Sacramento daily record-union., 1888-11-14


ern States one would conclude that pears
were raised nowhere else than in California.
The very large number of persons who
tasted OF the grapes, prunes, plums peaches,
nectarines and other fruits, gratuitously dis
trihuted. declared that they had purchased
California fruits before but never any which
equaled that distributed. 1t is more than prob
able the fruit they have purchased was not
grown IN this State. Inquiry ELECTED the in
formation that very large quantity of fruit
could be sold throughout the Eastern States, if
u were distributed through agencies which
would bring 1t into the market at something
Ike an economic rate. Grapes are selling in
chicago at SEQ ton: AT the outset, the cost of
transportation to Chicago does not exceed $50
per ton. There was, therefore, margin over
the freight of Sl10 a ton. Wine grapes sold in
this state this year from sl2 to SIS ton. Table
grapes could be purchased for from SIS to so a
ton; but giving the grower the benefit of high
price, say S2o per ton. and the transportation
agency S3O and you have S55 per ton as the cost
to the commission merchant in Chice CO. This
leaves him margin of S145 a ton. The greatest
possible diligence was employed in making in
qulry concerning prob BILE market in various
localltles. Parties from southern Nebraska as
snred me that no California fruit had ever been
offered in their vicinity notwithstanding they
were residing upon lines of railroads Parties
IN kansas gave the same assurance; the same
testimony came from Illinois. Indiana Ohio,
Pennsylvania and Michigan. l found 1t to be
true that our fruit is offered in Chicago in very
large quantities. That market is supplied, and
even overstocked. Chicago is made a point of
distribution.
HOW FRUIT SHOULD BE s8IPPED.
AS long as this is the case our fruit viii reach
the consumer at a price which will make it
luxury and deprive it of all value as a food.
From my observation and inquiries l had rea-
son to conclude that it would not be difficult to
organize fcult agencies in all of the principal
towns east OF the Missouri river. Their distribu-
ton should be undertaken by an express COM
pany such as the American, Adams or Wells,
Fargo y Co. A train load of fruit leaving Cali
| fornla bound eastward should be broken at
| Omaha, or If sent to Chicago should be broken
there and distributed to the different distribut-
| ing centers. AT these centers orders could be
placed on fie for the quantity desired at much
| smaller places In this way the fruits in their
various seasons could be dis ributed to popula-
ton OF from 20,000,G0) to 35,001000 of people.
We can place all kinds of fruits in Eastern
| markets from two to three months earlier than
| they upen in any part of the country-north
| of Tennessee, North Carolina and Arkansas. In
this general region there are over forty millions
| OF people, very large proportion of whom
would become consumers could the fruit be
furnished to them at anything like an economic
rate. The fault does not lie with the transporta-
ton companies The instance gwen will illus
trate this. Grapes are sold at 500 a ton in Chi
cago, thus denying the people in the middle
and lower circumstances of life the privilege of
even tasting them and yet the freight charged
against the grapes in that market is but $50 a
ton, or p cents pound. 1t is quite probable
that at $50 or 500 a ton the amount consumed
| in Chicago would more than double, and vet
this figure would leave a very fair mercantile
profit to those engaged in the fruit trade.
THE MARKET FOR OUR PRODUCTS.
II was the testimony of many persons that
their locality would take at all seasons of the
year steady supply i'll considerable quantity OF
California products. By method OF distribu-
ton, which it is not difficult to devise, we can
place California fruit in every railroad town in
the Eastern States; aud even a small quantity,
having that quantity propoItioned TO the popu-
| lation OF the locality, would require five times
the present annual production of this State tC
supply, at a rate which would place the fruits
of California with other food, and a system o
distribution which would bring the fruit within
| reach OF tee people. There are sufficient mum.
| bers of consumers in the northern portion of the
United States to take all the truit California will
produte, when this State has FIVE millions Of
people. with the same proportion of people en-
gagged III fruit-growing that the number now sc
| engaged bears TO the population at the present
time; or to state this in another form, there is
market for five times the present annual product
of fruit in California,
I On behalf of this Board / presented these
considerations clearly to one of the leading rail
road operators and financiers OF New York.
