The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-08-18
FREE SALES TO
SAVE The FRUIT.
Advocates Of an Open Mar
kst Say a Change Is
Needed.
LESSON OF THE GLUT.
Tons of Fruit Destroyed On the
Wharves for Want of
Purchasers.
AYD YET IT GOULD BE SOLD.
With a Frse Market and Low Prices
Fruit Won Be Bought for
Preserves.
AND YET IT COULD BE SOLD.

The advocates of free public market
for San Francisco are out again IN behalf
of an institution through which the con-
sumner of produce may purchase from the
grower direct. The matter has been sug-
gested this time by the hopeless glut IN
the market and the consequent dumping
of cargoes of fruit. the very cream OF val
ley orchards, into the bay.
For several days past the fruit wharves
have been so taxed with the immense
quantities of peaches, pears, etc., coming
in that there was absolutely no place left
yesterday where a small shipment might
be piled. Ordinary sales have had no APP
preciable effect in decreasing the bulk Of
these great heaps of luscious fruit, that lie
ripening or rotting in the sunshine.
Rather as the days pass the fruit piles
seem to grow in height and general dimen-
sions.
As there was no room at all last Satur-
day tons OF pears and peaches were hurled
into the water; they could not be sold at
standard market prices, as not everybody
could afford to buy. So rather than let
the price decline these large quantities
of delicious food were lost. The condi-
while poor people, of necessity, had to go
without fruit, since they did not have the
money to pay for it, loads of excellent
pears and peaches were destroyed.
With such state of affairs IN view the
men who would like to see free public
market established say that no better Illus
tration OF the need of an open market
could be presented.
1.-THE absence Of free public Market"
said w. FL. Mills, Constructs the consump-
ton of articles of produce by high prices,
which never reach the grower. There
certainly would be less Of glut if you
had free market. This dumping of
fruit into the bay has demoralizing
effect on the farmer. / believe that it
would not be possible if San Francisco had
market where fruits and other country
products could be bought from the pro-
ducers by the consumers.
ITO the disgrace of San Francisco be it
said that she is 1000 years behind the
methods of civilized cities in this respect
that there is no one place in the whole
City where the consumer can buy his food
direct from the man who grows it.
with an open market housekeepers
would be enabled to buy large stocks of
peaches and pears at a time like the pres
ent, when supplies from the country are
Cutting the market. The fruit thus
bought would be so cheap that it would be
within the reach of everybody and the
poor people have chance to enjoy
it. The housekeeper would take adj
vantage of the reduced prices and secure
enough fruit to supply her house with
preserves for the whole year. So you see
that while fruit would be crowding in
upon the market it could be bought in
large quantities and prese rved. The can
neries have not sufficient capacity to buy
perishable fruit for immediate packing.
They can only handle a certain amount,
and consequently are powerless to relieve
glut on the market. Ifthey overstocked
themselves with fresh fruit much of it
might perish on their hands.
There are various causes for the pres
ent glut. California cannot eat all its
fruit, and there is no money in the East
to buy our fruit this season. Fruit be-
comes an article of luxury by the time it
reaches the Eastern consumer. The big
gest outrage perpetrated in the world is
the rate of commission exacted by Eastern
agents for selling California fruit. In Chi
cago per cent is charged, and those
agents have no money at stake, no risks to
run-if they sell your fruit they get per
cent; if they don't, well you lose all.
81 am satisfied that free public market
in San Francisco would maintain the
equili brium, and with the exception of
some unusual conditions. such as a dull
ness in Eastern demand, things could be
made to regulate themselves very nicely
during the short while fruit is crowding
in from the orchards"
Harbor Commissioner Colnon said that
the Commissioners were at their wits end
to know what to do with the fruit supply.
He said that he believed in an open mar
ket, wherein retailers could buy from the
producers direct, but not place where
housekeepers could get small compile
ments. On this plan he was convinced