The morning call., 1893-07-24
A FINE FRUIT COUNTRY.
What Is Being Done in the Region
Around Niles.

CORRESPONDENCE OF THE MORNING CALL.
The apricot crop is for this season but
81 per cent of the average annual yield, but
the prices are lower than for several years
and lower also than was ever given for the
largest crops grown since apricots have
been one of the crops Of the State. II is
easy to see why peaches should be so low.
The Eastern crop is On the average d Der
cent greater than fer several years. thus
holding down our prices. While the heavy
crop of peaches both here and in The East
may affect somewhat the market for our
apricots, it is not possible lat that can
be the entire cause for the low prices.
Growers look closer at home and believe
that canneries are taking advantage of the
stringency in the money market to keep
prices down. In other words. they have
agreed to buy only in the open market.
and so. being the heaviest buyers. they are
able to control the prices
When the cherry season opened good
nrices were offered and received for per-
haps half OF the crop These prices. how
ever, were given by shippers. not by can
ners.
Alameda and Santa Clara counties are
the last fruit counties In line. Apricots are
gone in every other part OF the State and
thew are fully two weeks later in ripenng
he re this season than for six years. The
bulk of the crop from the rest OF the State
has been sent East or into tine market. so
if the Gamers are TO secure any PACK at all
their main dependence will be upon the
fruit from these two counties. A homo
com bination has been Effected near San
Jose. A dozen or more growers have CON-
bined, and, having properly organized. are
going to can their own fruit. sell 1t them
selves and reap the entire profit them
selves.
There are enough cots 10 the immediate
vicinity of Niles t. make it worth while to
can at home, but the majority of the crop
is grown by small landowners who cam
not afford to risk their crop in such way.
1t is the first time in the history OF fruit
growing that the quantity or supply OF
fruit has not controlled the prices as 1t
should. Two months or more ago cents
was offered for arricots, 2 cents for
peaches. 2h cents for prunes and from to
8 cents for cherries. Now half those
amounts are about the offers growers re-
ceive. 1t may be very true that Gamers
cannot borrow money. yet those Gamers
who have capital enough are taking ad-
vantage Of that reason to refuse to buy.
A few farmers are shipping apricots into
market this week, receiving from l u to
1% cents pound net. and these are selling
to the consumer for 10 or II cents pound,
a difference of s cents at the least to be
divided between the commission man and
the retailer; not bad profit.
Drying has commenced in earnest, and
by the middle of next week, unless Gamers
enter the field or prices ara better in the
markets, at least $50 people will be busy in
the fields.
The Spring Valley Water Company
keeps wachmen patrOling our stream to
prevent bathers from enjoying its waters.
Charles Mayborg owns the most beautiful
stretch OF water in the canyon, "The
I ok h0 fon fnr
nearly mile. He rents camping sites
and has seyenty-fiva or more boarders
during the season, who are attracted by
the good boating and swimming. While
Mr. Mayborg was sick two weeks ago the
water company patroled the creek on his
grounds and arrested two gentlemen for
swimming. The suit was tried in Center
VILE and dismissed. 1t does seem as if the
property-owners in this section ought to
unite and demand some satisfaction.
There is great deal OF talk, but it ends in
talk after all.
The railroad bridges in the canyon are
net in as good condition as they should
be. The supports of two at least need 8
thorough oveShauling.
The trustees Of Union High School
teachers. Professor W. Il. Wentworth,
MISS NJ. Brice and Miss G. Croker.
These teachers have given the greatest sat
isfaction to all the patrons of the school.
1t is learned this week that Professor
Wentworth, having received better offer
than our trustees are able to make, has
sent In his resignation. 1t is greatly to be
regretted as il will be a-hard matter to Sc
cure SO thorough and competent an educa-
tor as MIR. Wentworth has proved himself
to be. This school has been in existence
but year and half, the first year in very
incomm odious rooms with but two teach
ers, and yet is the only high school out
side Of the cities this year to be accredited
in every study to the State University.
This is no small recommend to the eff
cheney of our teachers.
MRS. L. E. THANE.
Niles, July %, 1893