Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-06-25
FIRST FAST FRUIT TRAIN.
FOR THE MISSOURI RIVER
Oh PASSENGER TIM.
in the Fruit Industry OF
California.

at the East Tor her luscious fruits. The very
name of California throughout the Atlantic
seaboard and the Mississippi valley is sug-
gestive of fruits and flowers. Her reputa-
ton is not confined to the sisterhood of
States-of which she is the bright and par
ticularly favored star-but throughout the
civilized world, wherever the name of Cali
fornia is mentioned, it is accompanied with
visions of golden fruits, canned varieties of
which have found their way into every
mart of the world. California is truly q
Golden State. The discovery of hegolden
nuggets that formed the beds OF her rivers
and streams, first brought her to the notice
of the civilized world like the fash of a
mighty meteor. Next her golden grain
harvests, the most abundant of earth,
loaded the
wHITE-wINGED VESSELS OF COMMERCE,
And ruled the wheat market of the world ];
and last, but not least, her golden fruits
have latterly not only become her distin-
gushing characteristic, but an industry in
people that will ever place her in the lead
of all fruit-producing countries. Her soil
and climate are such that every known
fruit can be grown and perfected in abun-
dance at minimum of cost. Ever since
the completion of the transcontinental
railroad vast quantities of fruit have
been shipped from California to points east
of the Rocky mountains. Years of ship
ping mas given an experience that has en-
abled the shipper to adopt systems of pack
ing and arrangements of cars that insure
the laying down of fruit in the Eastern
markets III a good state of preservation.
This has been secured by dearly-bought
experience, cnd the failure of one shipper
has enabled those who followed to steer
clear of the rocks upon which he was
wrecked. Heretofore the demand for fruit
in the East, though large and constantly
| increasing, was not adequate TO the supply,
for the reason that the cost of transporta-
ton by single carload lots was so great that,
when added to the
EXPENSE OF GROWING AND MARKETING
The fruit, it made the article luxury too
expensive to be reached by the great masses,
who are clamoring for cheap fruit. When
ever fruit can be placed upon the Eastern
laboring classes, then, and not till then,
will the source of supply be taxed. Then
will every individual who raises food fruit
find ready sale for his entire crop; then
will the fruit belt of northern and central
California yield golden returns, and this
section of the State prove to be, what we
always have claimed for it, the most yalu-
able upon the coast. Sometime since the
Southern Pacific Railroad Company made
a proposition to the fruit-growers, that
when fifteen carloads of fruit should be
offered at one time, the same should be
carried to the East as
SPECIAL FRUIT TRAIN,
And should be run through on passenger
time at $500 per car, which is one-half OF
the former rate charged, when single car
loads went through attached to express
trains. This important and sweeping con-
cession was made by the transportation
company voluntarily, with the sole end in
view to foster, augment and encourage
this great industry, yet in its infancy, but
which exhibits all the elements that go
to the make up for it brilliant
future. Much doubt has been ex-
pressed by many as to the practicability
of carrying this proposition into effect, and
many well-informed people have not hest
for any one Except, possibly, the so-called
California Fruit Union) to make up these
special trains. They, however, mistake
the enterprise of our go-ahead,
ACTIVE AND ENERGETIC BUSINESS MEN,
Whose composition is such that their eff
forts are only circumscribed by the limit of
production. 1t has shown itself true in
this instance, for two of the most promi-
nent fruit-shippers in the State-W. r.
Strong & Co. and Z. T. Earl members of
the California Fruit Growers Association
have shown themselves equal to the emer-
gency, have demonstrated the practical
bility of the railroad companys PROPOSE
ton, and have inaugurated what must be-
come a new and an important era in the
great fruit industry of our State,
Yesterday those firms after quiet but
thorough preparation of several days
loaded and started the first special fruit
train that has ever left California. A de
scription of this pioneer train, that will
blaze the way for countless numbers that
will speedily follow, will no doubt prove
of interest TO many of our readers who are
watching the development of the business,
and also to those who recognize the in
disputable fact that Sacramento is beyond
all questions of doubt
THE GRAND CENTRAL POINT
From which these shipments must be
made.
The train consisted of fifteen cars. con-
tanning 100000 pounds of freight, and with
the exception of 10000 pounds of potatoes,
was entirely green fruit. When it is con-
sidered that each specimen of the fruit,
each individual peach, apple, pear, apricot
and plum has TO be wrapped in paper, and
all must be accomplished within about
thirty-six hours prior to the departure
| of the train, the magnitude of the undertake
ing will be appreciated. In the work of pick
ing, making boxes, packing, hauling, load
ing and handling this enormous quantity
of fruit, it is estimated that over 500 men
found employment on this train for two
days, an equivalent to the labor of one in
dividual for over three years. The fruit
consisted mainly of the following varieties
Apples, Bartlett and other pears, peaches,
plums of several kinds and apricots, and
was grown mostly along the Sacramento
river and in the Vacayille and Winters dis
tricts.
Messrs. Strong & Co. and Earl do not
handle fruit on commission, but make d.
rect purchases, and have already contracted
for large quantities in all the leading fruit
districts. Among those whose fruit make up
the shipment under consideration may be
mentioned the following:
In the Sacramento river district, Mcssrs.
Davis, Stewart, Barry, Kennedy, Talmage,
Crofton, Reynolds, Crew, Thisby, Hensley,
Hanson, Bryan, Johnson, Johnston, Will
liams, Ralston. ?. Green, j. Green and G.
Green, Dean, Osborn, Galloway, Doty,
Simms, Bates, Medley, o. r. Runyon, w.
Runyon. Kercheval, HOLSTER.
In the American river district, Messrs.
Stephens, Reuter-, Olsen, Grondone,
Hutchinson, Reed, Flint and others.
Winters and Vacaville districts, Messrs.
Seaman, Thissill, Tucker, Porter, Reed,
Brink, Peasants, Martel, Pierson, Cante-
low, Steiger, Collins, Garlish, Korn and
Lyon. The picking and packing was done
under the able supervision of Messrs. @. B.
Strong. Coulter, Osborne, Curtis. Steiger
and Glatz. representing Strong & Co.. and
Messrs. Rhoads, Mixer and Collins for Mr..
Earl.
Some of the most particular work in con-.
nection with the getting up of this train
was the loading of the cars, which was I'M
der the management of j. H. Platt and Mr..
Harding. with a small army of assistants.
The shippers were aided as much as pos
sible by the railroad ccmpany's employees,
who spared no pains in placing the cars
promptly, and otherwise assisting in their
speedy loading. The shippers expressed
themselves as being obligated in this re-
spect TO Messrs- Urqhart, Assistant Super