Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1884-10-01
Fruit-GroMers, Convention.

Fruit-Growers' Convention.
SAN FRANCISCO September 30th.-Aftcr the
election of officers of the California FruitG Grow
ers Association yesterday afternoon, President
Hilgard suggested the appointment of a commit
tee to confer with the railroad authorities and
obtain a reduction in freight on fruit shipments.
This question: said Professor Hilgard, is
one which is rapidly assuming the proportions
of the turning point on which is to be decided
the future of the fruit-growing. industry. The
fruit-growers are already much interested in
this important question, and it is high time TO
agitate it intelligently.'
The question of freight was discussed by
Messrs Melco, Hatch, Wheeler Blackwood and
Ryan, and it was the universal opinion that
freights must be reduced if the fruit industry is
to remain profitable.
The Convention adjourned to 1880 this morn
ing.
The Convention assembled at 1880 this morn
ing, Judge Blackwood presiding.
The Committee on Order of Business report
ed that, as the attendance was not large it had
concluded that it was best to take up the read
ing of papers this afternoon, and that after pa
pers were read subjects could be introduced at
will. The report was adopted.
The question OF reducing freight charges was
again taken up and discussed
DR.. Kimball was in favor of the appointment
of committee to consult with railroad mana
gers.
Dr. Chaplin thought that the question of
freights from the fruit-growers standpoint
should be discussed with the railroad managers.
Differences too often arise which interfere with
the fruit interest. These, he thought, might be
avoided in great measure by conference, ii the
railroad people could be met in the proper
spirit We need daily fruit train, running on
fast time at low rates. IL we can get this, there
will be no danger of our not being able TO take
care of our surplus.
W. S. Jessup Endorsed DIR. Chapins views. He
thought that the railroad company was ready
and anxious to do all they could. They had al
ready expressed a willingness to reduce freghtS,
but the proposition had not been brought di-
rectly before them. He thought that freight
train could be sent forward every day if the
freight could be put down to two or two and a
half cents per pound. At these rates train of
thirty cars could be got off each day. If the
rates be reduced, we can put fruits into
Eastern cities for six cents per pound. But the
men who are to meet the railroad men must be
thinking men and moderate men.
Mr. Shinn thought that nothing could be bet
ter than the proposed conference. The solution
of the whole problem of frut-growing depends
upon the question of freights. Heretofore the
railroad has stated that it could not be given
train-load day. Next season he was sure
that train day, or at least, train every other
day, could be dispatched.
Mr.. Hatch did not think that the Association
should contract to furnish train-load OF fruit
per day All that it should do is to point out
the prospect of there being sufficient fruit for
expectation to load a train.
Mr.. Hickson said that the railroad had been
so pressed for rolling stock that it had not been
able to do what it expected Freight Agent
Gray surprised to know that dried fruits did
not sell East for at least 1Sor 20 cents per pound
When assured that only 10 cents was received
on the average, he thought that cents was a
large percentage to extract for freight
The following Committee of Conference was
appointed Senator Buck of Eacaville, Mr.
Hickson and w. II. Aiken.
Mr.. Hatch offered a resolution inviting the
Gamers of the State to attend the Convention
and discuss with the Association the question of
canning fruit.
Mr. Wickson moved 10 amend, to include in
40 fruir .dr
Adopted
An amendment fixing Thursday afternoon as
the time for the fruit-canners and dryers to
meet the Convention was adopted.
The resolution as amended was then adopted
Mr. Hatch moved that Col Andrews be in
vlted to attend the Convention as Commissioner
for California to the New Orleans Exposition
Adopted
On motion of MI Jessup, Harry Edwards was
invited TO attend the Convention as one of the
leading entomologists of the United States
Adjourned to 100 p. NJ.
Spontaneous Combustion on Shipboard.
SAN FRANCISCO, September 30th-The ship
John Currier, from Liverpool for Wilmington,
arrived unexpectedly in this port this morning
and il was soon asccrtained that the cause Of
her appearance was the spontaneous combus-
ton of her cargo of coal. The fire was discoy-
cred on August 9th, and the crew Immediately
went TO work with yigor to subdue it. About
80 tons of the coal was thrown overheard and
water freely used. On the 3oth the wife and
British ship Cressington, who kindly kept COM
pany until the fire was under control when
they returned on board their own vessel The
vessel is thought to be uninjured and the dam
age to the coal cannot as yet be ascertained.
