The record-union., 1892-09-28

Z. l.. Goodsell, the California fruit
auctioneer, said yesterday:
California fruit receipts and sales in
New ork show falling off this week Of
over 100000 pounds as compared with
those Of two weeks ago. and ali owing to
the cholera scare Few of the general
public are aware of the tremendous tinan-
cial losses and the havoc that the news
paper reports regarding seizures of I'M
eatable fruit have made in the fruit trade.
This has not been confined to any one
line, but has been general in its effects,
beginning with the wealthy patrons of
the Broadway retail fruit dealers, and
reaching down to Spain among the raisin-
packers. One large retailer, whose trade
is wholly among the best families in the
city, says his customers refuse to buy
anything in the line of fruit. The retail
ers on the East and West Side say their
trade is equally prejudiced and that they
are not selling 90 per cent. as much as
they usually do of domestic or California
products.
importers Of bananas complain Bit
terIy Of the state of their trade, saying
prices. are off just one-half. Usually
100000 to 100000 boxes OF Denia Span
ish) raisins are sold to American
firms during September by packers in
Spain. This season not %, 900 boxes have
been disposed of in this way, and these at
a loss. y cable offer was received this
week at an equivalent of three cents a
pound in Spain.
"Peach-growers in New jersey and
producers of apples, pears and piums in
New York State, are getting little or
nothing for their product, in spite of a
scarclty-a loss Of money they are i'll able
TO stand. Part of this state of affairs is
due TO the Jealous action on the part of
fruit inspectors of the Board of Health in
hoy Il To-
EaSt-Sde peddlers who. beside losing their
stock in trade, have been fined 500 in
most instances. This has deferred many
OF this class OF buyers from purchasing,
and also many of the trade, tearing they
would suffer likewise. one instance is
related of retailer who purchased some
plums from wholesaler. On reaching
his place Of business the retailer had his
stock in trade seized. He Immediately
returned and threatened to shoot the
wholesaler If he didn't return the money
he had paid for the fruit that was taken.
Now, while 1 approve of all necessary
precaution 10 prevent UNBEATABLE fruit be-
ing palmed off on the public, there is
always the good and the bad and dis
elimination should be exercised, which |
fear hasn't always been the case during
the last week.
Fortunately California shippers have
not suffered as regards prices; these be-
ing maintained by the very light supplies
that have been shipped here In fact
peaches, pears, pluIns and grapes have
sold at profitable prices when good. The
frult-shlpper who has sent inferior fruit
has been the sufferer as for such there is
no sale. Hence the public will only find
offered for sale on the streets the very
best OF California products. Fine Tokay
grapes are now arriving and selling at
- % per case of twenty pounds. By rea-
son OF this cholera panic I estimate the
loss to the fruit business generally during
the past two weeks at not less than $780,
900, while the i'll effects will probably last
for month, with similar amount of loss
| during the latter interval Reputable
physicians have told me that fruit in a
proper state of maturity is much more
healthful than meat and vegetable diet
alone.
The English people are taking large
shipments of American apples lust now.
my shipments to Liverpool and Glasgow
this week amounting to 1900 barrels. A
cable to-day reports Kings netting So ID a
barrel, and Baldwins - 20 a barrel, % per
cent. higher prices than could have been
obtained here.
81 have arranged this year to send di-
rect from Florida steamer laden with
the early orange product of that State.
This steamer sails on November Ist. So
Florida oranges which reach here gem
orally in October will probably not get
here till some time later. John Bull has
taken a decided fancy to Florida pro-
ducts, and the probability is that the
future surplus will go to him and the
American grower obtain splendid prices.
California green fruits, likewise. have
met with a most cordial reception, after
our English cousins regained their conf
dence as TO whether the fruit would keen
or not after landing. 1t was found it
would, and where only 81 % a box was
paid for the first arrivals of 2SS boxes of
Bartlett Pears, the second of $50 boxes,
| bringing 81 90; the $50 boxes comprising
the third lot realizing 50 %, and the last
shipment, August 9th, of 1,l6S boxes,
sold to averages 10a box. These figures
will interest every fruit-grower in the
United States. and l believe all our fruit
products can be as probably exported
and marketed in England"