The morning call., 1893-02-02
A RAISlN LAW.

Inc California CLdl6 halSlU-EEONeIS as
ISOLATION met yesterday at Fresno to receive
the report of the executive committee on the
operations of lS9. and to devise means to
obviate the evils which have rendered the
growing of raisins improbable.
In 1892 the raiSn crop Of California
amouDted,to 100000 pounds, which was
about equal 10 the entire consumption of
the United States four or five years ago.
Yet the Importation OF foreign Taisins did
not cease altogether. though it was consld-
erably reduced by home competition. The
indications are that this year. or, at any
rate, two OF three years hence. the con-
sumption viii be rather over than under
90 00) pounds and that the California
crop viii not fall short OF that figure. and
will thus not only emaneipate the country
from dependence on Spain, but will enable
US TO place some fruit in the London market.
That Will not be the case, however, unless
the trade is organized so that the grower
shall receive fair return Tor his labor and
his outlay. Al the present time the indus
try is conducted in a happy-gO-lucky
fashion, which almost insures a loss. In
July and August grOceFs make their con-
tracts deliverable in October and Novem-
Der. These contracts generally yield tie
growers a fair though not an eXoT btant
profit. Where no contracts are made the
grower sells to cooperative packers or job
bers in this city, whose capital is limited.
and who ship at once to the East, drawing
at sight on the consignees for the freight
and about half the value The cOnsignee
meets the draft, but to secure himself
throws the raisinS at once on the market.
without regard TO its condition. He does
not concern himself whether II is glutted
with raisins or bare. Thus. in 1891 and
1892 California raisins were thrown on the
New York marke. and sold peremptoTily at
a time when the grocers were stocked up.
and the consequence was that they sold IN
many instances for half the cost of prOduc
tion. and cruel disappointment and heavy
loss were the result
The association proposes TO remedy the
evil by the passage of an act of the Legis-
lature organizing the association as . legal
BODY, giving it control of the business so
far as brands and classification are con-
cerned, and clothing it with power 10 check
fraudulent branding. This plan would ac-
complish its Object in one direction. II
would throw obstacles in the way OF growers
who injure the reputation OF California
raisins By selling l0w-grade goods as high
grade. But no legislative act can re CHI the
main evil of the situation. which is the in
discriminate flooding Of the Eastern mar
kets with raisins at a season when they are
not wanted That trouble can only be
remedied by the joint faction Of the growers
themselves
As men Of business, they understand
that il Is the interest of Eastern grOcrrs.
j,bbers and brokers 10 buy their raisins as
cheaply as they can. They will do every
thing in their power to precipitate a period
ical glut OF California rasins in the New
\ ork and Chicago markets, so as TO secure
the supply they need at cutthroat prices The
way to counter their policy is not to pass
acts Of tie Legislature. but to organize a
combination OF growers here like the Fruit
Union. whose managers shall have power
70 feed the Eastern markets so judiciOusly
that fair prices shall be maintaiDed.
Raisins are not particularly perishable
property. They will keep in perfect
order for several months; there is no reason
Why thew should be sold as soon as they
leave the drylnC-house, unless the owner is
in such pressing need Of money that he can
not wait For cases of this Kind the COM
bned growers should provide. 1. is Wit al
to their interest that they should nurse the
impecunious grower. for if they DO not he
will make the price for the whole crop
Happily. the nursing is not an impossible
task Raisins properly cured and packed
are property. This city and the East are
full Of capital seeking employment in ad-
vances on just such property. But the
property and the capital viii not come to-
gether unless an effort is made 10 introduce
them. Bank presidents are not In the habit
Of running round among the commission
houses IN search of produce to lend money
on; and raisin-growers. without credit or
commercial standing. are eyed askant when
they enter bank parlOrs in search of a loan.
The associations business is to act as the
connecting link. 1t should experience no
difficulty in opening a credit Of few hun
dred thousand in this city and IN New York
against warehouse receipts for raisins, and
for its own protection it should be allowed
to determine when the property should be