Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1883-08-20
FRUIT ON TIE SACRAMENTO.
Trip to The Farms on the Sacramento
River by a san Francisco Reporter.

River by san Francisco Reporter.
A San Francisco paper Ct yesterday says
Between 80 and 40 tons Of Bartlett pears
and peaches are shipped East weekly from
the Sacramento river valley, according to the
estimates Of several Of the fruit-raisers of
that section, and such has been the average
quantity for some time. Both tbs pears and
pesches are picked green, neatly wrapped in
white paper and packed under the supervis-
ion Of agenta of two Chicago Wholesale
houses. Pears constitute the greatest bulk of
these large fruit shipments. The Sacramento
riveevalley has within the past three years
bseu improved more rapidly than might be
supposed by those whom neither pleasure uor
business have called that way. Ranches
have been set out to fruit sll along the narrow
belt on either side Of the river, which lies
between the tide lands and the river. This
ID so much tbs rule that thers sppssrs to he
no l0eslity within many miles ot the mouth
Of the Sacramento whsre fruit will grow
that orchards are not growing and thrifty.
Four boass are kept running daily up and
down the river, picking up great loads of
fruit 10 discharge ut the J acsson.street wharf,
and carrying back empty baskets and boxes.
Most OF the fruit-growing IS confined to the
mainland, hat thare are seven fns ranches
on Grand Island along Steamboat Slough.
More pears are skipped to Sacramento for
Chicago than come this way. but the case is
diff arent with peaches, Of which, come days,
10000 packages have arrived. The Sacra-
mento peaches arelargsr end finer than those
produced in the famous regions of Delaware
and New Jersey. from which the principal
peach supply of New York ls obtained. TIE
To-
wharf, which presents a lively scene early in
the morning on the srrival of the fruit boats.
The California Transportation Company. in
which Messrs. Nelson, Anderson and Sol.
Runyon are principal owners. is running
seven boats regularly this season, namely, the
Pride of the River, Onward, Constance, Re-
form, Relief, Pioneer and Sonoma, the latter
being leased. Several barges are also aol-
pioyed bringing down grain.
S0lcncn Runyen has probably the lsrgest
number of acres devoted exclusively TO fruit
of any ranchman on the lower SacramentO-
$50 acres, divided into two ranches, of which
acres in orchard. The Greens and others
have very large fruit ranches. The river is
continually zigzagged by the fruit steamers
on their passages, go near are the ranches TO-
gether. & glimpse of an occasional fine
building or the presence of group of ladies
lends varsity TO the scenery, which otherwise
might be less interesting. But the chance OBJ
server cannot fail to notice the business-like
air of even the ladies who come to the waters
edge. Some Of them have books il which
they keep strict account of the fruit. Two
comedy widows run fruit ranches on the Sac
ramento on their own judgment and means.
and are reputed to be making good thing of
It fn 4ncially. The figures of production this
year from the Sacramento fruit ranches
promise to be very satisfactory to all the own.
ers. Prices have been fair, the crop good and
tha demand steady for the most of the sea-
aon. Those WHO have had light crop find
ia the higher prices compensation for lighter
yield.
A melancholy sight is presented on the trip
to the Sacramento fruit ranches in the wreck
of Sherman Island. Lsnd was held there
very few years sgo at $50 an acre, ard The
entire area Of the island was under cultiva-
ton and produced fine crops. All the farm
ing lands are now an inland lake. The
river burst through the levee in several
and forsh in torrents. The heatly.painted
houses, which were occupied shout five
years ago. are standing in the food. The
school-housa door is open, and the water
comes up high above the door.sifl some.
times, as 8 dingy line about The sides shows.
Braunan's Island Is partially submerged.
The fishing population es various points
along the Sacramento have taken warning By
these indications, and build so foundation
houses. They have huts OF floats, and some
are fitted with maste. Oae aristocratic float
ing hotel sports q veranda at each end,
mast, smokestaok, two awnings, two win
dows and door about four feet high. 1t is,
perhaps, 15x12 feet, and contains two msn
who smell very much like phosphate. The
owners of these houses are independent of the
fluctuations of real estate. They occasion
silly do object to the ups and downs of water
lots when steamer comes along with wheel
like Yankee churn.