The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-01-05
THE OUTLOOK FOR ORANGES,
1t Is Flattering Beyond All
Precedent.
The Growers All Counting on a
Golden Harvest.
Gossip About the San Francisco Auction
sales-Criticism of the Ex-
-.as,l- changes.


In commercial eifrles just now nearly all in
terest centers in the orange market. The Flor
ida freeze and its effects on the trade is III all
absorbing topic. Growers continue to talk
about fabulous prices, but shippers are reticent
and bent on pursuinga conservative policy.
Orders are pouring in from the east much
faster than ever before so early in the season.
At fruit exchange headquarters 1T is given out
that more orders have been received up to date
than can be filed Immediately, as the fruit is
so slow in fipening The genial sunshine OF
the past few days assisted materially in the col
oring process, but most of the fruit is still far
from being ripe. 1t is not considered good pol
icy to ship it in this state, SO shipments are
postponed whenever possible.
Some comment was oecasoned by the pub
lished report OF the first auction sale in San
Francisco. Thigfruit was shipped by the fruit
exchanges. Less than carload was sold, ard
the prices averaged less than the exchanges f.
o. b. prices in Sou hern California. Advices re-
ceived by the Earl Fruit company stated that
fancy Ontario naves were sold at S165@2.35
per box: choice, 81. 4002 25; standard, $1.350
1.S0. This was all alleged Ontario fruit. while
IL is pointed out that no such grade as standard
Ontario oranges exists. the term standard being
applied only TO oranges grown near the coast.
The exchanges were subjected to considerable
criticism in certain quarters for auctioning
fruit in San francisco and demoraliz,ne the
market. Officers OF the exchanges, when asked
FOR an explain alton of the mltter stated that il
was not pref nded that the fruit Offered al AUG
ton in San Francisco was first class. 1t was
not part OF the programme of the exch anges to
sell fru t at auction, except CLEANUP up lots,
which could be SO disposed OF in San Francisco.
BY Cleanup" lots was meant such fruit that
was better than culs bat not good enough 10
ship at the scheduled f. o. b. prices. If San
Francisco wanted better fruit than that offered
at the auction sales 1t could nave it at the es-
tablished f. O. b. rates, but no such consign-
ments would BE- made to be sold under the
hammer. The exchanges would not ship any
fruit east to be disposed OF by the auction sys-
tenn No eastern orders would be filled except
at the regular I. o. b. schedule.
The officers OF the exchanges who vera san,
alleged that the press dispatch telling how san
Francisco fruit dealers were boycotling the
auction sales was inspired by large packing
company whose business has bsen badly Grip
pied by the operations of tho cooperative asso.
compa ny referred to deny that they had any
thing TO do with the framing of the press dis
patch. They say the failure of the auction sales
speaks for itself.
The near approach of the 10th of the month
without any frost makes the or overs feel very
confident. 1t is believed the danger line is 81.
most passed. The rain which began falling
aloug tae foothills Friday afternoon. although
cold. will provide, SO it is claimed, an addi
Fog nd tl,n a
frostis not SO great in wet as in dry weather.
MI N. 4. Earl yesterday confirms d the report
ed purchase by his company OF 4. J, Ba!dwin's
entire crop. The Earl company, he said, has
thus far made contracts for about 1000 carl Dads,
and has every reason to be- satisfied aud encour-
aged with the OUTLOOK. Tbs only drawback to
the trade at present was the extraordinary fig.
ures the majority Of tue growers weres, mold
ing their fruit. It would not bring tho prices
asked so long asany Florida or forsigu fruit re-
manned in the eastern market; consequently
shipments would not be very heavy fur some
time TO come at iIN tl'it ~
The San Francisco Post gives the following &C
count of the first auction sale in that city:
The first OF the au ,tion sales of California Or
anges for the season was he'd this morning I'M
der the management OF the iocal syndicate or
ganized to conduct them and which is COM
posed of the fl ms of Eveieth & Nash. Allison &
Co. and Dalton Bros. The sale took place in
the Fair building, on Pacific street, whose quar-
iers have been secured for the purpose.
There was only one carload to be disposed of,
and the prices realized were quite satisfactory.
being, in fact especially good, the general state
OF the market and other condltlo being con
sdered. Tha oranges of regular grade brought
from Isl. 95 to So. l0a box, while the off sizes
were disposed of at from 81. 35 to SLIGO, must
Of them being at the latter price OF something
like it.
Though the figures realized this morning, as
already stated, were very satisfactory, there has
as yet been no decided advance in prices in
CONSCIENCE of the great damage done by frost
to the Florida orange crop Thatt the effects of
the almost wholesale ruin which the late cold
snap caused in the state named, however, will
in due time be made manifest, goes almost
without saying
"The effect thus far of the news from FIori-
da." remarked Commission Merchant ]. A. Ev-
eleth this morning, has been 10 determine our
California growers to hold back their oranges
instead of pushing them at once into the mar
ket. There is reason for it, too. as anyone may
readily see when he considers the pecuiarity of
oranges as crop,
"You see when the oranges are frozen they
are not rendered Immediately unstable, They
look about the same for two or three weeks, the
effect of the frost being 80 dry up the juice and
leave nothing but pulp. So what the frozen
out Florida growers will now do will be to rush
their crops into the market, sell them cheap
and quick and get rid of them.
GAS u matter of course it would be bad policy,
then, for good fruit to be also rushed into
the market and placed in com petition with the
Florida product before the eyes of the people,
who, as a general thing, would not be able to
properly judge between them by ordinary in
spection. But p few weeks should see the end
of the frozen oranges and thsn, on ia 10 April
and May, our California fruit ought to have a
clear field and with the increased demand,
should bring extra prices"
THE SECOND AUCTION SALE.
SAN FRANCISCO, Jan. 4.--The second auction
sale of oranges by the California Fruit ex-
change, which took place in the rooms of the
association on WASHINGTON street this morning,
was success. A carload was disposed of In
different lots, aggregatny $50 boxes The
buying, was general and good prices were
secured.
Fancy navels brought $235 per box, with
few exceptions, which were disposed of at
$l.6O Choice fruit of the same Class brought
from ST. 40 to So. % box.
The absence of the middlemen, who have
ticeabe though the profits formerly accruing
to those gentlemen through their commissions.
notably added to the returns of the growers
who belong to the exchange.
e Il ef E4,-