The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-11-01
FRUIT GROWERS MEETING
A Lively Convention Next Week
at Sacramento Is Ex.
pected.
Tangled Questions of Eastern Markets
and Freight Rates to Be
Considered.

The fruit-growers' convention that will
open IN Sacramento next Tuesday, to last
four days, promises to attract nearly all
the prominent orchardists in the State. A
number are now on their way to Sacra-
mento. Several passed through this City
Wednesday and called in at the State
Board of Horticulture rooms, in the Mills
building. Among these were: n. w.
Blanchard of Santa Paula; w. l. Rice,
Horticultural Commissioner of Ventura;
]. II. Thomas, Commissioner from Visa
liza, and W. M. Bowman Of Suisun.
B. M. belong, president of the associa-
ton, speaking of the convention and its
work, said:
Perhaps never before has there been such in
terest manifested in an approaching conven-
ton as at this time. The people of this State
remember how bitterly the open auction sys-
TEN, put into operation in the East by the
California Fruit-growers' and Shippers Asso-
citation, was fought by, combination styled
the buyers and Dealers Association" but
which is in reality composed OF men com bined
to buy California fruit in closed auction at
prices fixed by themselves and to the great det-
riment OF the California growers.
During the last season there was continued
war. Representatives were sent to this State
from the East and at times it looked as if the
entire fruit crop of the State would be sacri-
feed in order TO avert the difficulty. This war
has not vet been settled, and next week Sacra-
mento will experience lively times, as both
factions will meet and the matter will be fully
ventilated. There are now several Eastern
commission men here, having been sent to
meet the growers to arrange for the sale of next
ton system.
H. Weinstock of Sacramento will start the
ball rolling by presenting his report as general
manager OF the California Fruit-growers' and
Shippers Association, concern brought into
life at last years convention. for the purpose
OF carrying out certain reforms III the matter
n Fac CaIi
The work OF this association is to be inyesti-
gated and reviewed. Avigorous attack is to be
made upon this association, many growers
claiming that 1t has not performed the service
1t should in the interest of the producer: that
the association has fallen into the hands of the
Earl Fruit Company and Porter Brothers of
Chicago. The National Fruit Association will
be brought into line in the dispute, and they
will have representatives on hand to defend
their action.
The railroad company Will come in for its
share OF criticism, as many OF the growers
claim they have not kept faith with them, in
accordance to promises made by Messrs Curtis
and Smurr at the last convention, in the way
OF expediting ventilator fruit trains to Eastern
points
At the last convention a committee was ap-
pointed to wait upon the officials of the South
ern Pacific Company and lay before them
demand for lower rates on green aud dried
fruits and faster time for green fruits.
This committee is composed of the largest
growers and shippers in the State, and con-
sists OF H. Weinstock of Sacramento, H. P.
otdDler OF I uOd City, FRANK ID, BUCK OF Naca-
vile, George D. Kellogg OF Newcastle, ]. q. An
derson of San Jose, a. T. Hatch of Suisun, D. T.
Fowler of Fresno, Frank A. Kimball of Ma
uonal City, B. F. Walton of Yuba City and
General N. P. Chapman OF Red Bluff. This
committee has inves tigated the matter of
freight rates on green and dried fruits and will
make report to the convention, which prom
Uses to be interesting.
Railroad Commissioner La Rue will be pres
ent to Learn where dissatisfaction exists and to
take notes. The committee will also report as
TO whether rates of freight and refrigeration
charged by the Southern Pacific Company and
its connections were reduced in 1895
At the last convention it was agreed by
strong resolutions that if sufficiently lower
freight and refrigerator charges were not OBJ
tanned fruit-growing no longer profitable
and that failing to obtain lower freight and
refrigeration charges it would become neces-
sary to cease shipping fresh fruit to Eastern
markets, on the sole and sufficient cause that
such shipments must inevitably result in loss
TO the grower. In many sections, and espe-
c1ally in tho fruit districts of Placer County
the growers agreed to ship no more fresh fruits
unless satisfactory rates are made.
The committee has gathered statistics neees-
sary to demonstrate the reasonableness and
necessity of the demand, to communicate with
the frult-growers of other localities who have
suffered equally and more by reason of the
large freight and refrigeration charges and
induce them to take similar action in forming
organizations in the fruit districts.