was listened to with the most careful attention
and when the case had been presented, was
assured that the proposition of distributing
through transportation agency organized on
similar plan to that of Wells Fargo Il Co., OF
the other express agencies of America was EN-
tirely feasible and that it only required strong
presentation of the matter TO capitalists anC
railroad companies to secure the organization o.
such distributing agency at an early date. In
this, have only considered the subject as re
lates TO green fruits because our most profitable
market is perhaps the green fruit which may be
consumed in States east of the Sierra Nevao
Mountains As to cured fruits, observation lee
Immediately to the conclusion that we had the
world for market: Upon this general subject
| l secured an interview with leading wholesale
dealer in the city of New York. Raisins were
the subject of the interview. From the infor
nation obtained, L am fully persuaded that Cal
| ifornia will produce all the raisins consumed in
this country and that the encouragement of the
great leading dealers can be secured by pro
per presentation of the subject to their at
tention.
| LAND VALUES IN CALIFORNIA.
Mr.. Mills called attention to the rapid growth
of California during the past four years which
has seen an annual increase, according to the
votes cast at the election just held, of 6000O and
said: Hereafter, therefore, growth in CaliGonia
is to be much more rapid and at this point it il
| profitable to consider one of the leading obsta
cles to the settlement of this State. Population
is attracted 10 the countries where primitive
values still obtain and where therefore, devel
oped values may inure TO the settler.
| Developed values in real estate in the States
west of the Allegheny Mountains rarely exceed
$50 an acre. There are exceptional instances
| found some lands in Northern Ohio held al
$3.50 an acre, but the price included valuable
Improvements. Divested of Improvement
found $50 and $50 an acre to be a fully deve i
oped valuation for agricultural lands. Very
near to cities, where some special advantages
tor residence might be enjoyed, premium Of
from SO to $50 an acre would be placed upon
the lGno but $50 an acre is full average valIl.
alton for standard land The reason for this is
that the products of land have climatic limita
| tons. Fifty dollars an acre is a high price fol
| land where the climatic limitations stop at the
production of corn ana wheat There is q
broad zone in which these products are grown
For long period the current market rate fol
them has been about the same If it were sud
denly discovered that the lands in the northern
| temperate zone were capable of producing al
article more highly profitable than those tc
which they have been devoted, the price of ag-
ricu,tural land or land adapted to the growth o.
more Profitable article would range higher al
once.
THE PROFITABLE USES OF LAND.
The intending immigrant, upon making in
quiry concerning the average value of good
level, alluvial agricultural land in California
finds it to have obtained development TIED by
the Eastern standard. 1t is well known to tht
gentlemen of this committee that lands under
| climate possibilities which include semi tropi
cal fruits, such as oranges, grapes, lemons, apri
cots olives, figs, ETC., is capable of develop
ment in value from 500 to sec an acre owing
to the more profitable uses to which it may be
| devoted. You understand readily that where
frst-class fruit land can be purchased for from
s25 to $50 an acre that primitive values exist
| You readily accept this because you are en-
tirely familiar with the facts But to those un
familiar with the facts, the very natural in
| ference is against these conclusions. To one
| whose restricted observation has never brought
him in contact with more profitable culture
than that of wheat and corn-growing, the ac
ceptance of a higher possible valuation than So
10 SIS an acre is very difficult. When therefore
you Claim to an Eastern auditor the possibility
of 500, $500, or even $500 an acre for land and
base that claim upon the wider range of field
culture, owing to climatic conditions, you are
usually answered by the derisive statement
that you are attempting to value the climate by
the acre, q unit of measurement which the or
dinary Eastern mind wholly rejects Land
values in California will operate as obstruc
ton to settlement here until statistical facts
establish in the minds of the people in the
East the complete justification for such valua
| ton. 1t is, therefore, of first importance that
such facts be gathered and clearly presented
1t is for this that immigration literature should
deal with facts rather than generalties. 1t is o
first importance to this State that there shall be
q persistent presentation of reliable data con
Ger ing its resources and the advantages il
offers Tor settlement.
|
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pelling the impurity from the blood which