the proposed Federal Marketing Agreement on citrus and nationally standardized shipping rates. Chase participated in a meeting where citrus growers identified the production and merchandising issues they faced when selling grapefruit.
Chase & Company was established in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Chase & Company was established in 1884. The company sold insurance and later invested in storage facilities and fertilizer sales. Chase & Company was known mainly for its agricultural interests and maintained a series of citrus groves throughout Central Florida. The company was based out of Sanford and became one of the city's largest employers into the early twentieth century.
Creator
Chase, Joshua Coffin
Source
Original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase, October 19, 1934: Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.49, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Date Created
1934-10-19
Is Format Of
Digital reproduction of original letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase, October 19, 1934
Is Part Of
Chase Collection (MS 14), box 3, folder 13.49, Special and Area Studies Collections, George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.
Citrus Collection, Chase Collection, RICHES of Central Florida.
Is Referenced By
Folder referenced in Chase Collection finding guide, http://web.uflib.ufl.edu/spec/pkyonge/chase.htm.
Requires
Format
application/pdf
Extent
9,859 KB
Medium
6-page typewritten letter on Chase & Company letterhead
Language
eng
Type
Text
Coverage
Chase & Company Office, Jacksonville, Florida
Chase & Company Office, Orlando, Florida
Lakeland, Florida
California
Seattle, Washington
Spokane, Washington
Portland, Oregon
Tampa, Florida
Washington, D.C.
Winter Haven, Florida
Largo, Florida
Ocala, Florida
Orlando, Florida
Vero Beach, Florida
DeLand, Florida
Lake Wales, Florida
Frostproof, Florida
Sebastian, Florida
Lake Gem, Florida
Winter Park, Florida
Auburndale, Florida
Titusville, Florida
Spatial Coverage
30.3167, -81.6500
28.538084, -81.378593
28.0333, -81.9500
36.747138, -119.770317
47.607089, -122.332878
47.658913, -117.425423
45.523668, -122.674828
27.951345, -82.456627
38.907866, -77.037216
28.021985, -81.732502
27.909789, -82.787529
29.187236, -82.139683
28.539291, -81.377907
27.63898, -80.39712
29.028255, -81.303005
27.901559, -81.586368
27.745863, -81.530631
27.817216, -80.470448
28.617679, -81.370865
28.599896, -81.339026
28.066224, -81.788803
28.612555, -80.807934
Temporal Coverage
1934-10-18/1934-10-19
Accrual Method
Donation
Mediator
History Teacher
Civics/Government Teacher
Economics Teacher
Geography Teacher
Provenance
Entire Chase Collection is comprised of four separate accessions from various donors, including Cecilia Johnson, the granddaughter of Joshua Coffin Chase and the children of Randall Chase.
Rights Holder
The displayed collection item is housed at Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida. Rights to this item belong to the said institution, and therefore inquiries about the item should be directed there. RICHES of Central Florida has obtained permission from Special and Area Studies Collections at the University of Florida to display this item for educational purposes only.
Contributing Project
Special and Area Studies Collections, University of Florida
Digital Collections (UFDC), University of Florida
Curator
Marra, Katherine
Digital Collection
Source Repository
University of Florida, Special and Area Studies Collections
External Reference
Warner, S.C. "Development of Marketing Citrus Fruits in Florida." Florida State Horticultural Society vol. 36 (1923): 198-200.
Daniells, W.C. "The Plight of Grapefruit." Florida State Horticultural Society, vol. 49 (1936): 97-103.
"Sydney Chase Sr. (1860-1941)." Florida Citrus Hall of Fame. Copyright 2012. http://floridacitrushalloffame.com/index.php/inductees/inductee-name/?ref_cID=89&bID=0&dd_asId=600.
Hopkins, James T. Fifty Years of Citrus, the Florida Citrus Exchange: 1909-1959. Gainesville, Florida: University of Florida Press: 1960.
Transcript
CHASE & CO.
SANFORD, FLORIDA
October 19, 1934
Mr. S. O. Chase
P. O. Box 23
Asheville, North Carolina
Dear Dad:
Attended the meeting in Lakeland yesterday afternoon composed of 96 growers and shippers who united last August in fighting the proposed new Agreement. There were a few other growers of the Lakeland territory present, also representatives of the Atlantic Commission Company, and two new grower-shippers, making a total of 98 now instead of 96.
L. P. Kirkland was elected as chairman of the meeting and stated briefly the reason for the meeting, stressing particularly the point that in his opinion an effort was being made by Washington and urged by interests in California more or less at the request of a certain group in Florida to force the Florida citrus industry into national prorating. Mr. Kirkland pointed out that national prorating was unsuited to Florida, because California enjoyed a freight rate which allowed them to put their fruit into the east at $1.17 a box, whereas Florida could not go west of the Mississippi River due to the very high freight rate. He also pointed out that California would want to prorate their Naval crop against our entire crop of oranges, including Valencias, and in this way allow them a very clear and unobstructed noncompetitive market for their Valencias.
