The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-10-12
STATE BOARD OF TRADE.
ADDRESS BY W. ii. MILLS ON THE
DISTRIBUTION OF FRUIT.
The Question to be Considered is How
the Great Mass of Consumers
Can be Reached.
Special to the REooRD-US1oS.

Special 10 the RECoRD-UNIOS.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 1I.-There was a
full attendance Of directors at the month
ly meeting of the State Board of Trade
this afternoon in the new quarters under
the Croker building. President Eugene
J. Gregory was III the chair.
showed receipts for September to be ST.
442 50 and disbursements s., 020 IS.
B. NJ. LeLong, Secretary of the State
Board of Horticulture, was elected a
member of the State Board of Trade.
W. II. Mills read his address upon the
distribution of California fruit in the
East.
THE question of probability as to
whether California can become the or
chard of the whole country is answered
by experience" said the well-informed
gentleman. Il find a prevalent opinion
10 exist, which is matter of surprise, to
the effect that California sells fruit to the
East because OF earlier conditions. 1t is
the commonly received opinion that our
fruits ripen at a different time and that
our sales in the East are made when the
home product is unavailable. This is
not true. The fruits of the East, when
taken in their entire variety, ripen in the
months OF July, August, September and
October. 1t is significant that we shipped
no fruit in the months between January
and April. Our shipment begins in June,
and more than eighty per cent. OF the en-
tire shipment finds a market at the East,
in the face of the domestic fruit markets
of those States.
Cherries in the East sell at 81 80, as
against 30 cents per box in this State 1t
is not enough that our fruits be placed on
the Eastern market, but they must be
e I'll
the masses of the people to consume
them.
1.-The question now to be considered is
that of how we can reach the great mass
OF consumers in profitable manner to
the producer and the consumer. The
system Of direct distribution seems to
meet the proposition. The transporta-
ton companies OF the country stand
ready to second any Improvement which
may be devised or be sought to be ap-
piled by the consignors of the freight
Seventeen hundred carloads of Califor-
ma fruit were shipped last year to Chi
cago. 1t is not to be presumed that ONLY
the people of Chicago want to eat our fruit.
The entire country wants our fruit. The
thing is to get our fruit to them. There
are millions of people who yearn for our
fruit. | would sooner have had the Leg
islature appropriate 81 900, 900 to send our
fruit to Eastern agents for distribution
than to appropriate single dollar for the
Columbian Exposition"
Mr.. Mills closed his address with the
motion that a Commissioner be sent to
the East to learn of the ways of distribu-
ton of California fruit.
Ex-Governor Perkins suggested that
the Commissioner, if he be appointed.
first ascertain what the transportation of
the fruit would be. Il am in the busi-
ness just as well as Mr.. Mills is, and we
both know that the transportation COM
panies viii Charge as much as the traffic
Will bear. There is not one of our pro-
ducers but who will let his grapes 90
from his vineyard at two cents per pound
or less. 1t looks then as though a reason
able profit should be made on the fruit
when we know that it sells so much
dearer in the East. But our experience
has been just the reverse. 1t was the
transportation cost that caused the dis
agreeable knowledge 10 be gained"
In answer to this Mr.. Mills stated that
to be looked after. That the production
and consumption would regulate the
transportation cost.
a general discussion of Mr.. Mills
paper. which was in the hands of MEM
bers, followed, during which various sug-
gestions were offered. Finally it was re-
solved that the President OF the board
appoint a committee to report on the
feasibility of the plan proposed by Mr..
Mills. This committee is to inquire as TO
the best methods OF carrying out the plan,
who can best undertake the work
whether the railroad companies, Wells,
Fargo 81 Co. or an association of fruit
growers should own the distributing cars