Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1888-04-26
THE SOUTH.
Interview with a Fruit Dealer who has
just Returned from Los Angeles.
p E Plat the MANAGING nemhar of tho

Interview with Fruit Dealer who has
Just Returned from Los Angeles.
?. E. Plat, the managing member of the
fruit-shipping firm of w. R. Strong & Co.,
of this city and President of the California
Fruit Union, has just returned from pro-
tracted visit to the southern portion of the
State, where his house is extensively en-
gagged in shipping the orange crop of that
section to Eastern markets
Mr.. Platt was interviewed yesterday by a
RECORD UNION reporter touching various
points of interest with results as follows:
Respecting the orange crop it is safe to say
that four-hfths has been moved and the
supply now remaining will find market
during the next month The probable
output for the year will likely amount to
about l 200 carloads. The quality of the
fruit in some districts this season was I'M
| doubtedly injured to some extent by the
| phenomenallv cold weather which ex-
tended all over the State early in the winter
and which did not spare the southern
country. though the damage was not so
heavy as was at first feared. Southern
growers, like their fellow horticulturists in
this portion of the State, do not feel at all
discouraged by reason of its being found to
be possible that once in say thirty years
degrees above zero.
1t is interesting to observe that the cold
did not to any large extent injure the trees,
Its only effect being with the fruit, which if
causes to break its pulp and dry out, the
orange so affected being nearly worthless
and unit to ship. In cases where the in
| jury cannot be detected if it exists, there is
much risk in shipping the fruit to distant
markets, as the keeping quality is gone.
AS rule, however, it is thought that the
oranges sent East this season have gone in
good shape and have served to advertise
our glorious State in a creditable manner.
Most of the fruit is handled bv experienced
fruit shippers, the growers having, in most
| cases, learned by experience that growing
fruit is one branch and shipping it another,
and that as rule they fare better TO sell
their product to some reliable dealer and
let him attend to the details of finding the
market, etc.
The house of Strong & Co. has shipped
during the season over three hundred car
loads of oranges and in the conduct of this
large business, operated under the man.
agement of W. F. Cronemiller, eleven diff
terent packing houses, in as many different
fruit-growing districts, and gave employ.
ment at one time to over 200 men, bows
| and girls. The fruit being bought on the
trees, was picked mostly by Italians, while
the packing was done very largely by girls,
who find this lucrative and pleasant en-
ployment, and one which Mr.. Platt thinks
should be more largely followed by them
| in this part of the State. Mr. Platt's firm.
| in moving the fruit, run regularly for a
long time special fast orange trains ship
ping the first one that left the State on
February 4th, consisting of fourteen cars.
With reference to the reported decadence
SOnthprYl hnnn1 nA NJ
| thought from his observations that while il
may be true that the extreme excitement of
few months ago had abated, it is not to be
concluded that the bottom has dropped
out " of Southern California On the con.
trary, there is no denying that it is a fine
country and has a grand future before it.
Just now the Eastern tourist who has been
seeking in Los Angeles for that comfort
in climate that the rigorous winters of his
Eastern home do not afford, is leaving in
great haste to spend the summer where his
business lies, and all outgoing trains carry
large numbers away but they will return
in the fall, bringing others with them.
Speculation in outside lots, which had
assumed such gigantic proportions short
time since, now seems to be less active, but
if this is followed by demands for acre
property for small homes it will be a great
and permanent blessing to the country.
Mr.. Platt was surprised to find that
very much greater amount of information
was being disseminated than he had sup
posed concerning the portion of the State
lying north of the Tehachapi mountains.
People seemed eager to tell and eager to
learn about the vast resources of this great
Northern Empire, and the entire country
was the subject of much talk and favorable
comment.
Sacramento seems to be as well known
as San Francisco. In fact, it seems to be
generally conceded to be one of the i'm
portant points in the State, and one that is
destined to soon become the center of a
greatly increased population.
Mr.. Platt, while evidently leaning
strongly in favor of this particular section,
was very broad in his views concerning the
capabilities and desirability of many other
parts of the State. He has travelled much
through California, and. is positively in
love with the entire domain from Shasta
to San Diego. From his observations and
the signs of the times, he does not hesitate
to predict great immediate Developments in
| Sacramento, Placer, Ell Dorado Yolo and
Solano counties, while it is true that
general prosperity will attend the entire
State, though in most cases movements
may be slower than in the case of the
counties mentioned.
MS cAOWluS TIC ldliu l1dt Ills The UTe8StS
of our Central California horticulturists in
| the adaptability of this section to orange
| culture, Mr. Plstt mentioned the fact that
| the nursery firm with which he was con-
nected had during the last three months
sold and planted in the districts lying
| around and north of Sacramento so 600 or
| ange trees, and had many orders ahead for
| another year. This speaks volumes for the
| quality of our climate
Speaking of the work of the Fruit Union,
Mr.. Plat had much to say, which, how
ever, must be curtailed for want of space
The Union is on a sound basis, and hopes
this year to do a very largely-increased
amount of shipping over any previous year.
Agents are now being appointed in all i'm
portant markets throughout the East. The
auction plan has been adopted for the dis
posal of the fruit in Boston, New
York, Philadelphia, Chicago and may
| likely be chosen as the proper course in
other cities. The Eastern manager will go
East in short time to personally super
intend the work of the agents and aid in
proper distribution. 1t is expected that
many new markets will be opened. Moth
| ing new can yet be stated with regard to
| freight rates, but it is hoped that liberal
and reasonable concessions will be made
by the transportation companies, and that
the time required to reach the Atlantic sea-
board may be shortened considerably. This
| latter is a very important matter and all