The crew state that the heat was intense at
times and could be felt through the decks. As
the vessel was well up to the northward, the
master thought it advisable to put in here,
where the facilities for discharging and repair
ing the vessel are much better than at VIII
mington.
The Railroad Commission.
SAN FRANCISCO, September 30th.-A meeting
Of the Board Of Railroad Commissioners was
held at II o'clock this morning, all the members
being present.
A Communication was received from General
Freight Agent Thorn, of the San Francisco and
North Pacific Railroad, stating that the tariffs
prepared at the suggestion of the Board had
been put in force August 18th, that under it wine
casks are returned free. The letter was fled it
being understood that the Board was not re-
SpOnsible for the tariff
A letter was received from T. H Goodman.
Ticket Agent of the Central Pacific inclosing
schedule lately prepared for the road from Delta
TO Redding. the line lately completed on the
oregon division, and requesting the Board to
take into consideration the light traffic over the
road and approve the schedule.
On motion, the matter was taken under ad-
visement The schedule fixes the rate at six
cents per mile from Redding to Delta.
The Board not being. ready to consider the
Footc, that matter was postponed.
Secretary Andrus read the following letter
from the Railroad Commission of South Caro-
lima:
COLUMBIA, August %, 1884
Dear Sir 1t has recently been stated IN sub
stance in the press of the country that the effect
of Railroad Commissioners has been TO retard
railroad progress and improvement.
VIII you please give our Board the benefit of
your experience and observation on the subject?
Yours, NJ. L. BoRHAM
Chairman Board of Railroad Commissioners.
IN
on the subject.
Mr.. Foote remarked that if he was to express
any opinion it would be that Railroad Commits
5ionerS had not retarded railroad progress, as
more railroads had been constructed since Com
missions were established than ever before.
Mr.. Carpenter thought the Board had better
send the South Carolina Board q copy of POOLS |
Manual. The letter was filed, and after trans
acting some routine business the Board ad- /
iourned until October Dist.
Railroad Tax Cases.
SANFEAScIsco, September 30th.-In the United |
States Circuit Court this afternoon, Mr. Justice |
Field presiding. and Circuit Judge Sawyer and |
District Judge Sabin sitting as associates, At
Marshall moved to set asi lie his !
motion that the Central Pacific Railroad Com |
pany make good its tender to pay a certain
amount of taxes levied in 1883 within i've days,
and stated that the opposing parties were I'M |
able to agree upon a statement of facts. There |
upon the motion was dismissed.
The motion only related to six cases. The rail- |
cent. too high, and offered to pay go per cent. of
the amount levied. The counties in which the |
tax was levied refused to accept 60 per cent. 1t
was then proposed that that percentage be paid |
in and that the cases go to the Supreme Court of /
the United States on an agreed statement of |
facts as to the remaining 40 per cent The par
hes being unable to agree upon a statement of /
facts. the causes remain upon the calendar of |
The Circuit Court in statu quo.
San Francisco Money Market.
SAN Francisco, September 3oth.-Money at
full rates appears to be plentiful, but cheap
money is not plentiful. The demand is active. I
Inc end of the month, as well as the end of the
third quarter OF the calendar year, call for an /
active transfer of funds, as payments of various
kinds have to be met and dividend accounts
made up. Private capitalists are still putting |
out money on call at itd6. The savings banks
are loaning on city real estate at 6d7. Business
II the commercial banks may be given at Gas,
with the bulk of regular loans going at s. The
demand for Eastern exchange Is light at l5c to
5De Tor sight draft and 25c for telegraphie trans
ters; Few grain bills offering. The banks are
buying commercial bills on London at sod and
are drawing their own bills at 495Sd Refined |
silver Is in light supply at l41lf% per cent dis
,9l'ht Mexican dollars are plentiful at ss514c to