The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1881-06-18
What Early San Prancisoans Paid for Ap-
pies and Peaches.

For the following items relative to the
first introduction and sale of fruits in Cal
ifornia we are indebted to Mr.. John Pi-
per, the well-known theatrical manager of
this city, who was the first fruit dealer in
San Francisco, and who came to that city
from New York in the steamer Oregon in
the month of April, 1858. Mr.. Piper says
that the first box of apples of Pacific coast
production which reached San Francisco
came in the same year, from the ranch of
Lewis Allen and Mr.. Meade, of Portland,
Oregon, the owners of the same having
crossed the plains in 1916, and having
brought fruit trees with them.
Mr.. Piper purchased the first lot from
the agent, Mr.. King, for $3.50 per pound,
and retailed the same from 81 to 81 and
even So apiece The next ste0mer, the
Columbia, brought another box, for which
Mr. Piper offered the same price, which
was declined. He finally secured the lot
for sl.12g each, aud sold them again to
two lads named Keeling (now in the gun
smith business in San Francisco for 1.37 !
apiece, who in turn peddled them out for
SO to s. apiece.
During the winter Of 1854 MIR, Piper
and Mr.. Andrews, who were then engaged
in the hardware business on Davis street,
ordered four or FIVE thousand pounds OF
apples shipped from New York city to San
Francisco by steamer, paying so cents per
pound for freight The apples were pack
ed in sawdust 10 closed tin cans. Says
our informant The apples when first
opened had a delicious favor, but turned
black half an hour afterwards from the ef-
feet Of the heat during the twenty days
voyage. Mr.. Piper adopted suggestion
from some one to preserve the apples by
picking them in salt water, and sold them
picked at 80 cea.s apiece, at which price
they were readily disposed Of The fruit
dealer noticed, however, that customers,
after taking one bite, would generally throw
away the apple in the plaza Portsmouth
Sauare). He was afterwards advised to
bake the picked apples, BY way of varie-
ty, and actually sold several hundred dol
lars worth baked for 80 cents apiece.
The frst lot of peaches which reached
San Francisco, 1851, came from Mr.. Hills
ranch, at Napa, and sold as high as $3.50
per dozen, retail Cherries, Of Oregon
growth, we're introduced the same year.
Mr.. Piper purchased the first lot for $3.50
per pound. Putting them in clothes
basket, he retailed them on the street for
25 cents apiece, and afterward sold them
in his store for SIS per pound.
Strawberries arrived from Almeda in
1S54-5, aud cost 81 pound wholesale,
aud heaped up in souP-bowls, holding a
half pound each, were retailed for 50 per
bowl. Pears, which came into market
about the same time, retailed at a high
figure. Mr.. Piper remembers getting sll
for a single pear The first lot of grapes
which came from Los Angeles sold at
wholesale as high as % cents per pound.
In 1886, Mr.. Piper bought 3 900 boxes on
the steamer Senator, just arrived in San
Francisco, and took them to Sacramento
and Marysyille, where he was compelled
to dispose of them for less than the freight
charges, the hot weather having nearly
ruined the entire lot ca the return trip
a cargo Of watermelons, obtained from
rancher iu Sacramento for 25 cents apiece
were sold iu San Francisco at prices ranging
as high as 81.
Oranges, which we're first brought BY
steamer from San Juan, the terminus Of
the route Of the Nicaragua steamers III
I 1854, brought $50 per 1000 wholesale
lines brought up from Acapulco were
worth 500 per 1000 pine apples, SAC
per 600; bananas, So a bunch. Mr.
Piper continued in the fruit trade from
/ 1858 to 1858. Among the retail dealers
during that period were Marco Medin and
undertaken Wilson, of this city.
Mr.. Piper, after continuing two years
longer in the grocery business in Sar
Francisco, took up his permanent resi-
dence in this city. Among his best Gus
toners while in the fruit business were
Michael Reese, Captain Folsom and w
II. Rhodes (aCaxton') and host of 9th
ers whose names We have not space to emu
merate.- Ttirgiaia, Nerada, EaterPrise.