The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1891-12-25
RAISING A QUESTION.
Who Gets the Ten Cents a Pound
Extra i'm the Price of Fruits

Editor Morning Call: Following the lead
of many older fruit communities in the
State, Niles shipped train load-ten cars
of dried fruits of various kinds to Chicago
some time ago, which, however, are still I'M
sold.
The shipping of dried fruit East is in a
sense experimental, as it has been but a
very few years since tie first shipments
were made.
There is no doubt whatever about the de-
mand for California fruits East, and there
is but one great trouble in meeting the de-
mand. The manner Of placing it on the
market is at fault.
AS a rule it is sent to but two points
Chicago and New York; ana to those cities
buyers from other points must go. and are
entirely at the mercy of the wholesale
houses as regards prices.
personal inquiry of two or more OF the
LEADING grocers IN each OF the following cit
les, Boston, New York, Washington and
New Orleans, revealed the following facts.
a report upon apricots and peaches will suf-
fee for example:
A No. l dried fruit in bins, as dumped
from the sacks in which II was shipped, Is
rctallpd at from % 10 % cents a pound for
aprlcotS, and peaches cents less.
THESE PRICES WERE RULING
From November 1st to December 10th
meanwhile the quotations, as sent tn the
grower from Chicago or New \ ork, or as
ruling in San Francisco markets during the
same period, have reached cents pound.
1t costs cent and half a pound to land
| them III the Eastern markets, and another
| cent added Will more than cover the or s
| per cent commission. The wholesale grocer
| allows never more than cents pound (hS
| own hsures) for all his expenses and his
| freight over and above the price he pays for
! the fruit.
The question Immediately arising is,
| where does the difference, matter of from
| to 10 cents a pound. GO? Eight cents to
| the grower, u cents to the railroad, cent
| for commissions and cents which the
| grocer adds before it reaches the consumer.
| Fancy grades in boxes are not considered,
| neither are poorer grades.
| The gr0cers think that fruit-growers
| should send out men for orders early in the
| season, and no doubt the fruit-growers
| think buyers should come out here for or
ders. Surely one or the other should be
| done. thus making but the one handling be-
| tween the grower and the retail seller.
| Some of these firms handle in retail trade
| alone in season as high as Two and a
| half or
THREE CARLOADS OF FRUIT.
| Your correspondent has priced this same
i fruit, in inland towns, and found 1t as high
as 40 cents pound, price that is not at all
| conducive to large sales.
The Petaluma Canning Company have
| their fruits everywhere IN the East; In fact
that most excellent brand is we'll known
| everywhere, and the fine quality of its
! fruits and the convenience of its packages,
Is doing much to make a name for California
| fruits.
| California growers should endeavor in
| some way 10 put their fruits into Eastern
markets in a more direct and cheaper man
ner, if they wish the Eastern trade 10 grow.
| This past season has probably been one
| of the most unprecedented in this section on
| record, regards he quantity of fruit, the
| price it has cost TO handle it, and the small
| prices which have been received. English
! walnuts early i'll the season promised 10 be
| an unusually good crop, but some sort of a
worm attacked them, and as a result they
| have been Imperfect and understood.
WALNUT TREES ARE FREE.
| Handsome and rapid growers. but shy
| bearers her. still very many of them are
scattered through the valley and are a
| pleasing addition to the landscape, with
| their smooth white trunks and large fragrant
| leaves. They do hot begin to bear until
| they are ten or twelve years old, and twenty
| or thirty pounds is large crop. A new
variety said to bear much earlier has been
| in troducpd within few years, but it will
| take 4 lew years to prove the matter.
The season is generally very backward
/ the rainfall has been but 800 inches and but
| little blowing has been done. The hilsdes
/
years al this date Niles hillsIdes have sup
| piled San Francisco markets with new po-
| tatoes ana peas.
| THREE VERY UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENTS
| Have occurred in town during the past
| week. Uncle Roberts" fell from barn.
| the roof of which he was repairing, and dis
| located his hip joint. He was taken to the
| hospital, and. being very old. it Will be
| some time before he VIII be around again.
| Thomas Costello was thrown between
| the cars of gravel train, on which he was
| working, last Thursday, and was so ser
| iousiy Injured that it is feared he may not
| recover.
| John Harding has been for many years
| bridge Waterman in the canyon, and Sun
| day evening while he and his family were
| absent in town his house aud contents were
| entirely burned. There was no Insurance,
| and they, therefore, had nothing whatever
| but the clothing they had on. Remember
| ing Mr. Harding's very many generous
| deeds, the t0wnspeOple immediately col
| lected quite purse with which 10 refurnish
| his home, which the railroad company will |
| Immediately rebuild.
There has been a very unusual amount Of
sickness this past month. Mrs. ID. NJ. Con-
ners has been seriously i'll for many weeks,
Mrs. Sharpe has had a serious attack of
pneumonia. Joseph Tyson has been con-
fined to his house for month, Postmaster
Dlckey has had the genuine la grippe and
1t least a dozen others have been more or
less under the weather, and all lay it of
course TO Ia grippe.
The old wooden platform about the depot
has been removed and the space is being
hlled IN with gravel.
Merry Christmasl MRS. L. E. THANE.
Niles. Dec. 20, 1891