The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1895-01-04

coming in from all sides. 1t is extremely
doubtful whether the auction concern can
exist against the influence brought to bear
by the combined forces which are seeking
its downfall, and the fac. that scarcely a
carload OF oranges was disposed of at the
first sale Wednesday, which comprised
less than half of the invoice, shows that
already the opposition is being felt.
w. w. Jones, superintendent Of the
syndicate. aid yeste rday that possibly
the management would hold off the sales
for another week. giving as bis excuse that
the crops had not sufficiently ripened. The
fact Is, however. that a repetition Of what
took place will not be warranted until a
wider field is opened for sales.
OF the stock offered at the block, R. A.
Campbell purchased 143 at an aver
age price of So for fancy Washington
navels; ID. E. Allison. of Allison & GRAY,
bought Sc boxes put up in four lots at an
average price of 81 50.
Evrleth 81 Nash took 81 boxes of Wash
ington navels at ST 20. while Zeutner,
Cohen & Co. bought 20 boxes of the same
brand at 81 30, and in another lot 81 boxes
al 81 So.
The Oakland Fruit Company purchased
65 cases, paying 81 So and 81 95 on sepa-
rate bids. The remaining few purchases
were small, the prices realized being on a
pal with the above.
AS an Illustration of the inconsistency of
the sale, Mr.. McDonough of McDonough
81 RunyOn pointed out the fact that the
Oakland company paid 81 95. while 10 an
other instance the same stock went at
81 20. Tue highest prices realized for
fancy stock was - 10, only twenty boxes,
however. being disposed of al this figure.
or the entire lot Allison & Co and the
Eveleth-Nash concern bought 120 boxes.
These firms control two-thrds of the auc-
ticn company, and selling at even the low
figure 10 which the market has fallen, they
profit largely from two sources. The COM
mission derived through the medium of
the company as well as the profit of sale TO
ths trade.
Mr.. McDonough also pointed out the
disastrous results which Will fall upon the
growers who confine their operations in
private to these houses. He held that as a
natural result the fruit bought at low auc-
ton prices would be disposed of 10 prefer
ence TO the higher priced goods, and the
latter would be slowed away in the mean
time at the loss OF the grower and in case
of rot returned or rejected.
Should the operations of the syndicate
assume a sufficient proportion TO control
the market here, the loss entailed by the
producers who depended upon this market
would be enormous. The commission de-
manded by the auction people is per cent,
while the standard rate through the COM
mission houses is 10 per cent. The differ
ence of 2.per cent In Iavor'of the grower is
overcome, however; according to Mr.. Nc
DOnough, by the low prices at which the
goods are sacrificed on the block. The
wholesale fruit merchants here will also
suffer great loss, and the only ones to
directly profit are those firms composing
the syndicate.
E. A. Curtis, the Southern California
manager Of the Earle Fruit Packing Com
pany, is in town with view of lnvestigat-
ing the workings OF the auction concern.
When seen yesterday be could not find
words with which to condemn the M ove-
ment, and asserts that should its opera
tions continue, prices for the orange crop
of California will be seriously affected
81 cannot conceive why the growers who
intTust their crops TO these people for dis
posal have allowed themselves to be lurel
into such o. foolish scheme" he said af'er
recovering MS composure. "Ihey cannot
possibly derive the profit from this source
that would otherwise come to them. and
unless it may be that they have been mis-
led can fiud DO excuse Tor their actions.
"1'he firm which ! represent handled a
good part of.last winters orange crop, and
in no instance did we ask more than 10 per
per cent commission, assuming all risks.
We disposed of 5000 carloads in the East
at the best prices the market would afford,
and the result was GROWING success
both for the growers and ourselves. Other