The record-union., 1896-12-02
THEY ASK FOR PROTECTION.
A Duty Of Six Cents Per Pound for Un-
Shelled Almonds.
An Industry That Has Been Well
Nigh Ruined by Foreign
Competition.

II Congress does not place tariff on
almonds that will enable growers OF
that product to make something more
than expenses it will not be for want
of solicitation on the part OF those
engaged in that industry in this state.
There was good, representative
meeting of almond growers held In TINS
city yesterday at the State Capitol. The
meeting was held while the State
Fruit Growers Convention was also IN
session, or the attendance would have
been larger, as many almond growers
were included among the delegates to
the Fruit Convention.
G. P. Plaisted of Solano County called
the meeting to order and stated its
object. He then said the first thing
in order would be to organize the con-
vention.
~ P. 8. Armstrong of San Joaquin was
chosen to preside, and w. G. Read OF
Colusa to act as Secretary. In taking
the chair Mr. Armstrong addressed the
convention as follows:
NECESSITY FOR PROTECTION.
Gentlemen Of the Convention: The
almond growers Of California recognize
the fact that unless they are in a meas
ure able to meet competition With the
foreign product, continuance OF their
business is impossible. This competi-
ton with the foreign product, owing to
the low tariff and the low rate Of
wages paid abroad, has been recognized
to the extent that thousands Of acres
of almonds have been grated over to
other varieties Of fruit.
''I tell you, gentlemen, the grating
of almonds has only commenced, unless
Congress relieves us. 1t is alarming
to take into consideration that one Of
the greatest, If not the greatest, orchard
in the State, planted largely to al
monds, is now under suit for fore
closure, and that numerous others
would be in like condition if the mort
gagees dared to assume the ownership
of the property. The growers are ap-
pealed to to nlemorialize Congress in
furtherance of their demand.
while it is not possible actually to
determine the amount of almonds pro-
duced in California annually, the total
amount of almonds and walnuts COM
bined for 1895 was 6,46S,0O0 pounds.
Estimating that there were 500 cars OF
walnuts, 10000 pounds each, it would
lcstN ( tic III VI AAA SAAAN'
State at say 100000 pounds.
According to the latest returns by
counties the total number of almond
trees in this State was 100000, OF
which 100000 only were reported in full
bearing. The total importation of al
monds. shelled and unshelled for the
year ending June 80. 1896, was found
to be 1.7S9,6S1 pounds, Of which over
l,a1f chol1od adding the
weight for shells at 60 per cent, the
actual importations were found to be
over 100000 pounds. as compared
with a Californian production of say
5,500,000 pounds.
The Importation of almonds has
nearly doubled during the past ten
years. The growers Of California who
employ thousands of laborers should
be protected by a tariff Of at least
double what it is to-day"
WOULD BRING REVENUE.
Mr.. Armstrong concluded his remarks
by saying that the convention should
not adjourn until it had drafted me-
mortal to Congress embodying the ideas
and demands of the almond growers
of the State.
E a. Hammond of Solano said there
ported from foreign countries which
now pay a very small duty. The Gov
ernment is sadly in need Of revenue
and it's receipts can be largely aug
mented by imposing a reasonable rev.
enue on almonds.
Plaisted moved that a committee OF
five be appointed by the Chair to pre-
pare a memorial to Congress asking
tton. 5,1fV tpd l.
monds, and to report the same to the
convention at the earliest moment.
The motion was carried, and the
Chair appointed as such committee G
p Plaisted of Solano, John Rock OF
Alameda, NJ. Walton Of Contra Costa
z. A Hammond of Solano. and G. E
Lawrence of San Joaquin.
The committee retired. and during
their absence Chairman Armstrong
made some further remarks on the sub
ject for which the convention had
met. He said there was no a.ntagon-
ism whatever between the fruit grow
ers whose convention was then ir
progress and the almond growers. In
deed, the former embraced many grow
ers Of nuts, and desired the almond
growers to report to their convention
such action as the latter might take
The growers of almonds, said Mr.
Armstrong, deemed 1t necessary to take
the action they had in order to place
their case prominently before Congress
as the success Of the almond industry
was not necessarily joined with that oi
fruit growing. The growing of almonds
in California had enabled consumers tc
procure them at ten cents per pound, OIL
one-half the price they formerly had
to pay when all our almonds were i'm
ported If the claims Of those engag ged
I'm that industry In California were
properly and forcibly presented to Con
gree he believed that body would gram
the relief asked.
GOOD, STRONG TARIFF.
DR.. Kidder said there is one thing tha
should not be overlooked. Under Ucdi.
nary tariff regulations manufacturer:
were able 10 ship their products to for
eign countries and sell them cheaper
than at home. This could not be done
with almonds, wherefore the grower.
of that product should be granted
greater protection than manufacturer!
require.
Chairman Armstrong said he wa
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