The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-08-11
4 PUZZLE ABOUT PRUNEN.
Contradictory Statements About
This Years Output.
Circular That Causes Surprise and Indig-
nstion-Marked Shortage as Com
pared With Last Year

A lengthy circular issued by c. w. Pike
Of California street on July % on the prune
situation and " hch found It's way into the
columns of the Eastern papers has aroused
feeling of surprise and indignation in the
wholesale fruit trade in this city.
The circular sta ted IL effect that the prob
able output this year, from careful investi-
CATION. would be from 81 100000 to 80, 600, 900
pounds, dried, minimum estimate The
crop would run large sizes, instead OF the
trees being laden, as they were last year, with
small prunes. There would be nowhere
near the number Of prunes, but the output
would be made up in the weight of the
prunes.
The circular stated that Santa Clara
k70unty-the banner prune county-wOuld
ave crop Of equal size in weight to that Of
list year with probable indications of an in
Chase OF 10 per cent Sonoma and Napa
counties the same. Northern California
would probably have half a crop, but the
output Of this section was small and always
had been. Tuare and Fresno counties
would be good crop, and Los Angeles
County would have a full crop.
The circular objected strongly to the idea
OF opening the market at 10 cents. price
based upon fictitious values. Prunes might
rule at cents and for special packs 9l2, but
beyond that they were stretching point.
OPINIONS EXPRESSED.
Several Of the leading firms were seen
yesterday by reporter of The CALL and
all denounced the circular as misleading and
Injurious.
Mr.. Armsby of Armsby & Co., Davis
street, said that Mr.. Pike must be a smarter
man than all the rest put together, or be did
not know what he was talking about in his
circular. There was absolutely nothing to
warrant such statements as those contained
In the circular. The output would be from
90 to GO per cent of last years. But" said
Mr. Armsby, "let me Introduce you to Mr.
George A. Fleming Of San Jose, one of the
largest and oldest packers OF pTunes in the
State, and he viii speak for himself"
Mr.. Fleming said the position taken by
Mr.. Pike was very injurious to the growers.
Mr.. Pike was entirely wrong as to the crop
this year, as II would be from 30 to 90 per
cent Of last years crop, which was a poor
one. Ia Santa Clara County a large num-
Der OF trees would not average 80 pounds 10
the tree which before averaged 800 pounds
he WAS al loss 10 understand why Mr..
Pike should send out such statements.
ESTIMATE OF THE CROP.
w. F. Beck of Beck, Sons & Co, CAL
ifornia street, said the prune crop would be
66 per cent OF last year. The crop was o.
OO0.OO0 pounds last year from Santa Clara
County, and this year il would reach from
100000 to 100000 pounds The crop
was snort all over the State. There will
no doubt, be large prunes, but it would take
very great many large prunes to make up
adehelency OF the One-thlrd. Why" said
Mr.. BECK, people are laughing at Pixies
circular"
MI Porter Of Porter Bros. Davis street.
said: pixies circular is the most mslead-
Ing circular ever issued from the trade. 1t
LOOKS as II ne was bulling the market In
Sonoma County l know, from careful
observations by conservative men. that the
crop will be only 80 per cent of last wears.
Old trees have hardly been doing ANYTHING.
and II it hadn't been for the new trees tile
crop wouldn't have reached 20 per cent la
Los Angeles County there is no crop, so to
speak. Napa County is the same as So
Doma. In Tulare and Fresno counties there
are fair crops, but these are the exceptions.
Ia Santa Clara Valley the prunes Will be
small, owing TO the inclemency Of the sea-
son. There had been also no dew al nights,
which Is quite draw back"
THE STATEMENT IS WRONG.
Mr.. Gray of Allison, Gray & Co, Front
and Washington streets, said he had not
seen Mr.. Pixies circular. A copy was
shown him and he said: II would require
TO carefully study 1t before expressing a
definite opinion. But l can say this. that
as | live in the Sauta Clara Valley, his
statement about the crop there is altogether
wrong. To be conservative. 1t Will be 30
or 30 per cent less than last year."
Mr.. Pike was also seen. He said he WAS
neither bull nor was he short. He repre-
senIeo some OF the biggest packers In the
State, but personally he did not own
pound of prunes. The information In his
circular was for the use of the large houses
in the East that he represented and was not
intended for publication. They depend
upon him to give them reliable reports, and
the statements 10 his circular were founded
on information obtained by his lieutenants
through personal visits to the various coun-
ties. He did not believe in boOms, as it was
bad for all Interested Besides, his state
ments were corroborated by others who
were not interested, but thoroughly posted
But" said Mr.. Pike. ''the position Of
matters has been altered within the past