Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-09-26

SAN FRANcsce, September 25th.-The
second days session of the State Conven-
ton of Fruit-growers, at San Francisco,
was held in the Chamber of Commerce in
this city to-day. The meeting was called
to order at $40 A. N. by Hon. VI. NJ. Estee,
one of the Vice Presidents, and, in the alb
sence of Professor Hilgard, assumed the
Chair The minutes of the Convention for
the preceding day were read by the Secre-
tary, E. j. Wickson, and approved.
The Chair stated that the question before
the Convention was the motion to change
the amount of capital stock, under the cor
poration proposed by the committee. from
100000 to $3.50, 600. The motion to change
was adopted.
A T. Hatch, of Suisun, suggested that
the Convention hear from those who have
had experience in shipping fruit to the
East. He asked of the Chair that those
who had thus shipped fruit should rise.
Nineteen arose.
None of the shippers volunteering re-
marks, Hon. Chancellor Harrison, of Napa,
said he had been appointed to represent the
fruit-growers of his section. He thought
the action of the Convention was of great
moment, as effecting great and i'm
portant industry-really the chief industry
of the State. His confidence in thesgreat
experience and judgment of Mr.. Liver
more, of the committee which had form
ulated the plan proposed for adoption of
the Convention, would of itself lead him
to indorse the proposition. The system
proposed was representative one, and
those who would carry it out are personally
interested, and the stockholders themselves
are all to be fruit-growers. Can it be said
that these stockholders cannot select a
competent, honest directory out of their
numbers? he did not see, therefore
that the objection raised-that it would
be centraliZing power into few hands,
which might be abused-could have any
force. The stockholders themselves create
and recreate or reform the Board of Direct
ory at will. 1t is necessary to have the
entire work of shipping in the hands of a
single body, SO that when cars are shipped
from Sacramento, which is TO be the princi-
pal or central point of the organization, it
may not go to city where the market has
just been supplied. 1t would be the work
of this Directory TO keep fully informed of
every consignment OF fruit to the East, and
thus not send second carload to a place
already supplied The speaker said he had
no interest in this plan beyond to see that
system adopted which shall be most sue
cessitll and advantageous to the interests
of all. A similar system to the one here
under consideration was now in most salts
factory and successful operation in Della
ware, and he believed it wise to adopt it
here.
A. Block, of Santa Clara, gave his ex-
perience and information as 10 the danger
OF quitting the market points at the East
IN the absence of knowledge as to what
supply has already been sent forward by
Others. He thought the proposed plan a
wise one, and that by due cooperation the
fruit-growers could greatly benefit them
selves and the fruit interests.
W. II. Aiken, of Santa Cruz. and Chair
man Of the Committee upon Organization,
said that Mrs, p;a.rrttiingtoh the other night,
in lecture in this city, said: Don't lake
the bull by the horns take it by the tail,
and then you can let 90 of him whenever
you are a mind to- In the matter of or
ganization he thought some were DESTROYS
to take the bull by the horns, while others
were very careful as to even taking hold of
IT by the tail. But the subject cannot be
lightly handled, said he. There is to-day
not an over-production of fruit in this
State, but seemingly a lack in method
to dispose OF it; a lack of cooperation |
IN the matter of sending it properly to
those who are anxious to pay US remunera-
tive prices for it. Cooperation was what
was necessary, in order to deal properly
with the railroad company. The company
is willing to meet the fruit-growers, but the
fruit-growers, while not organized, are not
in position to benefit by it. He said he
was one of the committee who went to the
railroad company to get better terms. and
Mr.. Towne told Us at that time that thew
would reduce the price Of transportation
5000 per car. But, he remarked, it will
do you fruit-growerS no good. You will
not get the benefit It will go into the
pockets of the commission men, And it
has proved true. Now, if we Will organize,
we can have the full benefit of reduced
rates of freights, and the far greater benefits
which may be derived from active cooper
alton in all matters connected with fruit
of the State. 1t was tor this reason
that he was anxious to have all present
join heartily in the organization proposed
L. f. Moultop, of Colusa, desired to have
the vote upon the resolutions before the
Convention be deferred until next January.
and thar by letting the editors of the State,
especially the agricultural editors, discuss
the proposed plans, the milk in the cocoa
nut, he thought, would be gotten out and
its real value ascertained. He advised the
Convention TO go slow.
A. T. Hatch said he had not heard much
from any experienced producing shippers
upon this subject, and he was not entirely
clear upon the plan. He did not believe
the majority of the largest producers would
enter into the arrangement, and he there
fore feared the adoption of the plan would
result simply in division of the Eastern
shipping.
r. J. Trumbull said the great difficulty
had been heretofore in obtaining rates from
the railroad company; that those who
asked for the same could not tell how much
they wanted to ship; there was no cooper
alton, and only small and discovered lots
were offered by the growers themselves,
and the growers could not say to the rail-
road company We viii furnish fruit for
so many cars day, or for every other day
Under such plan as now proposed, the
Directors of the corporation could say with
perfect assurance to the company, " We
will furnish fifteen carloads every other
day for shipment for the present and prob
ably much more soon" When this is done
the promise of the railroad officials is al
ready obtained for reduction to $500 per
car, the fruit to be taken through by special
train on passenger train time. This will be
the first result Of cooperation, and others
as beneficial will follow
q. M. Clay, of Chico, Superintendent of
General Bidwelrs orchards, referring to the
necessity of corporation to the end of Sc
curing better prices and less expense, said
four car loads had been shipped this season
from Chico to the East. The freight
amounted to So, 255 SO and the fruit sold Tor
81 156 IS in Chicago. Out of this were the
further expenses of $50 20 for drayage,
$416 6s commission, S270 SO for boxes, $40
for packing, and S72 for wrapping paper.
This left the full receipts insufficient to pay
the expenses by $50 90, and the items of
outgoes does not include the expenses of
cultivation, picking and hauling up to the
cars. Mr.. Clay was earnestly in favor of an
organization and cooperation, for if this
or some other course was not taken fruit
growers must give up fruit-shipping.
a vote was then taken upon the report
of the committee, in favor of forming a
corporation of fruit-growers with S250,00O