The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-05
GATHERING FRUIT.
Plenty of Work for Laborers lin
Alameda County,
RS Via

Correspondence of The MORNING CALL.
The labor question always has been akSf
always will be an interesting and vi Nal
question. In harvest time the fruit-grOSY.
ers must have reliable help and DAYS
delay many a time means an immediate
loss; when the fruit is ready it must be
picked, and one such day as we have had
the last of this week when the fruit Is
ready, means that double the amount of
help must be put on.
There are now but two Chinese camps in
town. with perhaps ten men the winter
through in each camp. As soon as the
fruits begin to ripen more will come
Five years ago there were probably $50
Chinese here working through the season,
each charging 70 cents a day. No white
men would work for such wages and the
bows in town, and sometimes girls also.
helped. The next year the Chinese
asked 81 day and got it. The next year
81 O5. and so on. There being fewer Chi
nese each year, they asked more wages.
until now they get 81 %. AS good, smart
white workers will work for that amount,
a boss perhaps getting 81 80, the result is
that all the men who are day laborers in
town are kept busy in the orchards during
the season. Whether the Chinese have
been short-sighted enough to drive them
selves out by demanding more wages each
year or not. is question. 1t is very
patent fact here that we can do without
them. as the majority of workers are now
white men and boys.
1t will take about $50 workers. so a
prominent orchardist estimates, to har-
vest the coming seasons crop. The first
regular picking of this season begins Mon
day. The 9TH. when work will begin on the
cherry crop.
An Italian from San Jose has purchased
on the trees nearly every pound of cher
ries in this section. The crop is worth
over $4,000, over half of which has al
ready been paid down. A large number
OF Italian men and girls are TO be brought
from San Jose and will do the work, the
men picking and the girls packing. The
Thumbuil and Beebe packing house OBJ
poslte the station is to he used by the
packers. Nearly every pound is to be
slipped East and the growers are wonder
ing what the Gamers are going to do for
cherries.
The prices raid are most satisfactory in
deed. averaging In every case for trees Of
good age $500 an acre, half in advance
and half when the picking is half over, the
grower being allowed all he wishes for his
own use.
This manner of buying crop on the
trees has never been done here before to
any extent and it meets with the approval
of the grower, who is certain that cher
ries are desirable crop, particularly this
year.
Heavy shipments of gooseberries are
being made mis- week. There Is large
crop this year. The berries are unusually
large and prices are fair
Dried aprlcots sold last week in New
ork and Boston markets for from 1917 to
16R cents pound. Gamers have been
warily offering $40 and $50 ton for some
time, but growers look for more and will
doubtless get it.
- No prices are yet offered for peaches.
There Is an immense crop. and men are
still busy in the orchards thinning the
fruit
A large number of campers are already
located In the canyon, and a great MANY
more nave made application for space and
VIII soon come. 1t is estimated that 1000
people Will make their homes in this can
yon OF campers during the coming season.
Inc lrrlgating ditch runs full of water,
ana ranchers along the line of the creek
are endeavoring to hayeit kept full during
tho summer months. The Spring Valley
water Company is contemplating some
important changes during the coming sea-
son: Pr0perty-Owners all along the line
~ The Gre feel that great injury has been
none 10 the valley and they shou Id he ready
TO look out for their interests in every way
possible. Mrs. l.. F.. THANE.
Niles, June 4, 1893