Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1885-10-28
THE FRUIT QUESTION.
The California Fruit Union to the People


The California Fruit Union to the People
"A Letter.
The following letter is from the Secretary
of the California Fruit Union, the outgrowth
of the late Fruit-Growers Convention. 1t
is selfexplanatory
EDS RECoED-UNIOS I am directed By the
committee from the recent Fruit-Growers Con
vention Of California Ito express their apprecia-
ton of. and thankfulness for, your editorials on
the fruit question in issue OF l2th instant and
20 ask the continuance OF your powerful aid in
getting all the fruitgrowers of California togeth-
er in one general state organization for their
mutual protection. It is hoped that all can agree
in this basis idea leaving details 10 be discussed
ana agreed upon when 50 brought together, and
nothing can be done to solve these complicated
questions unless all the fruit-grOwers of the
State eau be gotten to act in one organization.
Enclosed is circular Just issued by the commit
tee showing what the fruit-grOwers Of Florida
have been compelled to do under far less diff.
cult circumstances. VIII you, in the public in
tercs! carefully consider it, aud print IL in your
colum ls giving il such editorial mention as you
sne fit ? The committee think it is a most opp0r-
tune pointer Of the way California fruit
growers should go. Fully agreeing with you
that the fguit-market question affects not Il
class. but all classes, am sincerely yours.
HoRATIo p. LTyERMOEE, Secretary.
The circular referred to, after calling at
tention TO the Florida movement, SAYS:
To the number OF 35S individuals and firms,
representing the entire fruit-prOducing ares OF
Florida, they have formed themselves into the
g." Florida Fruit Exchange an association hay
ing a capital stock or $4,000 in 800 shares OF
500 each. Most Of the subscribers have taken
one share each, only fifty have ken more than
one. and OF that MY only nine have taken so
many as ten shares each, which is the highest
number OF shares in any one name. The
published circular Of the Florida Fruit Ex-
change sets forth that il 81 owes its existence to
the imperative necessity of some Improvements
III me handling ard marketing Of the fruit crop
OF Florida. II goes on 70 say Within a pc
rod Of ten years the export Of oranges from
Florida has risen from value of Sl2j, 000 to the
value ct $500 600 for the crop Of 1871 The
return Tor which last crop, owing to improper
handling of the fruit, the over supply in some
markets aud consequent glut, was far below our
reasonable expectations, and below what it
would have been if the shippers could have
acted in concert"
The circular adds: The necessity of action
10 prevent future loss and disaster was so evil
dent that the fruit-groWers. with one accord
have organized the Florida Fruit Exchange f,I.
the protection Of their own interests which are
intended 10 he first last and ALWAYS the prOmi-
uent objcC, had in view"
It is the province of the - General Manager
10 arrange all details of shipment OF fruit from
whatever section Of the state il may come to
designate 10, marked destination, s. as TO avoid
all competition and to secure the best possible
safes, and with the last mentioned aim in view,
to make ali necessary arrangements in the con
sumption markets, for the receipt and sale of
the fruit.
Thus it viii be seen the organization retains
control OF the fruit until it has reached the con
sylner, receives The ayails Of its sales, and ac-
counts for the same TO its stockhOlder from
whom il was received for shipment. The latter
IS thereby relieved OF all care and re possibility
in the business after he has delivered his fruit
suitably packed. to the Exchange" and he is
fully protected against the injurious eompeti-
t;OA OF has neighbOring producer who under the
individual method of shipment might be fire.
In pi-f.t. at fia
same time, thereby producing an oVerStCck and
loss to bO,h. 1t Is provided that the commits
SONS to be charged on sales by the Exchange,
snail be the same as nave been heretofore paid
to commission houses but all surplus earnings
after operating expenses are paid are to be re-
turned to stockholders by dividends on their
stock, which it is expected viii practically
amount 10 q large abatement on rate of commits
Sions. Agencies at all important producing and
shipping points are TO be maintained under the
control OF the General Manager, and in daily
telcEaphic communication with him. The
" Exchange undertakes to make the mos
favorable possible contracts for freights and TO
give to its stockholders shipping = the benefit
OF the reduction TO carload rates on all ship
meuts of whatever amount" - 1t aims to enlist
the cooperation of every fruit-growerin Florida
whether his crop is large or SMALL
Mr.. Livermore here interjects, " Does
not this clause fully provide what Mr..
Lubin contends for as to fractional carload
shipments ~
The circular goes on to say that the
FL rida organization sets forth
That all frlit-growers shall combine in the
purpose Of the Exchange to obtain by a common
union, the best shipping facilities and the low
est rates of transportation, and that all fruit
growers snail aid the Exchange ana subserye
their own interests by shipping their fruit
through the Exchange, so that every market
snail receive only its proper supply, and not be
gutted by indiscriminate shipments
Such, briefly condensed from its official publi-
cation, is the plan and scope of operations of
the Florida Fruit Exchange, an organization for
The mutual protection Of the frut-growers of
Florida, which has grown out OF a condition of
things similar to that which now affiictst the fruit
growers OF California, though far more aggra-
waited in the case of California, because of its
greater variety of fruits produced its infinitely
greater number of producers, its much greater
distance from Eastern markets, and the vastly
greater burden OF freghts and lack of transpor-
tation facilities in placing the fruit in such
markets. The Committee from the recent Fruit
Growers Convention deem II a duty to present
the above information and statement of facts to
each fruit-grower of California, and to ask his
serious reflection thereon. Certainly if such an
organization Is necessary and practicable in
Florida, 1t IS equally so III California, and il
may well be considered oppOrtune that lust at
the present critical moment the way is thus
pointed out to US by OUT Florida competitors
We're there no other beneficial effects to flow
from such an organization, ii would be most
richly compensating on account of the import
ant influence it would be able to exercise on
the question of freight rates and facilities for
transportation to Eastern markets. This ques
ton al must agree, lies at the very root of the
future descinies of the producing interests
Of California, and only by united action and
thoroughly cooperative organization can its
favorable solution be reached. 1t seems to the
committee. that were there no other prospect
i've gain than such a favorable solution of the
freight problem, it alone ought to determine the
f!Iit-growers of California to unanimously give
their support to the proposed organization of
=" The California Fruit Union"