The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1896-12-03

Russ Stephens. He reported a manifest
indiSposition on the part of some fruit
growers to act together and the inability
of Others to do so, owing to low prices OF
products through the system of consign-
ing, and having become financially EN-
barrassed TO the extent of mortgaglng
their real estate and crops to commission
men, who demand and arrogate TO them
selves the control of disposing of products.
The commission men have used the fruit
thus controlled to glut and demoralize the
market.
In consideration Of these facts the COM
mlttee felt'that any attempt at present 10
form perfect and compact central or
State organization. that would reflect the
sentiments of the great mass OF the FRUIT
growers, would prove failure. Local CO.
operation was recommended by the COM
mittee. to sell their products through
their own agents. As an illustration OF
the success of this plan. the local fruit
growers organization of Santa Clara val
ley was cited. Action on this report was
deferred till later in the day.
E. f. Adams of Wrights energetlcaliy
read a paper on 1.-THE Feasibility of Estab-
fishing Free Market in San Francisco.
This. he said, would give the growers OF
the entire State the benefits now enjoyed
by the river shippers. He said the mar.
ket would be of most benefit to the small
grower.
1t must be expected that the river
steamer lines, having the advantage at
present, would attempt to defeat a Tree
market, but the railroad lines would favor
it. Every opportunity should be afforded
for competition between steamers and
railroads. 1t would be necessary, he
thought for the State Harbor Commission
to have more power in order TO provide
more shedroom on the water front. The
Southern Pacific favors free market.
Stalls should be rented and the market
conducted fairly to all. He recommended
getting the California Fruit Exchange,
the San Francisco Fruit Exchange and
other commercial organizations OF San
Francisco together on the subject. Legls-
lation was recommended.
+. NJ. RICHTER of Campbells gave a talk
on Markets and Marketing of Dried
Fruits" He was antagonistic to COM
mission men. He said the growers do
everything to increase the supply without
doing anything to increase the demand.
He told all the market troubles of the
fruit-grower, but offered no solution.
F. n. Motheral said that not d pound of
fruit had gone out of Kings County this
year not sold, and the commission men
who formerly had the business are not
happy.
advertising Fruit Products in Foreign
Markets" was the subject of talk by IL.
P Stabler of Yuba City. He said he
thought handling fruit through exchan ges
is not feasible nor practicable and is a fail
ure. He thought the best plan is to let
the middlemen alone entirely. and organ
iZe corporation to dispose of fruit prod
ucts and deal directly with the business
men. He proposed board of directors
composed OF four fruit-gro wers and three
dealers who should be business men. He
proposed advertising in fairs, food shows
and expeditions all over the country, and
the placing of travelling men on the road.
He stated that he had been unable to
get dried prunes in leading restaurant
in San Jose for breakfast; they didn't
have them at all. Think of it," he said.
could not get prunes in San Jose res
taurant. Now, if we can't get them at
home. how can we expect 10 get them
abroad?" He said it was time that the
growers did something along this line;
they had met year after year and done
nothing. He proposed the organization
of a company with a capital stock of
$240, 600.
Transportation and Freight Rates on
Green and Dried Fruits" was the subject
of the paper of w. B. Gester of Newcastle.
In some figures which he presented it was
shown that the railroads take 81 per cent
and other charges enough more to leave
TIE pIOOuCcI OliN pCI CCnb VI WIG
price.
He thought that ultimate relief would
come in the line of legislation that would
reorganize railroads and prevent them
iron. taking the major part of the money
from the producer. He did not think it
was of any use 10 argue longer with the
railroads; make the best of it, and deal
with a new set of men altogether.
Edward Barham OF Montereystalked on
Transportation" The main idea OF his
talk was that the construction of the
Panama canal would be great thing not
only for the frut-growers of California by
bringing them thousands of miles nearer
the great markets of this and the Old
world, but to every interest on the Pacific
Coast 1t would III many ways solve the
problem of transportation for California.
He exhibited maps showing the canal and
the mileage it'would save.
Further discussion was favorable to the
Nicaragua canal, and the convention adj
iourned when it was TOO late to see by day
light, making the question of effecting a
permanent organization OF frultgrowers
the special order for tomorrow afternoon
at 2 o'clock.
SAN JOSE CHRISTMAS FESTIVAL.