The record-union., 1894-04-05

Tulare County has more acres, and
Fresno County nearly five times as
many, as in all of Southern California.
OF the 9.22S acres of almonds, TBS acres
are in the south.
OF the -, ,626 acres of prunes. {. .234 acres
are In the south. Santa Clara County
has more acres than all Southern Califor-
MIA.
More than half Of the olives planted in
the State (7,997 acres are in Northern
California; in the county of Butte there
are 100 acres, nearly the acreage OF Santa
Barbara County, where Elwood Cooper
mas made the State famous by his olive
oil.
Ofthe 5,23I acres of figs, more than
half are in Northern California.
The rapid development of this industry,
from o46 carloads shipped out of the State
III 1880, to y ,3z9 shipped out in 1898, has
attracted attention throughout the United
States and in many foreign countries.
Our products have visibly affected the
commerce OF Spain, Italy, France, Ger
many, Turkey and Greece, not TO men
ton The Islands of the South Seas and
Mexico. We have nearly driven the
foreign raisins from the American mar
ket: we have reduced the imports OF
prunes more than one-half; we have
largely displaced foreign wines: we shall
in time supply the almonds, walnuts,
tlgs, olives and olive oil, and with
Florida. the oranges and lemons, to be
consumed in this country.
And what is more important than all
else, we shall give, as we are now giving,
to the consumers, fruits at lower prices
than they have ever been in former years
DANGER OF ALLEGED VER-PRODUCTION
CONSIDERED.
But this rapid growth has brought with
1t the question OF possible over-prod uc-
tiOn,an also the resulting question: VIII
the business continue to be profitable?
These may be answered together. for if
we cannot over-produce there will be a
market, and that secures the profit.
Let me briefly summarize these argu-
ments against these fears OF 0ver-produc-
ton and consequent nprotitableness.
Eirst-Our population is increasing at
the rate of one million or more per an
mum, and at an increasing ratio. By the
time the orchard paintings of 1894 all
come into full bearing. we shall have al
ready 100. 100000 mouths to supply.
Second-Enlarged and new markets
now not exploited will be reached from
year to year. William Ii. Mills has
shown, by study of the points OF CON
signment of our fruit, that we have so far
reached only about 5000, 900 OF the present
population.
This same gentleman has compiled an
interesting and instructive table, showing
cCnsignmenls of fresh deciduous fruits to
certain cities, from which it appears that
a very large number OF cities having over
25,O0O population each have received no
direct cOnsignmentS, and many no fruit
al all.
A committee, consisting of Messrs. AL
fred Holman, b. n. Rowley and John
Isaac, appointed by the State Board of
Horticulture, have reported that the dis
tricts in which our fruits are offered to
consumers are almost insignificant, when
compared with the wider districts where
fruit is wanted, but to which ii never
goes" They give list Of twenty nine
cities of over $4,000 population each, to
which no California fresh fruit is shipped
direct.
So it would seem that at least double
our present output could find a market
with our present population, if we will
only get the fruit TO them.
AS illustrating the rapid development
Of table uses of fruit, reier to Census
Bulletin No. 3S, for 1860. The first table
grapes grown in this country and shipped
to New York City were fifty pounds, in
1915. They went from the Lake Keuka
District by the New ork and Erie Canal.
The grower was encouraged TO send 200
pounds the next year, but broke the mar
went from the same district to the lead
ing cities of the East 10000 tons for the
table. The Hudson River District was
estimated to have sent $4,000 tons; the
ChautauQua District 10000 tons; making
$4,000 tons, or 5000 carloads of table
grapes.
Third-The factor of transportation lies
at the root of success. Gradually rates
have been reduced from 81, 200 a car ia
1876 to $3.50 car of twelve tons for green
and $2SS a car of twelve tons for dried
fruits in 1898 to New York and less to
Chicago. Refrigeration has been intro
duced for green fruits, but this adds to
the expense and is d burden which other
devices must soon displace. The rates
from main line shipping points in Cali
fOrnia, in carload lots, are as follows:
In ventilated cars to Chicago, freight
train service, $3.50; to New York, $500.
Approximate passenger train service to
Chicago, $3.50; TO New York, 5000.
In refrigerator cars, freight train serv-
ice, To Chicago. $500; to New York, $500.
Minimum weight on shipments in venti-
lated cars, ten tons; in refrigerator cars,
twelve tons.