The record-union., 1895-10-07

New YORK, Oct 6.-General Manager
II. A. Thomas of the California Fruit
Transportation Company returned on
the Paris to-day after a ten days investi-
CATION of the London fruit market, to
which the company has been making
weekly shipments during the summer.
Although this fruit has been carried in
cold rooms from the growers a quarter
around the globe, aud arrived in excel
lent condition, strong disposition has
been eviuced in England to hold its price
down so low as TO make it unremuuera-
tive TO the progressive Americans who
have determined 10 create u wider con-
sumption for the surplus Pacific Coast
product.
Mr.. Thomas says ne has found where
the trouble lies, and before he left Lon
don he had commenced a camp paigu of
education, which. properly continued by
his company's representatives there,
makes him confident that the trade will
soon reach the desired proportions on the
other side, and that it Will eventually be
profitable to all concerned, he has no
doubt Whatever.
"California iruit," he declared to your
representative, who came up from sandy
Hook on the Paris, lis better than the
European, both in flavor and keeping
qualities. Its season begins earlier, and
lasts considerably later, and | believe
there is the same opportunity for it in
London than there is in New ork. The
demand for ii already exists. while the
competition of home fruit is no greater
than here; in fact, the fruit grown in the
vicinity of New \ Iork is better than that
shipped into London from near by. The
French pears. for Instance, are imperfect,
and do not run even in size and quality.
They rot very quickly after reaching the
market, being much more tender than
California fruit in this respect. They
practically have no supply OF apriCotS or
peaches, and these fruits from America
have great future over there when the
trade in them once becomes fairly estab-
lished."
is there any prejudice against our
fruits?"
NO. L should hardly call it prejudice,
but the English buyers are rather mora
conservative than our own in taking up
things with which they have had no eX-
perlence. However, they have made
money on the California fruit they have
handled this year, and they are inclined
to give it more attention hereafter. The
quantities so far shipped have been COM
loads at time. and the business has been
restricted by there being only one sale u
week.
~ found that the dealers have been buy
ing this fruit to hold over until the week
following its arrival, in order to specu-
late on it. II any fruit spoiled that
time they blamed us for it. We were not
engaging to put fruit in London to have
it kept at ordinary temperatures for j
week. Onr object was to deliver it there
ripe for consumption, and that plan we
intend to adhere to. have shown them
that 1t is to their advantage to distribute
the fruit and have it consumed as soon as
possible. instead of locking up their
money in 1t unnecessarily. To empha-
size the wisdom OF this, L have now ar
ranged for two sales week, and expect
in a short time to hold sales every other
day. These fresh supplies will increase
the consumption, as we'll as do away with
the speculation on the part OF the iobbers,
while these i'll turn will make more
money by being put in position TO
handle a much larger volume of busi-
ness.'
''Is it true that the fruit sometimes
reaches London ovsrripe?"
mo. After seventeen days in transit
with the exception of a few Sacramento
River Bartletts, the condition OF our
fruit this year has been excellent, as good
on the average as i'll New \ ork or CHI
cago, and in regard to the Bartletts the
English buyers have learned that. pro-
vded they are sound, they may be bought
after they are colored up and will then
keep three or four days or even week.
The fruit keeps there longer than it does
with US, Notwithstanding the additional
length of time In transportation. This,
of course. does not apply to small lots OF
pears which have been sent over simply
ventilated by New York shippers. for
they have always arrived in bad order
and will never cut any figure. Our fruit
is kept in a low temperature from the
orchard to Southampton, and have seen
some of our plums in perfect condition
after being exposed for sale in Covent
Garden more than a week.
"The French fruit shippers, who have
heretofore controlled the London mar
ket, are already beginning to be afraid OF
California, and l can see no reason why
California fruit will not soon take pre-
cedeuce in London, as it has i'll New York
and Chicago. The additional expense is
light the fruits condition entirely salts
factory, aud it has the same advantages
there as with US, in that IL is straight
packed all the way through. There are
do seconds, or imperfect fruit in the
packings, and the retailers are learning
this, as they have with us, that they can
afford to pay more money for 1t on this
account. The bottom and middle Of
California fruit packings have been agree
able surprises to London retailers.
II am convinced from what L have
seen in London that California wants to
send nothing there but the very best
fruit that can be raised, particularly AS
regards SIZE They want no small fruit
of any description. If we send them the
best we have am sure that within
reasonable time London, as well as New
York will ba plad to get l. 800 carloads