The record-union., 1895-10-03
TALKING UP CALIFORNIA; FRUIT.
A Sacramento Man Visits the East
ern Markets.
Good Opening for Northern California
Oranges If the Matter is
Well Managed.

EDS. RECORD UNION: 1 last wrote you
from Plantsville, Conn. Since that time
/ have visited various points of interest
Hartford, the Capital of Connecticut, was,
think, of most interest. especially the
Capitol building. 1 there saw the tattered
and badly torn battle-flags that showed
conclusively the bravery of the bearers;
she statue of Nathan Hale, with the in
scription: "I only regret that have but
one life to lose for my country"
There was also a statue of Israel Put
nam, and last, but not least, picture OF
George Washington, which is said to be
the best by far to be found in the world.
So much does it resemble him that fabu-
lOus prices have often been offered to Sc
cure il. This picture WAS painted, be-
lieve, by Gilbert Stewart. L here found
the largest collection of buttons known.
all on strings. 1t requires four large
glass cases to hold them, many strings
having 2, 900 buttons. They cost the do
nor to secure them very large sum, and
to attempt to count them would require
many days. So l think we can safely
say Connecticut has the buttons. One
statue is called "The Genius of Connecti-
cut" reminding me some In size and
Liberty in Newly ork Harbor.
Another point of interest was the Sem
ate Cham ber, where L had the pleasure of
sitting in q chair made of the old Charter
Oak, beautifully carved, with the State
seal on the back. l also saw the old orig
inal charter granted by King Charles IL.
A. D. 1862. The frame TO this charter was
also made OF the old Charter Oak, carved
to represent oak leaves. Then there was
the statue Of William A. Bucking ham,
Governor from 1858 to 1866, and United
States Senator from 1869 to 1870. There
were other war relics, one cannon wheel
showing good service and bearing an in
scrIption naming the battles it had passed
through. I found the building and
grounds nicely kept. l also called at the
Pope Manufacturing COmpany's place
and had an interview with Mr.. Atwood,
one OF the managers, hoping TO awaken
an interest in getting such a large and
popular institution to build a branch, If
nothing more, in our nOeO enterprising
city. How we'll or favorably MIR. At
wood was impressed with the importance
of our city Tor bicycle factory hope to
be able TO state later, but just at present
the question ls In doubt. Right here. in
connection with manufacturing enter
prises, while l did not do as much as l
wanted to on account OF limited time, L
called on various manufacturing concerns
factures. Had I been provided with
funds and time sufficient l cannot see
why | could not have amply repaid the
outlay. So, while / put forth every effort
that circumstances would allow and hore
the results will prove SO, l want in the
near future to do more than has already
been done, which certainly will have the
full Endorsement OF our fast-growing city.
In New York l had the pleasure of at
tending the auction sales of California
fruit there. l met Mr.. Weinstock
OF Sacramento, who was there, l be-
lieve, in the interests of fruit ship
pers. l also met Mr.. Day, Mr.. Good
sell and others in the fruit business,
and after looking the ground thor
oughly over, noticing the location, adyan-
tages and disadvantages of the two
auction houses, L am strongly in favor OF
the one auction house plan, and that, in
my estimation las l find with others)
should be the Erie Pier. L hope Mr..
Meinstock's visit has that end in view.
l noticed some very poor fruit, and
some Aery fancy fruit. as well, at this
sale. For my part, l fail TO understand
why any poor fruit should be sent so far,
when IL Is such a waste OF time and
money. Ii the fruit has size and color it
is all right for New York, but there is
no use whatever in sending fruit that is
either small or has very little if any
color. L know. in watching the cata-
logues of sales, that j. Laird of Loomis
always gets good price for his
peaches, often more than any others, and
the reason is he puts up good-slZed fruit
and there Is plenty of color. Try it, you
fruit shippers that are shipping to \ ew
York, and see il you don't ind L am COR
rect; and don't forget that the East has q
good many peaches that are colored up
nicely, and, if not always large, color
goes long way.
Right here let me say, the East is after
you red hot, and unless you guard your
packing, who is going to buy your fruit?
i feel like taking my nat off TO some of
our fruit-growers in California, and others
/ feel very much ashamed OF.
have lust been passing through the
grape-growing section OF New York
State. At Dunkirk, Portland and West
field / found them loading q good many
cars. l notice they use the fve-pound
basket with handle, and l am not sure
but that would be good way 10 ship the
California grapes. | believe the ten
pound basket has already been tried
without success, but do believe the five
pound one would be all right.
l haven't found apples very plentiful,
especially in New York State so if the
California crop Is good, / should think
prices ought to average better than last
year. OF oranges, l am told there will be
scarcely any i'll Florida. 50 what was their
loss certainly is our gain. / find that last
years freeze in Florida awakened quite
an interest III our oranges-the Washing
ton Navel especially. l Of course
have been interesting myselfin Northern
California oranges, and have spent a
great deal of time in getting the
Eastern buyer interested in handling our
oranges. So all / ask now is that those
having oranges, especially the Navel,
take the pains as soon as possible TO let
me know how many boxes they could
furnish to ship for the Christmas trade,
and il the fruit is strictly fancy [ am will
Ing to guarantee fancy prices. Even il
the price was only good, saying nothing
about fancy, the advertisement would go
a great way in finding a ready market for
future delivery. SO | hope TO hear from
many on this question that Is getting to
be of so much importance to our State.
Right here don't want TO forget lem
ons. / would like 10 SEQ samples when
the fruit. OF course. is fit to ship, and, in
fact, | would like 10 confer with as many
of our growers az / can. / found a good
many large shippers did not think our
oranges were worth handling until tlori-
da's freeze of last year induced them to
try, and the result is they found them SO
nice they want them again this year.
So let the fruit-growers OF our State
take advantage of she opportunities now
offered, and not lose their grip. Don't go
back, but push ahead until, instead of so
much of our gold going to Europe. they
will send their gold here for our pro-
ducts. We certainly have all to gain, and
1t is our own fault if we lose.
1t was with great deal of satisfaction
that listened TO the favorable comments
passed upon our products and the WILL
ingness so many evinced TO buy what Il
few years ago was bought largely in
Europe. It all lies with US, whether
Eurona shall continue to furnish what