Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-23

len curing MS IeC6uL WISH W lHe East, ana
which appears in the Tress of this week,
will prove of great interest to all fruit
growers in California. Mr.. Weinstock is a
careful and critical observer, and thor
oughly qualified to make the investigation
upon which he entered and has so ably re-
ported. 1t will be observed that many new
facts are given upon the subject of dispos-
ing of our fruits at the East, and an en-
tirely new plan for augmenting the sales OF
California fruits throughout the East is
suggested He says
NR. wEINsTocK's LETTER.
How do you explain the present unsat-
isfactory condition of the Eastern market
for California fruits, and what in your
Judgment is the remedy ?" This question
was addressed by your correspondent while
in Chicago not long ago to Mr.. Hixson, an
old and experienced California commission
merchant. He replied by saying "The
present unsatisfactory condition is brought
about by California fruits being in the
hands of too few. This idea of trying to
make a monopoly of California fruits won't
do, and the sooner the growers find it out
the better it will be for their interests The
remedy lies in free trade. If YOU can get
the railroad companies to accept fruit ship
ments OF any size, so that anybody West
may ship any quantity to anybody East,
the difficulty VIII be solved. You want TO
get your fruits into the greatest possible
number of hands and channels, and until
you do that your market will be choked
and limited"
The same question being asked Wash
iuufgu n,rfar pf Tho firm, nf D.,rt,-
Company, agents for the California Fruit
Union, his answer was as follows The
present unsatisfactory conditions are the
result of California fruits being placed in
too many hands. When the Fruit Union
was organized it was done with the idea Of
concentrating all California fruits into one
hand, SO that they could be evenly distrib
uted through the country, as YOU would
distribute butter over bread, so that the
fruit being brought into competition with
itself might be prevented. Unforeseen cir
Cumstances have, however, arisen since
the union was organized that for the
present, destroyed this idea of concentra-
ton, and hence the unsatisfactory results.
Until Eastern shipments of California
fruits can be placed in the hands of one
house, who will have supreme control,
there is likelihood of the present condi-
the fruit IS sent to more houses, so in pro-
portion is the competition likely to grow
keener and keener, and of course always at
the expense Of the shipper or grower. There
are also other reasons for the present I'M
favorable conditions. Much inferior fruit
has been shipped that has arrived in bad
shape, and that realized but little more
than freight charges. Beside, the crop of
native fruits has been very large, and has
come into the market earlier than usual
and was strong competition to California
fruits. 1t is a mistake on the part of Cali
fornia fruit-growers to think they have an
unlimited market in the East for any and
all fruits which they may send here" Con-
tinuing his remarks, NJ Porter said Ny
Judgment is that the Eastern market for
California fruits is limited, and anything
that is sent here beyond that limit must
depresS prices and bring unfavorable re-
turns. The best evidence of my sincerity
in the belief that the Eastern market for
California fruits is limited is in the fact
that, while have made very large invest
ments in Chicago real estate, have made
none in California fruit lands. Had | faith
in the idea that the East can consume all
the fruit California can raise, you may rest
assured that would long ago have made
liberal investments in California fruit
lands
Mr. Dudley, of the firm of Dudley, Clapp
* Doe. who were appointed by Porter
Brothers Company, of Chicago, as their
agents for New York City, was asked by
your correspondent how much California
fruit the New York market could stand.
Here is his reply This is peculiar and
deceptive market. 1t would appear that
city the size and magnitude of New York
could use unlimited quantities of stuff.
But this is not so, at least so far as my ex-
perience with California fruit would show,
We find that there is an exceedingly lin
tied demand for California fruits, and the
moment the supply exceeds this limited
demand, down go your prices"
What have been the average weekly re-
ceipts of California fruits in the city of New
York ~
" Not over carload a week"
"Then l am to understand that in your
judgment the city of New York and vicin-
ity cannot use more than carload of Cali
fornia fruits week.
No, sir; not to advantage"
but supposing that California fruits
could be laid down in the city of New
York at the cost to the retailer not to ex-
sell them, with a fair profit, at Is cents a
very largely increased"
81 don't think the fruit can be brought
here so rs to retail at 10 cents pound with
a profit TO all concerned. You must re-
member that thus far we have not been
able to bring carloads of California fruit to
New York in good condition. There has
always been large percentage OF loss by
decay while in transit, and, therefore, what
good fruit reaches New York must bring a
high price to compensate for that which is
lost
Mr.. Merritt, President of the Merritt
Fruit Company, of New York city, who
are among the largest fruit commission
houses in the trade, said There is an I'M
limited market here for first-cass Califor-
MIA fruits. Thus far the amount sent us is
but drop in the ocean. There is no rea-
son in the world why carloads of fruit, and
if need be trainloGds, cannot be sent direct
from California to the city of New York
and sold at prices that must insure salts
factory returns to the grower. This idea oil
enc carload of California fruit week being
as much as New York city can stand is alb
surd. Why, this market has used rs many
as 500 carloads of peaches in one week, as
well as millions of boxes and vast ship
loads of Mediterranean fruits and grapes
and to think that market of this sor
would StagGer under more than one CARLOAD
of California fruit a week, is laughable
The difficulty thus far has been that the
California fruit has been concentrated into
the hands of few, whose interest it is tC
keep the market bare and to sell small
quantities at high prices, instead of large
quantities al moderate prices. You cannot
hope 10 market the vast fruit yields o.
California in that way any more than you
can hope TO force an ocean of water through
a one-inch pipe, Once get your fruit down
to a price within the reach of the thou
sands, and you need never fear of over
loading a market like that of the city o
New York.
4 NEW YORK RETAILER.
How much pound are those Califor-
MIA grapes2" asked your correspondent o
Broadway retail dealer in fine fruits.
Thirty cents a pound, or 81 % for tina
five-pound basket"
:" Is not rather high ?"
No; we have sold them as high as Al
cents pound.
"Do YOU find the demand for Californi.
fruits on the increase p?
I'VE can sell all the good Caliiornii
grapes that we can get. The trouble ha
been to get a sufficient supply. But VIII.
do you ask these questions?
" Because l AN a California frril grower
and am deeply interested in the future o
California fruits in the East"
"Well, you just send plenty of good fruit
and we will find no trouble in disclosing Q