The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1895-07-26
FRUIT INDUSTRY MENACED
A Destructive Auction Sale
War in New York and
Chicago
Compromise Measures Are Frus-
trated by the National Fruit
Association.

H Weinstock of Sacramento, who is
president of the California Fruit Growers
and Shippers Association, has submitted
to the National Fruit Association" a
measure looking toward the establishment
of consolidated auction-room in New
York City. Said he:
"The Generalization of California frui.
prices in the markets of New York and
Chicago is matter over which the grow
ers of the entire State are doing deal of
thinking just now. The prospect is not
bright for an immediate adjustment of
pending difficulties. On the contrary. In
New York it is an auction war between
rival organizations for the privilege of
handling California fruit. The several fac
tions claim that the highest prices are OBJ
tainable at their res pective places.
.'Shippers are divided, prices are cut and
a general de moralization takes place. in
many cases forcing the grower to dispose
of his fruit below the actual cost of produc-
tion."
So the California Fruit Growers and
Shippers Association made the offer of
central fruit auction scheme for New
York as follows:
The growers and shippers of California fruit
to continue to ship over the Erie aud West
Shore roads respectively as they do at present,
and to continue to employ their respective re-
ceivers and auctioneers as at present, but all
receivers and auctioneers, with the consent
of the West Shore and Erie Railway compa-
mics, shall agree to alternate the sales
in the auction-rooms on the respective docks.
In other words, Mondays, Wednesdays and
Fridays of each week the sales shall take place
on the West Shore pier; Tuesdays, Thursdays
and Saturdays the sales shall be held on the
Erie pier; the buyers examining the fruit on
both piers before the hour of sale, then adj
journing to the salesroom on the West Shore
pier or the Erie pier, as the case may be- and
there attend the auction. II there is any adj
vantage as to sales taking place on any of the
days OF the week, so arrange the days of sale
tioneer, nor any shipper or grower, nor any
fruit will enjoy any advantage not partici-
pated in by all the Others
To this proposition the following reply
was received:
III Weinstock, President California Fruit Grotc-
ers and Shippers Observation-Disclosures SIR: We
are in receipt of the following telegram from
sgobel & Day, which is seIf-explanatory:
Having conferred with prominent buyers,
we find proposed compromise impracticable,
even if consented to by the National Fruit As
refuse. The National Fruit Association is sat
isfied they are carrying out the wishes of the
growers more thoroughly by continuing
their daily auctions Oh the Erie, where
better prices are obtainable and larger
number best buyers congregate. We will do
everything reasonable TO concentrate all sales
on Erie wharf, where for eight years past all
California fruit has been sold. 1t is unaccount-
able to us why growers and shippers consign-
ing through Earl and Porter do not demand
that their fruit shall be sold on Erie. While
we recognize that sentiment against the Ma
tional has been manufactured in California
during the last sixty days, we know we are
right in our position in New York, and time
will prove the correctness of our views. very
truly yours, ii. A. FAIRBANK.
Mr.. Weinstock, in speaking of this matter
yesterday, said: "The California Fruit
Growers and Shippers Association were
prompted to submit to the National Fruit
Association this compromise measure, be-
lieving that the National Fruit Association
was acting IN good faith when it repeatedly
expressed itself in favor of the idea of
establishing consolidated auction-room
in New York, so that the grower might
get what his fruit was worth in that city,
and when it stated that it was anxious to
comply with the growers wishes in that
respect if it could be done on fair and