Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-19

most profitable market for our fruits, since
that means the increase of small fruit
growers, more homes, greater strength,
greater trade and transportation and aug
mented industry in all lines.
The question now is one of methods, and
here there is wide variance in opinion
such divergence of views, and so many
plans of shipment and organization pro-
posed, indeed, that only some bitter expe-
rience will be likely to bring the mass of
growers into accord.
Referring to the reduction of rates, the
San Francisco Alta the other day declared
that at $500 per carload, which it believed
was rate the railroad companies would
fix for trains of fifteen cars, the end de-
sired would be attained. More recently,
the same journal, which discusses the
question with a judicial calm that is com
mendable, went so far as to hold that the
$500 rate should be established without
regard to the number of carloads for
warded. Still later, it has considered the
article on broken lots which last week ap-
peared as a communication to this paper,
The Alta says:
Sacramento merchant, Mr. Lubin, has ad-
dressed the REcoRD-UNIoN on subject that is of
first Importance TO California. This State needs
a greater population and the division of its
arabic lands into smaller holdings.
The studies in the letter, it holds, are
instructive and all lead up to the original
proposition, the conservation of small
land-holdlngs by horticulturists. 1t adds :
| Here then is the problem to make fruit grow
| ing profitable to the small holder, down to the
| owner of a twenty acre tract who works it all
| himself. Our ideas here are large They are
| yet referable to the time when man dug a hat
| ful of gold day in placer and gambled it of
at night. to refill next day. In the States east
of the Missouri river the farmers who put by
81, 900 q year clean money from quarter section
ofland are the rare exception. The average net
profit of quarter section is far below that and
| it has to be won by hand to hand conflict with
| summer heat and winter frost Let California
offer those men net profit annually of 81 600 on
twenty acres, and of S, 900 on quarter section
and they will come here. That is only $50 an
| acre, and there is in the East market for our
surplus fruit which will absolutely assure that
profit, if it can be reached under proper condi-
| tions, TO bring the grower and the consumer in
contact without too much Intermediary cost
| VIC llSdt Lllc OICDaTu anu vine as Ilc permanent
| interests OF this state. The climate seems to
| dictate this, and our commerce and transporta-
| ton must adjust themselves to this conclusion
ana TINS adjustment must make the small
| grower the unit, compelling a policy which
| under ordinary conditions of thrift and in.
| dustry, will assure a living upon the smallest
| tract that is wise to encourage dependence
| upon, ana profit competency, a fortune
upon Its successive msltiples at the same rate OF
| profit per acre.
The Alta then concludes that the freigh,
rate for fruit and the size of the shipment
might go together with mutual profit t.
producer, transporter and consumer, ant
adds: I'VE are certain that as soon a.
transportation reaches minimum, the
trade will organize itself, and that left t.
settle to its natural angles it will be adj
justed to the interests of the small grower
and hence to the interests of the State.
We have faith in the transporters, that
actuated by self-interest as well as by broad
views concerning the peopling of the State
and the development of its highest posi-
bilities, they will endeavor to conserve the
interests of all growers, encourage the in
dustry of the small producer, save him
from the speculator in high prices at the
East, and contribute in all possible ways to
the end that our fruits shall become neces.
stiles not Injuries, in the Eastern market
As to how this is to be done they must
determine, for in the transportation bust
ness there are factors and obstacles and adj
justments with which they alone can deal
and in the adjustment of which they alone
| can attain full success. The railroad COM
panies have not given any reason to enter
| tain doubt of their earnest desire to
bring the speediest and best results out OF
this fruit problem for the producer Their
interests are common, and the one cannot
suffer without immediate effect upon the
other. Out of the sensible and dispassionate
debate now going on the best plans will
develop and there will and can be none tc
discourage the small fruit-grower. The
idea that he is to be shut out from the
market is inconceivable, and contemplated
injury to his industry is intolerable.
|