New-York tribune., 1874-08-14
c,,IFoRyLA FRUIr IN NEW-TORK.

y, v,-r vrr PEARS AND GERMAN PRUNEs AND PLOMS
NINE DAYS FROM SAN FRANCISCO IN MARhEI-
rHF METHOD OF TRANSPORTATION.
The rapidity with which fruit can now be
transported across the continent from California 10 '
itv and the splendid condition in which 1t arrives Id
ths market created for 1t trade that Is not onS
worthy OF note but 1t is extent surprslne III
order 70 ascertain all the details of this trade Ihlb
v reporter recently visited Jersey CITY on the arrVa
% be California fruit cars and ascertained from
observation and conversation with the railroad oncaS
and cOuslgnees many facts OF interest Inc i''
which at the present time consists Oh b"l'io' ''
German prunes and plums, is hrst very o"'eiu',,
picked aud then turned over to the pacAers'
Is next sorted with great care. and those Whien
may be over ripe, or in the slightest degree JAN
aged are picked and laid aside for home use
THIS process the fruit to be very carefuy haneu'
a. the least abrasion would render 1t unit for pacKns'
the slightest unsoundness Of one plum or pear
in the whole box The fruit Is then wrapped
IN paper each pear plum by ITSELF ana next pacAeu
in box so tightly that is impossible for the pus VI
pears 70 shake or knock against each other WINE en
route 70 the East. Although closely packed the
paper wrappers prevent any undue pressure OF coha'
be tween the fruit. The boxes are made suhceny Op
70 admit the air and yet the openings are ho' "lu'
enough for any ordinary damage through hanu'us ''
fruit These boxes are is inches long Dy Il 4N'"''
broad ana when intended pears are Il inches GeeP
rtended for plums the depth verg little more than
iv i,cbes the box holding about the same number OF
that class OF fruit
The boxes having been thus packed are shIppeu Las
bv means of the Diamond Refrigerator Lne' along 'He
Pacific Railroad and slowed away III cars eous'Iuo'u
for the purpose These have double Walls VI "oo'
the intervening spaces being filed with cork, the floor
covered with zinc, and roof in when IS an lcecHeS'
capable Of holding several tons Of ice "hen 'Ae car j.
loaded thick double doors close the cooling chest an
ordinary railroad car door then shutting the whOe from
the outside world When thus closed the only ar tha'
can reach the contents Of the is through the ar pass
ages a small but constant current passing uhuer 'ho
caves Of the into the ice-chest' Where II j.
cooled 70 the temperature of melting ice
from IS 70 sc degrees Fahr This cold air tnen SILKS o
lis own weight through passages along the sides anu
ends Of the car into the receptacle OF storehouse iO inc
fruit at the same time driving out through
IN ~ roof auv air tnat might have become heated
inside the car. The warm ar tlus dilEeu out n @ ~
pas, again over ice and after being cooled la- H
bre to he rrceptacle Bv these means constant cur
rent of AR OF an even temperature l. kept upnOt cou
enough to freeze the fruit, but suhctAtl eOlu ~ p'
vent anv change taking place ~ is condition NLole
car oads of perlshabe fruit thus consigned IN
ornla 10 persons this city and arrive IN the maat
IN an excellent condition The cost OF transit i very
great certain car load consisting OF $40 boxes oi pears
and 299 boxes OF puns and prlHes, having cosL lJi
freight and charges alone, Sl2O0 But as llr run r.al
7a m rbopsap upon the average about S5 per box the
shipment OF OF fruit AZ his time OF tAe year
10 DE somewhat Of profitable investment Tue -IoSs "
ceipts being over Sj,UO per car. ,. -, l,.,...f,
GA the morning the reporters visit. the California
frt car, had been attached TO the early express taL
and arrived at the depot IN Jersey City between ana
o'clock a. ID The cOn>lgnees wagons OF truchs "tIe
already IN waiting ar the time ot the arrival OF tHe
Train ihe producers having informed their agents IN
th cfv 6y both mail aud telegraph OF the Shipment OF
them cOuslsumeut, The refrigerator cars having Dceh
backed up 10 rne platform specially set apart Tor the
delivery OF KIND OF fruit, the railroad cohpS!
et AT Jersey Cv took possession OF the car, and uu-
locked the doors which had been securely fastened n
California the agent here only having duplicate Key
By tins course a. possibility of the contents Of the
/ cars beng tampered with while en- route was coh-
petey avoided A. The double doors OF the car
had opened cOdness OF the air within was very
percrptDe the platform and before entering ne
car. The cOmpauy's employees tneu proceeded 10 Jus
load the cars each one separately, r carmen OI le
/ cOnsIguees receiving the boxes directly IRON lheIr
hands anu loading them at once INTO the marAe trucA,
- randy was this work executed that, uOtNlthsiauu
lus the Late winch the tram arflVeh' portion
of the csl gnments Of each agent was conveyed across
tine North River time 10 carch the market trade IAe
boxes examined by the cOusl-uees on arriving lu
this city anu the found % ne IN eAcrH'ut con
fon although. according 10 the adyices must nave
been nine DAYS on the way from Sau Francisco