Los Angeles daily herald., 1886-03-20
ORANGE GROWING
In senli-Tropic California
at Present.
HOW IT HAS INCREASED
Where They Go and What is Made
in the lndustry-Its Future
Importance.

century ago since the first orange trees
were planted in Los Angeles county.
Somewhat over quarter OF q
century ago Hon. B. d. Wilson,
MIR. L. j. Rose, Mr.. Wolfskill
and here and there another man oil
great foresight and energy planted or
anee orchards. and added to the oranges
lemons and lines. A little later A. b.
Chapman, Esq, and good many Others
went into the business of orange grow
ing, so that it became quite noted In,
dustry in Soathern California. some oil
these earlier ventures paid enormous
profits to the energetic founders OF TINS
busi ness. AS high as $500 an acre net
profit has been derived from citrus fruit,
Los Angelica was q very isolated part
of the country, situated as it is in the
extreme southwestern corner OF the
Union. thousands Of miles from the CEN
tiers Of population at the east from
which il was reached by long, trying
and expensive journey over wilderness
nearly 1000 miles in extent. From San
Francisco it was 500 miles, with the
only means OF travel stage coach tax
ing three days to make the trip, at a
cost Of $50 to $75; or steamer making
monthly, then semi.monthly trips and
charging $40 to $50.
In spite Of all these drawbacks the
fame Of Los Angeles with her lovely
climate and rich productions had pene-
trated the entire Union, so that in the
SHOWS Of Minnesota and the woods of
Maine her beauties and attractions were
discussed. There were two or three
spasmodic efforts made to develop the
country in spite Of its isolated position.
A slow, but steady stream Of hardy pio-
neers forced way in here and made a
permanent lodgment all the time, going
back as early as the "thirties" and
.forthies" when Don John Warner,
Don Abel Stearns, Judge Ogier,
Temple, Workman and Others came.
BY the middle of the decade
between go aud 70, the city had be-
come place of some Importance and in
the suburbs and out into the country, a
good many small orange groves were set.
The only market for the products OF
these was San Francisco, and the only
means OF getting them to the market
was BY hauling them to San Pedro by
team and shipping thence by steamer. In
the latter wears of the last named decade,
there was a considerable influx of peo-
pie, and quite ''spurt. was made in
planting orange trees. 1t was prema-
ture aud as many Of the new comers
were heavily mortgaged the results
were often very disastrous to those en-
gagged in the attempt. There was no
market and no means of quick transpor
tation.
In 1873 the railroad building was be-
gun. 1t was 1876 before the line was
opeped TO San Francisco. During these
two years there was another rush of ex
citeme ment, but the energy was mostly an
abortive affair. San Francisco was not
large enough to afford an outlet to the
products OF such rich territory as
South California. Then came the period
of depression all over the Union, never
perhaps equaled in the history OF the
nation. All ventures were suspended
and money fairly buried itself out of
sight. By 1881 the connection had been
made 10 the East and Los Angeles had
railroad connection with the world.
Then at once began an era Of develop
ment never witnessed before outside OF
this republic, and oqualed even here only
in the cases OF Chicago and Kansas City.
The time had really come to do some
thing in this phenomenal region and il
was accordingly done. In no line has
the development been greater. II so
great, as in the orange industry. Ii
takes nearly half a dozen years to make
much OF showing in this business,
and consequently not until last year did
the orange business attract attention
outside Of those directly interested.
During the first years Of the railroad
being in operation to San Francisco
there went scattering carloads Of oranges.
That city took the greater part Of the
CROP at good prices and there was no need
to seek a market elsewhere. Four
years ago change came over the spirit
OF our dreams in oranges. A good many
trees came into bearing for the first
time, and San Francisco could not use
the crop. Oranges sold in that market
for SO cents box. Many carloads were
dumped in the bay rotten. Then for
the first time an effort was made to find
an outlet at the east. 1t was slow
work for many reasons too obvious to
need telling. The next season the crop
was not so large and the market was
better. A fair beginning was made in
the way Of opening up market at the
east But the fruit had to 20 by pas
senger train at charge Of 5000
to $500 per car. Then two
years ago and last year there was very
large crop. Many new trees came into
bearing and the old ones bore large
crop. Prices ruled low all around, and
the growers saw things through very
blue light. The charges for hauling East
were lowered TO S400 then to $500 per
car, but the markets had not beon prop
erly worked and prices were very unsat-
isfactory. Last year, with a large crop,
rates down to $500 per car, and couple
of years experience in the Eastern mar
ket, was the first time that any large
business was done. The fruit was sold
in almost ell cities in the valleys of the
great lakes and of the great rivers. In
all 1921 cars were taken 10 these mar
kets. The same season San Francisco
also took about 300 cars, making the
total business Of the year about l47l
carloads Of oranges. The only draw
back was too low prices, leaving the
growers too small margin of profit con-
sidering the cost OF their property. Nat
urally there was dissatisfaction all
around.
The result Of this was the formation
this year of the Orange Growers Pro-
tective Union. Through this organiza-
tion the business is again on solid ba-
sis Of profit. with promising future
before it. This season is proving fair
ly remunerative one to the growers and
an enormous business is being done.
To-day trainload goes East, embracing
about twenty cars. One vent out
Thursday night as follows: Denver 2,
Chicago 2, Des MONIES |, Kansas City
l. Helena IN. T.) !, st. Paul l, Mar
shaltown l. New York l., Minneapolis
1, Cleveland /; total IL. This shows a
wide distribution OF the orange crop.
Nearly all the trains carry the crop as
for the season to date embrace nearly
800 cars to all markets. There are prob
ably 500 more to ship, and the crop may
aggregate greater total snm. 1t is al
ways hard to estimate the num-
ber on tree-harder to guess
what remains in an orchard, and
much harder to reach the quantity in
the country. There are hardly so many
as there were last year, when the total
was nearly 1900 cars.
The prices paid are realizing the
growers 81 to So. so per box. The mar.
ket at the East is hardening owing to an
exhaustion Of the Valencia crop. The
outlook for good prices for the next two
months is reported good. The crop
will bring into the country a return
of 81 600, ,000, half Of which goes direct
ly to the growers.
II the Union is perfected and properly
handled the future Of this industry is
secure. Its volume in the next five
years will swell to very great proper
tions. Before very long several trains o
day will leave Southern California all
freighted with the golden fruit. II is
estimated that 100, 900 trees have been
planted this season. That is yield Of