Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1886-10-30
Eetreturns for 4 tons of grapes on vine.-s29O %
,NoruEp IrHFoRT1rNATE INSTANCE.

The experience of this unfortunate San
Jose grower was not much worse than that
of the firm of which your correspondent is
a member. In Kansas City the writer
found that a day or two before his arrival
nearly 100 single crates of his grapes had
been sold at 50 cents crate.
Were the grapes of an inferior quail
typ was asked of the commission man.
mo, on the contrary they were above
the average"
did they arrive in poor condition p
No, they reached us in excellent con-
dition"
Then how do You explain their being
sold for but so cents, which involves loss
OF about 30 cents crate?'
Well, will tell you how they came to
be sold at so cents q crate. About two
weeks ago the market looked bare and
clean, and we believed we could dispose Of
a carload of fruit to advantage. Accord
inglv. we quietly telegraphed our connec-
lions to that effect, but it would appear that
our neighbors thought as we did and also
wired for carloads each, and as q conse
uuence instead of Kansas City receiving
one carload that week it received several /;
the market was thus glutted, and after
carrying your fruit for week we were glad
to get 80 cents crate for it.
How can you prevent a repetition Of
such an occurrence ?'
Aye, there's the rub; we don't know
how TO prevent it under existing condi-
tons, this same thing is likely to happen
any day in any week of the season..
ARGUING THE AUCTION.
But to return to our interview with
Quackenboss & Harlow, of st. Paul.
No sir, do not think the plan of sell
ing California fruits by auction q good one,
and if tried | predict total failure" said
q member Of that firm to your correspond
ent.
But why should the plan of selling by
auction not work as well with California
fruits as il has for many years past with
Mediterranean fruits ?"
" Because Mediterranean fruits are not
so perishable. Malaga grapes. for instance
are so packed that they viii keep for sew
eral months"
That is quite true, but is it not also
true that the very fact of California fruits
being more perishable is all the stronger
reason why they should be speedily sold,
instead of being held for an indefinite
period in the hands of the commissions
man, awaiting private sale1 Besides, if 8
concert of action is established between
California growers and shippers, the supply
can be so regulated as not to exceed the
demand The aggregate daily demand for
all Eastern distributing points can easily
be gagged, and carloads containing a ~
hour, or, al most. 46-hour supply, only
can be dispatched from the central ship
ping point in California, and as all this
fruit, by the auction system, would posi-
lively be sold on the day of arrival, there
would be no decaving fruit left ON hand. Is
now, to depress prices of new arrivals on
following days"
That is all very well, if you can get the
buyers to attend your auctions, but. you
see. the BUYERS have for years been edu-
Gated to look for foreign fruits at auction
hence they do not now expect in fact can
not buy. them from first hands anywhere
else: whereas II California fruits il is diff
ferent. They have always been sold on
commission and at private sale, and II
would be long time before the trade
would become reconciled 10 the idea d
buying California fruits st auction. In the
meanwhile such fruits as would be offered
in that way would, in the absence OF buy
ers, be slaughtered.
II buyers have been educated TO buy
foreign fruits at auction, why may they not
be educated TO buy California fruits in thJ
same way2 II there must be beginning
why not have that beginning as soon Is
possible? There certainly was q perio-
when foreign fruits were offered at auction
for the first time, and it would appear thai
the foreign growers and shippers have hap
PLY outlived that first time and for many
years since have enjoyed a highly remu-
neratiye market. Since they have pioneered
the way and have demonstrated that selling
by auction is the most equitable and profit.
able manner of marketing perishablt
fruits why not profit by their wisdom
l. 4
long time before the trade would become
reconciled to the idea of buying California
fruits at auction If only portion of the
California fruits sent East should be sold al
auction, and the remainder offered at pr.
vate sale. il must be admitted that the plan
would be crippled and could not be made
entirely successful. But whatif California