The herald., 1895-02-01
ORANGES MUST Be WEIGHED.
The Fruit no Longer Sized up
by Guess.
Freight Will be Charged on Actual
Weight.
The Transcontinental Roads New Rule.
1t 10 Tantamount to . Raise
in Rates
Los ANGELES, Jaa. 81.

los ANGELES, Jaa. 81.
II will be remembered that the railroads. a
few weeks ago strenuously denied the charge
that they intended to raise the tariff on c trus
fruits shippers were given emphatic assur-
ances that the postage stamp rate OF SIPS
per 100 pounds to any eastern point, for car.
loads, would be strictly adhered to- So 1t has
been, but the freight rate committee of the
Transcontinental association has found a way
of getting more per carload than the roads
formerly realized, without violating the letter
Of their agreement with the shippers The
plan is to charge $1.25 per 100 pounds actual
weight The custom heretofore has been to
estimate each box of oranges at 70 pounds and
count 800 boxes to the carload. This makes
the freight amount to $685. so per car, or sly
cents per box. Now 1t happens thst boxes OF
oranges oftener weigh more than 10 pounds
than less Especially is this the case this year.
as the fruit is heavier and jueier than usual.
30 1t is readily seen that the railroads will be
gamers by the new arrangement. The differ.
ence in favor OF the roads may be as much as
SIS to $50 per car, according to the overweight
of the boxes. 1t is stated that the pack OF one
large concern in this city last year averaged so
pounds per box. gross. If it does the same this
se-'' WV "Ai p'on' '''''o p'' '"i VI
the shipments of this firm. which are very
heavy
Acircular announcing the new arrangement
has just reached here. 1t is issued by the
freight rats committee OF the Transcontinental
ROADS, 10 dated chicago, Jan. 10Th, and resos In
mart as folI0wa.
.sNotice ia hereby given of the cancellation of
cireular No. To-. which tooh effect Julv 10.
1898. authorizing an estimated weight of 70
hounds Der box on eastbouud shfpm ents OF or
anees and lemons from Pacific coast terminals
and Intermediates points to through eastern
common points. ON and after February Ii.
1898. e.stbouud sbinments Of oranges and
lemons in carloads from Pacific eoas, terminals
and tntermediate noints to throupb eastern
common points will be subject TO actual weight
As ascertained &C the MONT Of sh,pmentu
II ia stated that one reason for making this
abanee ia becau.e the Fresno raisin shippers
Who have been clamorinx for the privilege of
shining nv estimated weight the same az the
orange shippers. To stop this cry about dis
elimination the roads have decided to base
charges on actual weight all around.
Previous to the Florida freeze the actual
weight scale wa, mt into effecs there. 1t ia
alleged that It made quite a difference in the
freight bills as the size OF the boxes had been
Increased till some of them weighed as high as
100 pounds.
1t is claimed tn at one effect of the new ar
rangement will be increased agitation on the
ma RI of m embers of the fruit exchanges for gov.
eminent control of railroads. as some of the
growers are disposed to view the action Of the
com mittes as an attempt to rob the orchardists
nj mart of the profits that ought to accrue to
then, this year in consequence of the Florida
freeze.
A GRAND OPPORTUNITY.
The claim OF certain com mission men and
speoulators in oranges that importstious of
foreign fruit would tend greatly TO keep prices
down ct the east is not substantiated. Messrs,
sgobel & Day. one of the larges and most rsli-
able house, in the citrus fruit trade in New
York. written as follows to Secretary Kimball of
the Southern California Fruit exchanges, under
date OF January 25th:
ave can fully confirm what we have written
you previously, relative to the grand opportu.
nitv Won gentlemen have How can it be other.
wise with 1000 900 boxes iFloridas) absolutely
out of the American markets from this tine
on. We do not at all believe that any excessive
shipments Will come from the Mediterranean,
although we look for full receipts to supply the
demand. Naturally we do not look for any "a
or SIS per box. as the financial situation In this
county i, not of the best but we do believe that
it is many a year since you gentlemen had the
opportunity that YOU now have and we believe
you will be able to sell every box of good fruit
that you have fob. Cars California, unless, as
we said before you get your prices out of sight
"our Palermo house writes that growers there
have exaggerated pretenstous for their fruit,
knowing that 100000 boxes Floridas are
oors hasides which II has been raining there
ST., . .,L - - - -
preventing shipments "nicn ORG Uni! Lnouei
ate. Some Vaiencias are coming along IN tact
next week from Liverpool, but we believe all