The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1893-06-02
FRUITMEN NEXT.
Call for an Orchardists'
Convention.
TO DISCUSS TRANSPORTATION
The Willamette Valleys Big Cargo.
Heavy Orders Placed-Last Day
With the Oregonians.

The success OF the recent excursion oil
Oregon merchants to San Francisco has
inspired those interested in the welfare of
the Pacific Coast to consider other prop
ositions Of like nature.
The latest scheme is to bring Oregon
and California fruit-growers together In
the near future to discuss the transporta-
ton problem and to try to convince the
transcontinental railroads that business
creates capital and that capital does not
always create business.
The complaint among the railroads is
that so much money Is invested in Califor-
mia lines that a reduction of rates would
mean a reduction of interest on the invest
ment, which stockholders would seriously
object to.
The fruit-growers want to convince the
railroads that decrease in rates and an
increase of traffic would be better for
them than a small percentage OF business
and high freight charges.
But the railroad company cannot see
through this proposition very clearly. 1t
is as hard to get an idea of this nature
through the head of railroad stakeholder
as it is to force the proverbial camel
through the eve of a needle. Tha subjec t
appears to be a little too expansive for
the average capacity Of railroad cram
Jun.
The Oregonians who are interested in.se-
curing low Easternlrates have already tried
to sound the railroad companies regarding
q concentration OF dried and preserved
fruit shipments at San francisco for tran
shipment East. but all have expressed
profound inability TO predict what the out
come of such a prepoSterouS proposition
would be.
Fortunately for the fruit-growers of the
Pacific Coast the Pacific Ocean is not
bound up with misunderstanding bonds.
The Oregon fruit-growers have decided,
unOficially, that the sea IS the proper
route. When the convention OF these gen.
tlemen is held. which probably will be
in the coming fail of this year, competing
steamer lines will be the first question
open for discussion.
In speaking further of the fruit-gro wing
industry in the north S. \. Kline of Cor
wallis said that the sentiment of the
people of Benton County is strongly in
favor of concentration; that the proposed
convention should not be considered
sectional movement, but one which
should interest the whole Pacific Coast.
Benton County," said Mr.. Kline. "as
well as all the willamette Valley. has re-
Gently made rapid strides in the matter of
fruit-raising.
Most OF our orchards are young yet,
and for that very reason we are anxious to
provide for their future output.
"Prunes do as we'll in my section OF the
u
Pacific Coast. We have number of dr-
ers working, and prospects for heavy
crops are excellent
''We do not wish to see the fruit indus
try sink into a condition of apathy. which,
TO be truthful, we must admit is its pres.
ent state.
There is a demand for canned fruits
the world over. w of the Pacific Coast
are the people who should supply that
demand"
S. \. wilkins thought much the same as
his fellow townsman, Mr.. Kline Mr..
Wilkins is heavily interested in several
stock companies, one of which will put
out 10000 prime trees this season in the
Willamette Valley.
"One thing | came down here for es-
pecially is to agitate the holding of fruit
growers convention. In this matter [
represent the interests of many persons
and speak for them.
California is of course far In advance
of Oregon in the raising OF fruit, but I'M
derstand that farmers of Central Califor-
mia are not making anything out of their
orchards.
"With thousands of acres planted, pro-
ducing millions of bushels of fruit, mar
ket cannot possible be found exclusively
on the Pacific Coast for fresh peaches,
pears, plums, etc. We must look to the
whole United States for market for dried
and canned goods.
Yes. you can quote me as saying that
1 am an ardent supporter of the fruit
growers convention scheme"
G. g. Yale of Sonoma County, CAL, and
a heavy fruit-grower. said that the con-
vention was just the thing for the Pacific
Coast orchardlSts,
I'm SOnoma County twelve years ago."
said Mr.. Y ale, 1--WE used to make money
by our orchards, now we are losing money.
We Will have to have better freight rates
East before we can do ANYTHING with our
dried prO0uPp Rrunps find orIya
and bring fair profits still, but it is only a
matter of time when even these will be a
drug, if the railroads do not give us a
chance to live.
You say ship by water2 Yes. that is
we'll enough, but remember there are
other States in the Union besides those
bordering on the Atlantic.
WHAT'S the matter with getting our
produce into some of the Western and
Central States?"
Railroad officials decline to discuss the
PROBABILITIES OF reductions of freights, bnt
desire to convey the impression to the
public that they will treat all propositions
with promptness and attention. They
profess to have the welfare of the coast AT
heart, however, and there is just a bare
possibility that they may do something
when the convention meets.
Inc hours for pleasure set aside by our
visitors seemed to end with the bay ex.
cursion of Wednesday. Nearly all of yes.
tfrday and last night was given up to
business, for the Willamette Valley re-
turns to-day at O'Clock to Yauuina.
Never since the Oregon Pacific came
under It's new management has section
of the seawall had so much freight for
Southern Oregon as there was on it yester-
dav.
Purchases to the amount of about $780,
600 were made by the visiting merchants.
part of which will go to-day's steamer
The orders given local wholesalers ranged
all the way from $50 to $500 The biggest