The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1894-01-05
ORANGE COMBINE.
A Plan to Sell Fruit by
Auction.
FIVE FIRMS INCORPORATE.
They Will Try to Control the
Market.
OPPOSITION ALSO THREATENED.
Some Doubt Is Felt About the COM
pany's Success in Securing
Fruit Corner.
OPPOSITION ALSO THREATENED.

Five of the leading fruit commission
merchants have formed a company for the
ostensble purpose of selling oranges by
auction and thereby disposing of the crop
to gOO1 advantage for growers and dealers
alike. Fruit men not directly interested
regard the new enterprise as combine to
control the orange market.
The capital stock is $4,000. of which 10
per cent has been paid up by ". Il. Woods
q Co. of Sacramento, Dalton Bros, Eve
leth & Nash, Judson Fruit Company and
Allison. Gray & Co. of this city. 1t is
arranged to begin operations next Mon
day, when five carloads of oranges will be
offered for sale by auction.
1--WE expect to sell goods at auction at
spot cash" said Mr.. Gray of Allison, Gray
& Co.. land return the money to growers
the second day. Probably we shall sell
deciduous fruits if the sale of oranges be
successful. We are inclined to think there
is a good field for the corporation if prop
erly managed"
"Will prices be raised?" was asked.
ut is altogether probematical yet about
prices.
Goods will be sold without reserve.
We expect. however, TO control prices To a
certain extent. And yet there will be no
monopoly. Every body is on the same
footing so far as buying is concerned. We
are simply trying TO get all we can for the
fruit, and at the same time dispose of it
promptly.
Growers in a measure must help us. At
first they may not get as much as from
private sale, but, then, they will get their
money good deal quicker, which makes
1t better in the long run. We may control
the market, for we propose TO regulate Ii
nearly nOSsihla IN aVnin riufS u bfah
demOralize the business.
I'VE have issued a circular to the fruit
trade which sets forth the scope Of our
new comp Here il is:
SAN FRANCISCO. January l, 1894.
To the Fruit Trade: After considering care
fnlly all The advantages and disadvantages of
those interested In the fruit business by selling
prrisbable goods IN the slow and tedious way
at private sale, We have concluded the auc-
zion system the very best for both buyer and
seller, and have therefore organized he first
Stock Auction Company for the public sale OF
oranges, lemons and deciduous fruits west OF
the mountains
Beginning Monday. January s, 1894 we will
offer al public auction five (51 cars OF oranges
OF all sizes. both Washing on navelS aud seed
lngs, fancles, choice and seconds, from the
different fruit exchanges Of Southern CalIfor-
MA. We have a contract and are sole agents
for all lie coast for ali oranges shipped by
Riverside, San Diego, san Antonio. Orange
County and semi-tTOpic fruit exchanges icon.
trolling 5000 carlOaCsh not sold direct at ship
ping point, I. o. b.. thereby iusuring US at ali
times full supply Of very best fTulI, fresh
each sale day, from The best growers ofihe State.
On the following "Wednesday ana Friday will
offer such number Of cars as deemed best for
all concerned. Our sale days for The season,
unless otherwise notified, Will be Mondays
Wedn- sd Us and Fridays.
Goods will be placed on auction floor at our
salesroom, new J. q. Fair building. 1O4.
1U6, los and 10 Washington street. day be-
fore sales for the INSPECTION of all buyers, with
ample light, room ana opportunity for all to
q Will haru
promptly al IL O'clock noon. and continue
until all are sold. Catalogues Will be furnished
with lot numbers designating sizes and KIND in
each lot. We ask the trade TO give this their
careful consideration, and II unable 10 person.
ally attend auctions please place your orders
with some merchant o. bros eT 10 do your buy
ing. We feel satisfied you will agree that by
trading with US you VIII encourage fiult ex-
changes TO place fancy stock on sale and there
by do away with having to handle The culls and
trash OF former years. Respectfully yours.
SAN FRANCISCO FRUIT AUCTION AND STOR-
AGE COMPANY.
While the men in the scheme speak with
considerable enthusiasm about il, and ap-
pear to see no reason why it should not be
a complete success. the great majority Of
fruit merchants think the company can
not exist. They say il is doomed to a fate
similar to that which befell the auctions Of
deciduous fruits on Jackson-street wharf
last July.
''It will fzzle out as the green-fruit
auctions did" said a commission man.
None OF the big dealers outside the COM
pany are going to buy at their auctions
Why should we? We can buy as we'll as
they. anG there are so many sources to
draw from, it is impossible to control
the sup ly of oranges ct any kind of
fruits in California. The supply is greater
than the demand in this State. What are
you going 10 do about II. then? l. will be
a good thing for the cont iDe II this thing
succeeds, but not for the growers. How
can prices be kept up if goods must be
auctioned without reserve?
The peddleTs will get the whole benefit
This morning already they were discuss
ing the matter aud the forming of a COM
binstion to protect themselves. Nothing
is easier than getting Us this organization.
One peddler suggested that each member
deposit $50 as forfeit, to be surrendered
if a rule was broken. They propose TO
appoint one of their number as bidder at
the auctions. Then in that case there
would be no competition and pedders
could buy at their own prices IL the goods
be sold without reserve. The company
may do well enough in the beginning If
they buy in the fruit themselves"
Representatives Of other large firms said
they would leave the company severely
alone and continue buying from growers
who have sold them oranges for years.
Every successive year brings IA greater
abundance of oranges into the market. as
orchards are coming into bearing or in
creasing the product with age. Still the
auction scheme viii be watched with in
terest by orchardists and fruit-buyers.
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