The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-02-23
NOTES FROM NILES,
Items Relative to Fruit i'm Cali.
fOrnia-Farmers' Alliance.

fOrnia-FarmerS' Alliance.
The total amount of fruits handled in
California through the markets in 1889 has
been more than 140.000,000 pounds; the
amount in 1885, about $4,000, 900 pounds: tbe
toa for the past five years has been more
than 662,00O,000 pounds-an enormous
amount, surely In the past five wears the
amou of fruit canned, sold through the
markets green, or shipped East green. has
doubled; but the amount of dried fruit has
increased fiye-fold. OF all this, it is esti-
mated that a possible one tenth is sent tn
foreign countries-only those on the eastern
side Of the Atlantic L. seems such foIly tn
talk OF overproduction with narrow strip
of countries lying to the north and east of
the Mediterranean and another abOut as
large on the Pacific Coast, from which to
supply the world with declduous fruits.
South America only raises apples-nO de-
ciduous fruits like ours. Australia does
not as yet, though she may in time; British
Columbia and Canada cannot, and yet with
all these markets. west north and south, at
our very doors, not a thOusandth part of the
product is sent In either OF these directions
1t has only been little more than twenty
years since canned fruits have been shipped
out OF the State, and the shipments now are
five times greater than then; but the great
est interest attaches to the SHIPMENTS If
green and dried fruits. 1t Is not ten wears
since deciduous traits, both dried and green,
were shipped in quantities large enough 10
warrant record being kept and yet, with
all the discouraging losses and slow trains
the amount Of green fruit shipped has
doubled in five years, being "A, 000, GOO odd
pounds in 1889. Let every pound remain in
the United States and say half the uopula-
ton, or 30,000,0 600, live where they have fruit
IN plenty, the rest would not have more
than dozen peaches each wear.
The dried fruit industry, too, has
taken most rapid strides, and with the ex-
ceptiOn OF plums and apples, which do as
well East as here, the shipments of each
having declined more than third, there
has been constant Increase in the amount
OF fruit drled-frOm pears, three times more
being dried last year than five years ago,
all along the line to pruneS, there having
been ten times as many pruneS dried last
year as i've years ago. Now, allowing the
whole Of the dried-fruit crop to be sent East
and consumed by that half OF the population
of the United States they would not have
quite pound each. Now, when it is known
Lhat much remains on this Coast, and a
great deal goes on to Europe, what becomes
oi the cry OF over-production?
As the facilities for overland shipments
are increased and improved there is very
little doubt but that the crop of to-day will
be consumed by the United States in Il fresh
state, and the thousands Of acres being set
out, and in fact, every acre that will raise
decjduous fruits, will be needed to meet the
demands OF the consumers of dried aud
canned fruits in all parts OF the world.
No interest whatever seems to be taken in
the Worlds Fair meetings which have been
called from time TO time IN this county. At
the lust meeting on Tuesday of last week in
Oakland, less than dozen members of the
mplimentary Committee of One Hundred
were present. A Working Committee, in
Guiding several of the Supervisors of the
county and a gentleman from each town
ship, was appointed. Jaun Gallegos, gen.
tieman who Is extensively in crested in
wine, being President of the Gallegos Wine
Company, was selected for Washington
Township. 1t is unfortunate that another
could not also have been selected to repre-
sent the fruit interests, which are much
greater than any other In the township
There IS little chance that any actual work
Will be done, however, until an appropria-
ton bill Is passed, and the committees can
have business bass to work upon. Niles
being the center Of the fruit section in Ala
media county our people are anxiously
waiting to know what is to be done.
Rev T. II. Mari and wife we're given q
reception Thursday afternoon, in Mrs.
Shinn's handsome parlOrs; the fifty or more
guests kept coming and going, during the
afternoon in spite of the frequent showers,
after beng served TO tea, cake and fruits, by
Miss Melhcent ShIin, the remainder of the
time was spent in chatting with the bride and
groom, and inspecting the many elegant
gifts, which included everything possible to
use IN the line of siiverware, handsome
lamps, china, pictures, rugs, vases aud
mantel ornaments of all kinds, sCarfS, fancy
tables, a sideboaTd, and fruits and jellirs
besides; so when the parsonage is finished
which will be in another two OF three
weeks, the young couple, will have many of
tile useful as well as beautiful things
to begin housekee ing with.
The Niles Farmers Alliance Club held its
second meeting last Friday evening, every
member being present; several new mem
bers were elected. The subjects discussed
were very interesting and consisted of sew
eral measures which it is desired to bring
before tile next Legislature. The plan is, as
far as possible, to have the same subjects
discussed by every county alliance, and as
far as is practicable, by all those in the
State
The reading of the fourth number of the
Niles Boomerang was the event of the even
ing at the Spare Minute Circle, which met
last Saturday evening at James Clarke's
The young people are doing most excellent
work, and some OF the articles would do
credit to more ambitious papers, Each
members deeds or nisdeeds for the past
quarter are carefully chroneed in the
poesical or personal column, each being the
butt in turn of some go0d-natured puns for
the amusement of the others. The editor
in-ehief was Joseph SEinn and his assistant
Miss Jane Smith.
Three new houses are building and sew
eral lots have changed hands the past week.
The livery stable mas been sold to Epbraim
Tyson, who will continue the business. The
former owner will build quite large build
ing on his neighburing lots, which will prob
ably be used as lodging house.
The work of enlargng the hotel will be
finished in another month.
The rainfall for the storm has been o0S
inches; for the season, inches. The small
est rainfall recorded since 1919 was 40
inches in 1S5I-52, but as we have March
and April yet to hear from it is more than
likely that it VIII exceed that amount this
year. Several seasons the amount has been
about 10 or IL inches, and without excep-
ton the seasons following have been the
most satisfactory. The springs on the hill
sides are not dry, the creek has its usual
quantity of water, and while the feed for
cattle was very high and scarce, the fruit
was not suffering for this rain, but the grain
and vegetables were standing still, aud the
rain came just in time for them On some
Of the hillsides, potatoes will be ready for
marke: in another week, peas in another
month, and beans are doing well. Five
hundred sacks or more of potatoes were
planted on the hillsi1es back of the Fila
worth and Pickering places this spring.
Altogether the outlook for large fruit croD
is most promising, with the exception of the
peach, SO many OF which have had all their
buds killed by the spray used to kill the
scale pug. MRS. l.. f. THANE.