It was later brought out in the meeting that Florida's freight rate to Seattle and Spokane, Washington, and Portland, Oregon and surrounding territory amounted to $1.91 a box, including refrigeration, and that California, if they wanted to, could place their oranges in Tampa. Florida by rail at $1.17 a box.
Mr. Kirkland then asked Judge Holland to review the whole matter of the fight against the Agreement which Washington proposed last August, and the results that had been obtained by the 96 grower-shippers who had fought the matter together, as a unit, and he urged that they all continue to meet the matter in a united effort, as he believed that was the only way to secure recognition in Washington to such an extent that they would listen and give the Florida citrus industry a representative and fair group of grower Control Committee members, which Washington had agreed to do when they met in that city in September, and which Washington has not done, as evidenced by the group of names just received from Washington, and which I gave you as a list in my letter of two days ago.
Judge Holland reviewed the matter, beginning with last June up through his last visit to Washington in September. He emphasized the fact that Washington was very much astounded at the united front and effort made by the 96 growers, and that they had not considered this possible before last August. He pointed out that this united action had secured practically every concession that had been asked for, and that the attitude of the Department of Agriculture was entirely different after August, due to the strength shown by the majority of the shippers in the state, representing a decided majority of the fruit. He also stated that it was his personal opinion that the naming of the Grower Control Committee as sent out from Washington was a last effort to try to bluff the industry into national prorating and ram down the throats of the majority what California would like to see and the old Control Committee clique would like to have. He said he he felt reasonably sure that if united effort was continued as in the past would be able to secure a Grower Control Committee that would be fairly selected and in line with what Washington had agreed to do in selecting the Grower Committee.
Dr. Aurin was asked to say a few words. He brought out the Tampa Tribune and read part of a statement issued by Commander, wherein Commander said he hoped the independent shippers and buyers would consider for once the growers of the state of Florida. Dr. Aurin said that he was an hundred percent in accord with Commander in regard to that part of his statement, and that he sincerely hoped that all of the shippers present and in the state would consider the poor growers of the state and see that they would not get the Grower Control Committee as handed down by Washington, but one that would be fair to the growers of the state; that it was high time that the continued effort of a certain group to coerce growers into the Exchange be stopped, and that the growers be allowed to ship and sell their fruit to those shippers which they themselves might choose. Dr. Aurin said that, in looking over the group of growers appointed to the committee by Washington, that he could not believe that the leopard had changed its spots any more than if someone told him that Hitler was a friend of the Jews.
Howey was called to say a few words, which he did, and a great deal of it amounted to politicings; he tactfully said that he felt that some of the good Democrats present would be making good Republicans by the time the present administration got through trying to run their business for them by groups of people who new nothing about it. He was asked the question as to what he thought the loss would be if Florida was forced into national prorating. Howey very carefully avoided giving his own opinion, but did say what he had heard the loss would be from several different sources, which amounted to anywhere from $250,000 annually to a $1,500,000 annually. He also stated that he had been informed when in Washington by good authorities that some businesses which Washington was trying to run by would-be experts who knew nothing about the businesses or any business were suffering a loss in some instances as high as $7,000,000 a year.
We heard next from Jeff Sligh, who was very brief and said that he did approve of Mr. Howey politicing in such meetings. This was all good natured. Sligh did bring out something in regard to what Florida's loss would be if they participated in national prorating for several years. He said the real loss would amount to about $50,000,000 or the citrus industry in Florida. This brought down some real applause, and even Howey nodded his agreement.
Several other growers and shippers spoke briefly, one or two stressing the difference of freight rates from California and Florida. Judge holland drew up a motion protesting the appointment of the grower Committee
and alternates selected by Washington, which was unanimously approved.
W. J. Howey next moved that the chair appoint a committee to form an organization and incorporate same, including the group present and as many more as they could secure for united action in all such matters .The Judge had already prepared a motion which was substituted for Howey's, and, we believe, a very good one.
A fully detailed report as to the motions and committee appointed, and the whole meeting, will undoubtedly follow from the Clearing House within the next day or two.
The press was present and were told in un mistakable words that the paper would not publish all of what was said at the meeting would never be allowed at a meeting again, and that it would be made known why. It was stated that in the past it has been very noticeable that some of the papers in the state published very damaging and unfair articles pertaining to the growers and shippers meetings in the past by not giving all of the information, and by omitting parts and misconstruing many facts. This was directed, I believe, primarily at the Orlando Sentinel. Their reporter was present, and certainly got red around the ears when he received these instructions. The reporter for the Lakeland paper, which has been so active in the past in getting fair and correct information, was present, and I noticed he remained after the meeting to get some of the details he was unable to catch and record as the meeting progressed. I did not see the SEntinel reporter doing this, and I will be interested to see how the two papers compare.
