The record-union., 1895-08-02
LONDON as A MARKET FOR FRUIT.
Better Prices Obtained Than in East
ern Cities.
Fruit Packed Here for New York Sold
Across the Water-Chfcago
Auction War.

There seems to be no doubt that ship
ping fruit to London can be made profit
able to California growers.
The third consignment from this city
for that market for some reason failed to
connect with the steamer at New York,
and at the last moment. in order to main
ssin the weekly sales in London, four car
loads were purchased in New ork for
that purpose and sent across the ocean.
This fruit had crossed the continent to
New York by regular freight service. 1t
was only OF ordinary quality and pack
ing, and far from what the regular Lon
don shipment should have been.
@. II. Appel, agent here for the Cali
fornia Fruit Transportation Company,
has received a cablegram announcing
that this fruit was sold in London yester-
day at a gross of S5,5o4 10. Plums aver
aged about 81 49, peaches about 81 10, a
portion of the pears about s. and the bal
snce about 50 10 per box. The plums,
owing to the long time III transit to New
/ ork, were not in very good condition.
a third OF the shipment of pears were
green, the remaining two-thirds being IN
y ripe condition.
However, the prices were in excess or
the domestic markets, and-considering
the long time this fruit was in transit,
and its condition OH reaching London
the result OF the sale is sufficient evidence
that choice, selected stock, shipped es-
pecially for that market, Will realize good
prices.
W. n. White IL Co. cabled yesterday
that green pears will bring twenty shil-
Hugs so a box in London.
THE CHICAGO AUCTIONS.
The following circular, which is being
sent out to fruit-growers, speaks for Itself;
SACRAMENTO, July "A. 1895.
We are in receipt of a circular Issued
by the Merchants Fruit Auction Com
pany of Chicago u. +. Edwards, Pacific
Coast Agent, Sscramento), in which an
effort is made TO justify the action OF
establishing a closed auction-hOuse in
Chicago, III opposition TO the union
auction-room established in that city by
the California Fruit-GrOwers' and Ship
pers' Association. This circular contains
the following statement:
''In Chicago the smothered indignation
against the selection OF tho Chicago and
Northwestern hallway depot as the union
salesroom) has assumed shape il the
organization of the Merchants Fruit
Auction Company, composed of all the
leading fruit dealers in Chicago, who
have secured permanent facilities, with
the finest salesrOom in the United States,
from the Illinois Central Railroad. * :" !"
AS in New York, our sales are open to all
reputable JrUt dealers, and Is IN no
aense q closed auction, as the monopoly
would lead you to belleve."l
The italics are ours. In answer to this,
it seems passing strange that the buyers
OF Chicago should have such a profound
interest IN the competing railway COM
ont
of sympathy Tor these roads they should
establish another auction-rOOm open TO
all railroad companies. This Is the first
time in the history OF the fruit business
that the Eastern buyer has suddenly
found the grievance of railroad COM
panies-in which he has absolutely no
Interest-to be his grievance.
a much better reason will have to be
offered TO the grower OF California for the
opening of a rival salesroOm before he
can be brought to believe that the Chi
cago buyer has done this purely out of
sympathy for the railway companies who
are not getting California fruit business.
The real motive for the establishing of Il
rival auction-hOuse under the patronage
OF the Merchants Fruit Auction Com
pany, is made plain, however, in that
part of their circular which reads: Our
sales are open TO all reputable fruit
dealers.
dealer? The Merchants Fruit Company
would tell Us that a reputable fruit-deaIer
Is q member OF their association, leaving
the inference that all other are disrepu-
table, and will therefore not be permitted
TO bid on the growers produce offered in
their aucnon-room, however much they
may want to buy and however much
they may want TO pay. This, of cOuse,
will permit the "reputable' dealers TO
continue, as in the past, to make their
own combinations and TO allow the
grower whatever pittance their gener-
Osity may dictate; why not go a step
further, and hold that only those con-
SltHerS who are members of certain
associations or who are reputable shall
be permitted 10 buy California fruits at
retail. all others being forbidden TO buy
or To eat our fresh fruits.
The California grower is not interested
in knowing whether the buyer Of his
fruit is mem Der OF any particular asso-
citation, or whether he Is reputable or
otherwise. The growers object is 10 get
the tull value OF his fruit, and in order TO
secure this, he must be ready and willing
to invite bids for his product from eUeTy
one who Is prepared to buy his fruit In
the open market, whatever be the COM
mercial or social standing of the buyer,
and regardless of his connect Ons with
any buyers association,
The question. and the only question for
the grower TO consider, IS shall there be
two auction sales conducted in New York
At the same hour to his loss? And shall
there be two auction sales conducted III
Chicago ct the same hour; one OF them
closed auction, where the fruit OF one
grower shall be slaughtered and used as
. club against the fruit of another
grower?
If you want the evils of the past which
have brought the California fresh fruit
business almost TO the brink OF ruin 10
be perpetuated, then by all means sup
port those VINO are encouraging the rival
auction houses in Chicago and in New
York. But if you wish to get the value
OF your fruit, and wish TO aid in nour-
ishing and developing California's great
fruit industry, then you must not alone
withhold your support from those who
are keeping alive these rival auction sales
ST the same hour-these grave evils of the
pas.-but you must treat all such support
ers as dangerous enemies to the fresh fruit
industry OF California.
l.. WEINsToCK,
Prasi6ent G. r Ii and S. 4.