The record-union., 1895-12-30

Let us say TO chicago buyers: Our
fruit will be sold at certain place. and
all buyers are welcome In this way
the fruit should bring good prices, and
no friction will be caused by having
two or three auction houses. The next
question is how to arrange for the auc-
tion-house. I find that there are about
three convenient places to choose from.
Take that at the Illinois Central
Depot, which was operated last season
by the Merchants Fruit Auction Com
pany, the one which seeded from the
original auction-room because the re-
tailers as well as wholesalers were al
lowed to bid. The location is good, but
who canstandth arbitrary charge made
by the company for switching the cars to
this point of $40 to S13 per car The de-
livering road cannot afford to concede
that amount from its Missouri River
haul, and 1 hardly think the growers
care to incur any additionl expense to
their regular freight charges and re-
frigerator rates from California points.
The Northwestern has also a good
location, but understand they demand
delivery to them at the Missouri River.
ana Will not switch to their depot fruit
that may arrive by competing lines-at
least they show no disposition to do it
and if cars We're delivered to them in
chicago, to be placed in their auction
house 1t would be a question of getting
them there, as Chicago is not a very
easy place TO get around in, and a great
many objections would prove this
scheme to be impossible.
HNnuy Wa oil
interest as well as that of the BUYERS.
to have the fruit sold at a convenient
point to South Market-street dealers.
We will then consider the Milwaukee
depot, which was used in former
years by the Earl Fruit Company as
an auction house. 1t looks to me as if
all difficulties could be removed by
using this place, which seems to have
ample facilities and a good location.
The situation in Chicago is certainly
one that should be thoroughly consid-
cred and investigated before the sea
son of 1896 opens. A place should be
selected which would prove agreeable
to the trade in Chicago as well as to the
interests of fruit-growers here.
1t would possibly pay the latter well
to select one of'their number in whose
judgment and integrity they have full
confidence, and send him on there to
Investigate and report
Il understand there is a movement in
New York to select the place for an
open auction on neutral ground for the
connecting lines from Chicago to New
York, to place the fruit on the piers for
inspection and then have sale for the
fTIIit az 20 70 Of
room. This place would probably be
about halfway between the two piers.
IF, as has been stated, the New York
contest of two auction-hous last sea-
son was due to a contest between auc-
tioneers, let new blood be selected and
only one auction neld There is GER
tainly a remedy in matters that are not
agreeable or profitable to our fruit
growers, who desire only one open auc-
tionroom in each city The shippers
and receivers should not show their
hands by blocking in any way the
road to progress, and it is to be hoped
that the matter may be amicably adj
justed. AS it was last season. it was
hoped at first that the competition of
the two auction-rooms would not hurt
the sales of fruit
This hope proved fallacious, as diff
ferent members of the same firm would
attend the two places, and by man
euvering, manage to break down the
prices received by telling bidders that
fruit was selling fora less price at the
other place, and after they had gone
away to buy there, bidding the fruit in
themselves at a low price for want of
competition.
During my visit I was much inter-
ested in inspecting the workings of
Armour & Co.'S great packing industry.
found that 5000 employees were on the
payroll. About 300 men are in the car
shops and clerical force of 500 besides
is employed in the various departments.
The works have daily capacity of about
5000 hogs. $500 cattle and 1000 sheep.
| was told that the company will eX-
port to Europe several thousand head
Of cattle in January and February-a
big undertaking. l am sorry California
has not such a man as p. d. Armour
here. We could welcome several, but
l suppose the distance from market is
the great objection
In conversation with Mr. Armour I
found that he had a warm place in his
heart for California, having been a
miner himself in Placer County about
forty years ago. He is a liberal man to
his employees. promoting them when de-
serving and making them many pres
ents.
Il am glad 1 made the trip, as it gives
me better chance to appreciate our
great climate. Just think of ten days
rain, snow and sleet there, when in
three days 1 could reach California,
where we have sunshine and balmy at
mosphere. We must offer some induce
ment to people to come here. OF course
climate is a consideration, providing a
bank account goes with it, but the man
of moderate means, who depends on
his daily labors must be taken care of,
and that can only be accomplished by
active men with financial backing to
inaugurate means of keeping the people
employed. There is a great field in Sac
ramento for enterprise, and / know the
money question is assured, providing,
of course, that capital can be guaran-
teed small margin for its investment.
II would like to see Sacramento get
into the swim, as Los Angeles has done
! believe our railroad facilities are
equally good and besides we have our
navigable rivers, which gives us access
to all the world. think the Southern