Affectionately yours,
SCCjr/b
Copy:
Mr. J. C. Chase
FLORIDA CITRUS CONTROL COMMITTEE
GROWER MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES
_________________________________
MEMBERS--
Grower
Geo. B. Aycrigg[?], W. Haven
John S. Taylor, Largo
Harry L. Borland, Ocala
Judson J. McReynolds, Orlando
A. W. Young, Vero Beach
Francis P. Whitehair, DeLand
I. A. Yarnell, Lake Wales
Shipper
Exchge. L. L. Lowry, Tampa, Exchge.
Exchge. C. C. Commander, Tampa, Exchge.
AFG W. H. Mouser, Orlando, Ind.
Exchge. C. A. Stewart, Frostproof, Ind.
Exchge. L. C. Edwards, Tampa, Ind.
Exchge. Harry L. Askew, Lakeland, Ind.
LWCGA-Exchge. influenced
ALTERNATES
Grower
H. E. Cornell, W. Haven
Marvin H. Walker, Tampa
A. F. Pickard, Lakeland
E. W. Vickers, Sebastian
James Tillman, Lake Wales
W. T. Blend, Lake Gem
C. E. Stewart, DeLand
Shipper
Exchge. E. E. Patterson, Tampa, Exchge.
Exchge. Frank G. Clark, Indian
Comm. 50, River City, Exchge.
AFG J. C. Chase, Winter Park, Ind.
LWCGA L. P. Kirkland, Auburndale, Ind.
AFG W. G. Roe, W. Haven, Ind.
Exchge. J. J. Parrish, Titusville, Ind.
SANFORD, FLORIDA
October 19, 1934
Mr. S. O. Chase
P. O. Box 23
Asheville, North Carolina
Dear Dad:
Attended the meeting in Lakeland yesterday afternoon composed of 96 growers and shippers who united last August in fighting the proposed new Agreement. There were a few other growers of the Lakeland territory present, also representatives of the Atlantic Commission Company, and two new grower-shippers, making a total of 98 now instead of 96.
L. P. Kirkland was elected as chairman of the meeting and stated briefly the reason for the meeting, stressing particularly the point that in his opinion an effort was being made by Washington and urged by interests in California more or less at the request of a certain group in Florida to force the Florida citrus industry into national prorating. Mr. Kirkland pointed out that national prorating was unsuited to Florida, because California enjoyed a freight rate which allowed them to put their fruit into the east at $1.17 a box, whereas Florida could not go west of the Mississippi River due to the very high freight rate. He also pointed out that California would want to prorate their Naval crop against our entire crop of oranges, including Valencias, and in this way allow them a very clear and unobstructed noncompetitive market for their Valencias.
It was later brought out in the meeting that Florida's freight rate to Seattle and Spokane, Washington, and Portland, Oregon and surrounding territory amounted to $1.91 a box, including refrigeration, and that California, if they wanted to, could place their oranges in Tampa. Florida by rail at $1.17 a box.
Mr. Kirkland then asked Judge Holland to review the whole matter of the fight against the Agreement which Washington proposed last August, and the results that had been obtained by the 96 grower-shippers who had fought the matter together, as a unit, and he urged that they all continue to meet the matter in a united effort, as he believed that was the only way to secure recognition in Washington to such an extent that they would listen and give the Florida citrus industry a representative and fair group of grower Control Committee members, which Washington had agreed to do when they met in that city in September, and which Washington has not done, as evidenced by the group of names just received from Washington, and which I gave you as a list in my letter of two days ago.
Judge Holland reviewed the matter, beginning with last June up through his last visit to Washington in September. He emphasized the fact that Washington was very much astounded at the united front and effort made by the 96 growers, and that they had not considered this possible before last August. He pointed out that this united action had secured practically every concession that had been asked for, and that the attitude of the Department of Agriculture was entirely different after August, due to the strength shown by the majority of the shippers in the state, representing a decided majority of the fruit. He also stated that it was his personal opinion that the naming of the Grower Control Committee as sent out from Washington was a last effort to try to bluff the industry into national prorating and ram down the throats of the majority what California would like to see and the old Control Committee clique would like to have. He said he he felt reasonably sure that if united effort was continued as in the past would be able to secure a Grower Control Committee that would be fairly selected and in line with what Washington had agreed to do in selecting the Grower Committee.
