The morning call., 1892-01-21
FRUIT-GROWERS.
Annual Meeting Of the California
Union.
Lower Transportation Rates Demanded-L
Assistance Courted Railroad
Company Condemned.

The members of the California Fruit
Union held their annual meeting yesterday
afternoon in the rooms of the State Board
oil Horticulture, J. Z. Anderson of San Jose
in the chair.
Alter the reading and approval OF the
minutes of the previous annual meeting and
the appointment Of a Committee on Order
OF Business the Secretary, l.. w. Buck, read
the annual report. From this it appears
that the union is an unqualified success. 1t
having received in all from the stockholders
IN payment for stock So, 423, and has re-
paid them $50, 900 in the form Of dividends,
rebates, claims for delay, ETC., collected
from transportation companies.
Attention was called in the report to- the
growth of the membership, the increase IN
the shipping business, the preference for re-
1rlgerat0r cars over the special train sys-
tenn, the prices realized and the cost OF ship
mentS. On this last point 1t was shown
that from 1900 duplicate accounts Of sales
the gross amount received was 81, 2o3, 43l 6l,
out Of which 500, 900 90 was deducted for
freight and S95,S7 o. for storage, commits
sIonS, ETC., leaving S6j2, $40 rs for the pro-
ducers, who had TO meet the expense OF
raising, picking boxing, carriage, ETC., out OF
Ihat sum.
LOWER RATES URGED.
In the debate which followed it was urged
that ttee be sent to plead with the
railroad company for lower rates The
suggestion was met by several gentlemen,
who had served on similar committees,
notably A. T. Hatch, Mr.. Aiken OF Santa
Cruz and Secretary Buck, who related eX-
perences and showed how futile such an
appeal would be.
Mr.. Moger, IsidOr Jacobs, Mr.. Block, Mr..
Rueker and other speakers thereupon
argued in favor of compelling the roads,
especially THE Southern Paclnc OF Ken
lucky" as the local road was ironically
described, to come to their terms, each sug-
costing plan by which the corporations
might be induced to leave a little more mar
gin for the producer than at present 1t
was shown that the southern orange
growers had forced rate Of 81 % from the
company, II being admitted, however, that
thls was the result of railroad competition.
Mr.. Aiken's experience with the Southern
Paclhc went TO show that when lie attempt
ed to make a calculation that a reduction or
rates would benefit the railroad consider
ably IN the course Of two or three years he
was stopped with the remark, Don't 20
into that, for we are at present engaged In
endeayorlng to make a record for the big
gest dividend this year Next year Will
have to take care Of Itself" The fruit
men could have no redress, but the annual
report furnished by the railroad showed
that its increase Of profits over previous
years was 100000
COMMITTEE APPOINTED.
After a very full discussion. III which the
advantage of comforting with Mr. Leeds Of
the Traffic Association was shown, the
motion of Mr.. Moger prevailed that the
Chair appoint a committee to demand from
the railroad and refrigerator companies
reduction Of 25 per cent on the present rates.
a motion was then carried instructng
this committee 20 take such action in con-
sulting persons not connected with the
union as it deemed for the best interests Of
the members.
The election Of Trustees followed, the
Secretary casting the ballot in the absence
Of all opposition. The ticket included the
names of j. 4. Anderson, San Jose; a.
Black, Santa Clara; l.. w. Buck and W. B.
Parker, Vacavlle; J. {. Boggs, Newcastle;
David Reese, Florin; Samuel GeIsOn, Sac
rament0; Webster Treat, DaYisYllle; H.
W. Meek, San Lorenzo.
j. Il. Anderson was subse Quently re-
elected President and l.. w. Buck Secretary.