Sullivan republican. [volume] (Laporte, Pa.) 1883-1896, 1894-06-15
AMERICAN ORANGE TRADE.
GROWTH OF A Do
MESTIC INDUSTRY.
Driving the Foreign Fruit From Our
Market--Immense Yields of Flor
ida and California Trade.


ida and California Trade.
HHE growth of the American
orange trade has been phe-
nomenal, and its history is full
of interest. Thirty years ago
the oranges consumed in this country
were obtained mainly from the Medi-
terranean countries, the tart Sicilian
orange, however, being supplemented
by the "sweet Havanas, which latter
have since been so completely sur
passed by the even more luscious
Floridas, the finest oranges in the
world, that they now practically exist
only in memory. Only three decades
ago the entire orange trade of this
country was controlled by few ex-
tensive importers. Business WAS then
done entirely on orders, the importers
sending their orders abroad every fall,
at which season sailing vessels, which
have since been entirely supplanted by
steamships, were chartered to trans
port the fruit from Sicilian and other
Mediterranean ports to this country;
in fact, September was the month in
which business arrangements were an
nually made six months in advance of
their fulfllment.
This method of conducting business
existed for many years, but In 1865,
the growers of Sicilian oranges, who
had previously sold their crops en-
tirely on orders, began to ship them
to this country on consignment. The
old importers then gradually aban-
doned their original methods and be-
gan to receive fruit as consignees, in
stead of importing it. New firms en-
tered the field and strong competition
sprang up in the business, which was
then profitable, as may be seen by the
fact that.a single New York firm, IN
one season, realized clear profit OF
over $50, 900 on its Sicilian consign-
ments alone.
About fifteen years later the Amer
lean fruit firms were largely super
seded by Italians, the fruit growers OF
Sicily and the native shippers of Pal
ermo and other Mediterranean ports
sending their sons and relatives to
this country to establish firms, till now
only three OF four distinctly Ameri-
lean firms of prominence remain in
the business. During the last ten
years, however, the importation of
oranges from the Mediterranean has
steadily decreased, and, while large
quantities continue to come from Sic
ilv, the imports from Spain have
dwindled into utter insigniticance. The
decline of importation was brought
about by the rapid growth of the do
mestic orange industry, which has
been most remarkably developed. For
eign growers ut first ridiculed the
idea that they could ever be deprived
of the American market, in which they
had long been accustomed to reap
bountiful haryests annually, but their
ridicule was soon turned to regret.
About that time, only single decade
ago. the Florida orange industry
sprang into prominence us If by magic,
and the product of the Florida groves
has since swiftly and steadily n
creased. till now the annual crop is
estimated at fully 6, 900, 600 boxes, and
it is yearly augmented.
California has since come into great
prominence as an orange-producln8
State, and last year supplied 2,5O0,-
600 boxes, which were distributed
mainly through the West and North
west, only limited quantity reaching
the Atlantic seaboard, on account OF
the high rates of freight, it costing
S7I cents box to transport oranges
from the Pacific Slope to New York
by rail, while those from Florida,
coming by steamship, are transported
for fifty cents box, giving the Flor
ida growers an advantage of 37l cents
u box.
Ten years ago there Tere probably
no less than $50 firms receiving tho
delicious Florida oranges directly from
the fragrant groves, and, i'll fact, it
was said that well-worded circular
and brass stencil.plate were the only
prerequisites for procuring abundant
consignments from the conhding grow
ers. The number of receivers in this
city, however, has rapidly decreased,
aud there are now not more than ten
or twelve firms OF noteworthy prom
inence in the trade here. When there
was such large number Of firms III
the trade there were many whose husi-
ness methods were open To criticism,
and who duped the orange growers and
the public, but they have happily been
driven out of tho trade, which Is now
conducted by reputable firms and on
strictly business principles.
The rapid growth Of the Florida
orange trade has seriously interiered
with the importers, as n strlkingiy
shown by the fact that, while there
we're 1. 7os, aOn boxes oi Sicilian oranges
imported IN 1856 ~, there were only
6sa, OO0 boxes Imported IA 1891 e2.
Despite the dlnienltles with which
the growers have T. contend almost
every season, the crop continues stead
lis % Increase. Most If the trees "a
the orange groves of Florida afe nav
over four years old ani will soon be "a
full hearing, when, n IL estlmatei, tho
crop vii ho at ieast iu. hO1, 01a hoses.
/ There wera over vti, uu0 bosses oi
FLORIDA araages reserved IA thls elty
alone last year, Ahile less thsa oapl
+ hokes acre received from California,
whose last crop aaa Z, 3'lp, Oa9 bosrs
The California erpp b. slsp rapidly
increasing, there has Tag eeeu iahi. p
T O,a hakea gFoaA last Fsar asalHat Z,