Dr. Aurin was asked to say a few words. He brought out the Tampa Tribune and read part of a statement issued by Commander, wherein Commander said he hoped the independent shippers and buyers would consider for once the growers of the state of Florida. Dr. Aurin said that he was an hundred percent in accord with Commander in regard to that part of his statement, and that he sincerely hoped that all of the shippers present and in the state would consider the poor growers of the state and see that they would not get the Grower Control Committee as handed down by Washington, but one that would be fair to the growers of the state; that it was high time that the continued effort of a certain group to coerce growers into the Exchange be stopped, and that the growers be allowed to ship and sell their fruit to those shippers which they themselves might choose. Dr. Aurin said that, in looking over the group of growers appointed to the committee by Washington, that he could not believe that the leopard had changed its spots any more than if someone told him that Hitler was a friend of the Jews.
Howey was called to say a few words, which he did, and a great deal of it amounted to politicings; he tactfully said that he felt that some of the good Democrats present would be making good Republicans by the time the present administration got through trying to run their business for them by groups of people who new nothing about it. He was asked the question as to what he thought the loss would be if Florida was forced into national prorating. Howey very carefully avoided giving his own opinion, but did say what he had heard the loss would be from several different sources, which amounted to anywhere from $250,000 annually to a $1,500,000 annually. He also stated that he had been informed when in Washington by good authorities that some businesses which Washington was trying to run by would-be experts who knew nothing about the businesses or any business were suffering a loss in some instances as high as $7,000,000 a year.
We heard next from Jeff Sligh, who was very brief and said that he did approve of Mr. Howey politicing in such meetings. This was all good natured. Sligh did bring out something in regard to what Florida's loss would be if they participated in national prorating for several years. He said the real loss would amount to about $50,000,000 or the citrus industry in Florida. This brought down some real applause, and even Howey nodded his agreement.
Several other growers and shippers spoke briefly, one or two stressing the difference of freight rates from California and Florida. Judge holland drew up a motion protesting the appointment of the grower Committee
and alternates selected by Washington, which was unanimously approved.
W. J. Howey next moved that the chair appoint a committee to form an organization and incorporate same, including the group present and as many more as they could secure for united action in all such matters .The Judge had already prepared a motion which was substituted for Howey's, and, we believe, a very good one.
A fully detailed report as to the motions and committee appointed, and the whole meeting, will undoubtedly follow from the Clearing House within the next day or two.
The press was present and were told in un mistakable words that the paper would not publish all of what was said at the meeting would never be allowed at a meeting again, and that it would be made known why. It was stated that in the past it has been very noticeable that some of the papers in the state published very damaging and unfair articles pertaining to the growers and shippers meetings in the past by not giving all of the information, and by omitting parts and misconstruing many facts. This was directed, I believe, primarily at the Orlando Sentinel. Their reporter was present, and certainly got red around the ears when he received these instructions. The reporter for the Lakeland paper, which has been so active in the past in getting fair and correct information, was present, and I noticed he remained after the meeting to get some of the details he was unable to catch and record as the meeting progressed. I did not see the SEntinel reporter doing this, and I will be interested to see how the two papers compare.
Affectionately yours,
SCCjr/b
Copy:
Mr. J. C. Chase
FLORIDA CITRUS CONTROL COMMITTEE
GROWER MEMBERS AND ALTERNATES
_________________________________
MEMBERS--
Grower
Geo. B. Aycrigg[?], W. Haven
John S. Taylor, Largo
Harry L. Borland, Ocala
Judson J. McReynolds, Orlando
A. W. Young, Vero Beach
Francis P. Whitehair, DeLand
I. A. Yarnell, Lake Wales
Shipper
Exchge. L. L. Lowry, Tampa, Exchge.
Exchge. C. C. Commander, Tampa, Exchge.
AFG W. H. Mouser, Orlando, Ind.
Exchge. C. A. Stewart, Frostproof, Ind.
Exchge. L. C. Edwards, Tampa, Ind.
Exchge. Harry L. Askew, Lakeland, Ind.
LWCGA-Exchge. influenced
ALTERNATES
Grower
H. E. Cornell, W. Haven
Marvin H. Walker, Tampa
A. F. Pickard, Lakeland
E. W. Vickers, Sebastian
James Tillman, Lake Wales
W. T. Blend, Lake Gem
C. E. Stewart, DeLand
Shipper
Exchge. E. E. Patterson, Tampa, Exchge.
Exchge. Frank G. Clark, Indian
Comm. 50, River City, Exchge.
AFG J. C. Chase, Winter Park, Ind.
LWCGA L. P. Kirkland, Auburndale, Ind.
AFG W. G. Roe, W. Haven, Ind.
Exchge. J. J. Parrish, Titusville, Ind.
Document Item Type Metadata
Original Format
6-page typewritten letter on Chase & Company letterhead
Collection
Citation
Chase, Joshua Coffin, “Letter from Joshua Coffin Chase to Sydney Octavius Chase (October 19, 1934),” RICHES, accessed April 27, 2024, https://richesmi.cah.ucf.edu/omeka/items/show/1203.