The record-union., 1893-11-24
A QUESTION OF CAPACITY AND
HONESTY.


The San Bernardino Courier refers with
bitterness to the supposition that North
ern and Central California is to challenge
the south section by citrus fruit dis
play at the Midwinter Fair. 1t is added
that in this section we entertain belief
that our orange growth is superior to that
of the south. "But." asks the Courier,
chow many carloads of oranges does the
Northern Citrus Belt ship eastward ?" 1t
adds:
They commenced raising oranges up there
before we took hold OF il down this way. and
yet all they can raise is utilized TO make their
annual 'dispay,' while we have a few thou
sand carloads TO ship to the markets in addi-
ton to our yearly citrus fair. II MAKES US
weary to see 10 much bombaSt sent ou5 from
the northern END of the Stlte on this subject.
Why do they not boast or their cnerrltS and
other fruits, which hey raj e in abundance,
and then boom their country instead of con-
tinually harping on the oranges which helps
to boom TINS end of the state, for when in
quirieS are made of tnem for a few carloads
they ave To send ali their customers down
here 10 get supply.
Let us correct the Courier. The north
ern and central counties have issued no
tudlItuGb Vi tIlC h4nOs hSy al z oShOo "
make a citrus fruit display, such as they
have made annually for some years, and
they consent. The law aids them to do
so in a special exhibition. But this show
ing comes on before the citrus fruits of
the south ripen, and is over before the
south can make her display SO that there
is no natural conflict.
Certainly on the part of the north and
center there is no feeling of animosity to-
wards the south. We are proud of the
development of the southern counties as
a part and parcel of the State in which all
sections have a common interest. AS to
shipments, it is untrue that we do not
ship to the East and by the carload also.
But it is true that not great attention had
been given to orange culture, nor much
capital invested in it until quite recently,
and it is true that the industry is now
rapidly growing.
The north and center have given their
attention for the greater period of their
history under American occupation to
mining. to agriculture, and to commerce
These sections did not engage in citrus
fruit culture as business prior to the
prosecution of such culture in the south.
What fruit of that order was grown here
was for ornamental purposes only. The
energies of the valleys and the foothills of
the north and center were devoted to the
raising of grain and deciduous fruits,
vegetables and stock. to the prosecution
of manufacturing, and in the higher alti-
tudes to the unearJhing of minerals.
Orange culture was given no attention
until after the prohtableness Oft was de-
monstrated in the south.
There is no sensible person in all this
region who will make any denial OF these
statements, nor has there been any
bombastic or florid declarations in the
north and center as to the volume of cit
rus fruit growth in the upper part of the
State. The truth has characterized all
that has been said in the north on the
subject.
But since our southern brethren few
years ago entered upon the non-fraternal
policy OF misrepresenting the north sec
ton, OF publishing industriously far and
wide that it is an inclement, even an arc
tic region; that within its bounds there is
no climate or soil of capacity for the culti-
vation of semi-tropic fruits and plants;
since the south adopted the unwise and
now happily abandoned policy of at
tempting to build up itself by pulling
down other sections. the north and cen
ter have replied by demonstrating their
capacity for citrus fruit culture.
They have proven beyond all manner
of doubt that these sections have the
capacity for orange growing and that the
same amount of application to that indus
try in these sections will give results in
volume that may constitute business ri
valry to the south.
Let our contemporary, therefore, un-
derstand that all the north and center
contend for is the simple undeniable
truth; nothing more, not an iota less. As
production proves capacity, and as the