Sacramento daily record-union., 1889-09-20
CALIFORNIA PRUNEs.
Strong Competition in the Eastern Mar
kets-Erance and Turkey.

kets-France and Turkey.
New YORK, September 19th.-A rumor
has been current in certain quarters that
Eastern importers of French prunes have
combined to greatly un6ersell California
prunes, with view to discourage further
extensive prune growing in California.
With a view of ascertaining the facts
leading importers and brokers have been
interviewed by the California Associated
Press Bureau reporters, and the result is
given below.
A series of questions were propounded
which, generally speaking, sought to Sc
cure not only an answer to the present
leading inquiry concerning the alleged
combine, but as to their future acts.
Interviews were sought and obtained
only from the most responsible persons
members of firms. No employees were in
teryiewed. Their utterances were as fol-
lows:
II. E. Wills & Co., brokers, "A State street,
said California prunes are superior to Turk
ish prunes. They are quite equal to the
French, so the French prunes principally
compete with the California product. The
total product of California is small COM
pared with the total French.
The consumption in the East is about
$4,000 tons of French and Turkish prunes
1t is estimated that the annual product oi
California is much less at present.
The real bar to the control of the New
York market by the Californian product is
the price. California prunes are three
fourths to one cent higher than the French
They had never heard of any combination
among Eastern dealers against California.
They think it would be impracticable to
attempt to make such a hostile combina-
ton. 1t is very probable that in view OF
the unusually large and fine French crop
this season that the French packers are
making a determined effort to undersell
California. The French sell at CT cents
while California of the same grade sells at
q cents.
W. H Dudley, of the brokers' firm OF
Dudley & Co., "a State street, said Califor.
MIA could control this market, even if the
prunes were as low as the French prices.
California prunes are better cured than the
French, but not so well packed and not
quite equal in quality. California can, in
time, with her natural increase of product
and improvement in packing and curing,
not only secure the New York market, but
control the trade of the East. Turkish
prunes, the principal competitor in the
market. are undeis .ling both California
and France. From thlrty-fiye to forty
thousand casks of prunes are annually i'm
ported here, averaging ], 400 pounds to the
cask, and worth about $50 per cask, includ-
ing the duty, which is cne cent per pound.
The idea of a combination of the dealers
here against the California product is alb
surd. They never had heard of any such
a scheme before. 1t was a trick of specu-
lators, probably.
The California trade is badly regulated.
Too many bargains are made directly with
the growers, who often break faith.
Drummond Il Fisk, brokers at 124 State
street, said California prunes are just as
good as the French. We can sell all we
can get of the California prunes at Il cents.
The packing and curing of California
prunes compares favorably with the French.
The raisins cured style is mostly preferred
here. California can produce sufficient
quantity to supply the East with ease. The
fruit reaches here month in advance of the
French. Fleming of California, has made
sales here for October and November next
for and n cents, while the French are Of
fering at 61 cents. There is no foundation
to the story concerning the combination
against the California product.
Horace W. Day, of Sgobel & Day, brokers
at "a State street, said There is no com.
bination against California. The story is a
mere trick of trade. The rumor probably
started in Chicago. where the great bulk oi
California prunes are handled, to affect
prices"
Miles, Everett & Co., importers and deal
ers at LOG Warren street, said: There is
no combination against California. The
story was started as trade trick for specu.
lative purposes. California prunes are bet.
ter than the French, and sell more readily
They are cured and put up as well as the
ErpDpb article California nonIa ri1
eventually control this market, if properly
| handled. A majority of the dealers here
prefer California goods TO French"
Sonn Bros, at 365 Washington street
! said: Time will give California control ot
the market" They had never heard Of 6
combination against California.
Thurber, Wyland K Co, at 116 ReadC
street, represented by Alex. Godillot, have
| never heard of any combination against
| California among the Eastern dealers, and
do not believe such a scheme practicable.
w. R. Wing, also with the foregoing
| firm, who handles California fruit for the
firm, said: The story OF combination is
merely speculative dodge. The Califor.
MIA crop this year is month earlier thar
the French. California will eventually
control this market but the goods must be
better packed than they are" His concern
buys California fruit in sacks and packs il
here.
Mathew Dean & Co., at 226 Washington
street, said California prunes are very pop
ular in this market The difference in
price is all TO prevent Chicago from con.
trolling this market. 1t is only a matter oi
time when California will control the East.
ern market They don't believe there is q
combination adverse to California.