Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1890-03-25
THIS YEARS FRUIT CROP.
IT CAN BE CARRIED EAST At LOWER
FREIGHT RATES.
President Plat, of the Fruit Union, Sc
cures Gratifying Reduction from
the Railroad Companies.

L. T.. PIatt, General Manager OF the fruit
shipping firm of W. R. Strong Company.
, and President of the California Fruit
Union, has just returned from San Diego
where he went for the special purpose of at
tending the meeting of the Western Traffic
Association, which met at Coronado, the
object being, if possible, to get a reduction
in the rate of freight on oranges, but more
especially on deciduous fruits, such as are
shipped IN vast quantities during the sum-
mer from Sacramento. Mr.. E. T. Earl and
other fruit-shippers were present also at
the meeting.
Mr.. Platt on being interviewed yester-
day, stated that the result of this meeting
would be found to be of very considerable
benefit to the northern section of California,
as important concessions had been made.
This convention of railroad men en-
braced delegates from every railroad west
of the Missouri river, and several lines run
ming into Chicago, and Mr.. Plat had thus
a favorable opportunity to present the
claims of Northern California, of which
Sacramento is the chief fruit-shipping Cell
ter, in thorough and practical manner to
the lines most directly interested. 1t is
sometimes claimed that the Southern Pa
cific road alone is responsible for the rates
of freight going East, but this is not so, as
Mr.. Platt found to his entire satisfaction.
Under the rules of the Western Traffic
Association single vote against change
in rates is sufficient to prevent the change
being made. Hence it became necessary
that all the lines in interest should thor
oughly understand the necessities of the
traffic, and be in harmony with the pro-
posed change as far as possible.
Among other men with whom confer
ence was held were Messrs Stubbs, GRAY
and Smurr of the Southern Pacific; Messrs.
Mellon and Eccles of the Union Pacific,
and representatives from several lines east
of Council Bluffs.
After presenting matters thoroughly to
individual members of the Association, the
gentlemen were invited to appear before
the Association and explain in detail the
entire situation. which was carefully done.
The result of all being that material re-
duction has been made in the rate of freight
on Eastern shipments by special train, and
by passenger train in carload lots from
Sacramento, on green fruits.
The reduction will average about $50 per
car, but the new tariff is not yet issued
In the matter of the orange business,
Mr.. Plat says that about two-thirds of the
crop of California has been moved and
this in the face of the competition of Flor
| ida and Mediterranean fruit. Probably 800
| carloads remain in Southern California and
will find good market during the next three
| months. Before another season comes
| around it is hoped that Congress will have
seen tit to adopt the proposed increased
! duty on Mediterranean oranges which is
| alike necessary for the protection of Flor
| ida and California. Congressman McKenna
| has been very active in pushing for ward
| the claims OF these two great orange-pro-
ducing sections Of the United States, and is
| succeeding well in impressing his views
upon the committee, go that they have
| recomm ended an increase of about 80 per
cent. in the duty.
The entire crop of California this year
| will amount to little less than 1000, 900
boxes, and that of Florida to about 8, coo, 600
| The latter production is generally out OF
| the way by the time that one-half of the
| California fruit is moved. The United
States import annually about 10000
boxes, making a total consumption of
about 6 900 600, which will largely increase
as population increases.
Mr.. Plat, on behalf the Board of Trade
of Sacramento, has presented these and
many other facts to the Pacific Coast dele
CATION in Congress, and confidently expects
| to see good results. California should be
able in five years to show production of
100000 boxes; and at the present rate of
planting, Northern California, or the citrus
section north of Sacramento, should be
| able to ship large part of this. 1t is
therefore, of the highest importance that
| proper efforts should be made in time to
protect this vastly growing industry.
| Speaking of Southern California, Mr.
Plat says there is no denying the fact that
it is very fine section of the State He
| does no; believe that there is any very
large feeling in favor of division of The
State and thinks it would b. very in
furious policy to pursue. California as a
whole, is the grardest State in the Union,
and to divide it would be detrimental in
the highest degree
| AT the Citrus Fair held in Los Angeles a
week ago, the display of the W. R. Strong
| Company was very favorably commented
upon by the local press, and diploma was
awarded by the committee. 1t was The
third largest display exhibited, that of San
Bernardino county being the first and Los
| Angeles county second.