The herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1893-1900, 1895-11-09
FRU|TGROWERS IN SESSION
To Organize or Not to Organize,
the Question
OLD STRAW THRESHED OVER
TIE Matter Of Transportation Much
Discussed
Making and Marketing Of Raislns Arouses
Great Interest-The Situation
Not Encouraging
OLD STRAW THRESHED OVER

Special Correspondence to The Herald.
SACRAMENTO, Nov. 7.-On the reas-
sembling of the Fruit Growers convention
this morning the question of a fruit
growers shipping union again came up
for discussion and the old straw was
threshed over once more, precip .tated by
another resolution introduced by Mr..
Wenstock raising com nittee to seven to
prepare plan for harmonizing all con-
tiicting elements TO move the carrying
out OF the consolidated auction scheme as
decided upon yesterday.
K. d. Stephens of.SacramentO county
opposed the resolutions, as he also aid
the previous action OF the convention at
this time, not being able to attend the
yesterdays session, on ;he ground that
he was opposed to any action that would
cent.alize the f1rit products OF California
and put that immense interest i'll the
hands of one or two men. which seemed
to him to be the tendency favored by the
contein plated resolution OF organizations
He was OF the opinion that consolidated
auctions, one in each city, would work
advantageously il properly managed and
an open sale had, but previous disastrous
results to so many growers was by no
means encouraging. The discussion tend
ed chiefly to consideration of the New
York market and the Erie and the West
Shore roads, and it was asserted that the
tw dominated the situation both in the
transportation and the location OF the
auction houses. and between them the
grower was ground to powder.
The discussion was participated IN by
AbIam Block of San jose, W. NJ. Aiksn
OF Wrights. /. Madely, II. Weinstock and
others and at its close tne advantages of
the proposed action, when the details
bad peen arranged on the llan which all
diverse elements seemed willing to accept,
would WORK advantageouslv 10 all mem.
bers of the organization. leaving each
shipper free to Consign over any route
he chose and to such agent as he saw mt
and all to work to secure competition in
buyers. But this discussion consumed
the entire afternoon.
AT the opening of the afternoon session
the president appointed committee OF
three consisting OF A. p. HAIL. George c.
Roding and J. T. Buck to arrange for the
Folsom excursion.
w. b. Gerster of Newcastle read a paper
on Expedited Ventilator Service, bearing
on the 81 bject of transportation of green
and dried fruit This car service had not
been largely used by shippers as it did not
e1terd east of Chicago; refrigeration he
deemed better, but was more expensive,
though aafer.
paper on TRANSPORTATION by B. n.
Rowley OF San Francisco assumed that
the refrigerator services by the railroad
ana car mpsnies for 1895 was Il spien-
did equipment, and he did not think the
growers could expect to get better rates
tor the coming year. In 1895 the mum Der
reached $500 cars; dried fruits In 1899 ex-
ceeded $4,000, 00u pounds, and for the
last five years amounted to 400, 900 900
pounds. This WIS the record north OF the
Tehachepi range.
Mr.. L. BerwlcS of Monterey also spoke
on the tran sportatiUn question and in
troduced q series OF resolutions indcrsing
the Nicaragua canal project and urging
our representatives, anu senators to sup
pore the measure. His remarks were
quite interesting and he illustrated his
argument by an outline map of the world.
c. J. Berry Of Visalia gave some inter-
estng facts in regard to raising grain in
the Argentine Republic, and why that
country haI become SO formida BILE COM
pelitor Vi California in European mar
kets. He found that labor was intro
duced from Italy and other countries on
tue Iadrone system; that wheat was pro-
cuced in tina! country at 1920 per quar-
ter, about eight bushels;. that is 214
cents per bushci. California farmers are
precluded from compe tition with this.
1t is not unlikely that they will be our
rivals in fruit growing. He favored the
canal.
Mr.. Sprague of Antelope valley spoke
to the question of marketing and man
agement of fruit sales, and said that ex-
listing methods had proved insufficient
and would prove much more SO in sue
ceecing years, and urged cooperation
and persistent effort and discussion, as
well a s INTELLIGENT organization.
E. f. Adams neld that it cooperation
be successful it must be by individual
effort and financial survival. Gilman cidl
success succeeds and thus survives and
any one can succeed on that basis.)
Secretary Lelong read the paper pre-
pared by Philo L. Hersey on the Outlook
for Prunes, also Shall We Dip Prunes,
by H. n. Barngrow, in the absence OF
these gentlemen.
Then followed a general and interes.
Ing discussion on raisins, question
which deeply concerns the prosperity OF
Fresno and Kings county, as well as IN a
less degree San Diego and Riverside
counties. The handling of the question
took wide range, political and other
wise, the tariff coming in for turn, I'm.
ports from the ports OF the Adrlatic and
all Southern Europe. Iante currapts and
all. The rai;ln situation in California is
not encouraging.
n. w. MotheIal Of Kings county said
that In MS section they only packed the
cholcest grapes to limit the product and
not overstocK the market. Many vine
yardists sol their raisns in the sweat
box at l cent pound. IN answer to q
question by Mr. Weinstock If there Was
an overstocs of raisins Mr. Mothera
thought not. California last year shipped
60U tons. but the growers get next 10
nothing. TO another question by Mr..
Weinstock, as to how the Mediterranean
grower could Compete with l ceat a
pouhd, Mr.. Motheral responded thar wages
there were very low. and difference Of
20 cunts boy In trans . JItatiOn az aims