The San Francisco call., 1896-04-28
An Important Conference of the
California Fruit Ex.
change.
CoLNoN AND sMURR PRESENT.
Friends of the Project Are Jubilant
in View of the Encourag.
ing Outlook.

for the opening of free market on the
water front. The pulse of the City and
the adjacent country has been taken and
all classes found In favor of the project,
with the exception of a few commission
merchants
At the mass-meeting on the 18th inst.
j n the Chamber of Commerce the matter
was referred to the California Fruit Ex-
change, with instructions to take charge
of it and see what could be effected in re-
lation to it. A committee of fruit-growers
was appointed at the same time to act with
the exchange, the joint committee thus
formed being under the presidency of B..
f. Walton, president of the Fruit Ex-
change.
The committee met yesterday morning
at IL o'clock, Mr.. Walton presiding. B. M.
Lelong of the State Board of Horticulture
acted as secretary, and among those pres
ent were Senator William Johnson J. A.
Filcher, HI. L. Overheiser, Edward F.
Adams and about dozen other we'll
known business men.
Proceedings opened with the election of
Messrs. johnson and Overheiser as direct
ors of the Fruit Exchange, in place of
Messrs. Webster and Morrill,, resigned.
The election over, a general discussion
on the topic under consideration ensued;
but as all present were OF one mind, there
were no spirited words, each speaker
merely supp1eme enting what his predeces-
sor had said in favor of the market. The
views of the conference were crystalliZed
in a resolution to the effect that the Fruit
Exchange would accept the task OF open
ing the free market as decided at the mass
meeting, provided that the Board of Har-
bor Commissioners furnished free wharf
and levied such additional tolls on prod
ucts as might be necessary to meet the
running expenses of the market.
1t was then announced that no more
business could be transacted until some
representatives of the Harbor Commission
and of the Southern Pacific Company
could be present. Invitations were sent to
Charles T. Smurr, freight agent of the
railway, and to President Colnon of the
Harbor Commission, and a recess taken
for lunch.
Mr.. Smurr was on hand at the opening
of the afternoon session. The secretary
having read the resolutions adopted in the
morning, the chairman made brief ex-
planation of their import.
$50 far as the Southern Pacific Com
pany is concerned" SAID Mr.. Smurr, in re-
ply, 81 think can assure you of its hearty
cooperation. There is ground on the
water front belonging to the State which I
should think is amply adequate for the
purposes OF free market, leaving plenty
of room for the transportation companies
and other concerns doing business in that
quarter
"a belt line along the front will be
great advantage to the market, giving pur-
chasers every facility for going to and
from the market. AS far as our company
is concerned, we would be glad to make
connections with the belt line and leave
produce at the market for the same charges
now made for conveying it to the yards at
Fourth and Townsend streets. OF course,
l am not here to formally contract with
this organization, but | have reason to be-
lieve that the Southern Pacific Company
is disposed to work in favor of the market" 7"
Mr.. Adams said that Harbor Commits
sioner Colnon had assured him that he
saw no difficulty in bringing the free
market project to speedy and successful
realization. He had also suggested the
building OF pier somewhere near the
F1shermen's wharf, which would give much
additional room to the market and afford
ampler facilities for landing produce
brought to the seawall in boats or barges.
''In order to know exactly what to do"
resumed Mr.. Smurr, 1--WE should confer
with the Harbor Commissioners. l under
stood they were to be here"
We've been telephoning for them" re-
turned the secretary, but they re all ont, {"
keep up the teleDhoning," ordered the
chairman, land they'll come after a
while'
Meanwhile the following resolution was
adopted:
Resolved, That the Harbor Commission on he
requested to extend to all transporta ton com.
panies the necessary facilities, inclu track
and pier room, for delivery of perishable prod
ucts to the proposed free market, and to ap
| point an early date for the formal considera
| tion of the details involved, at which repre-
| sentativeS OF the transportation companies q nd
| OF this board shall be present.
Mr.. Colnon came in at this iuncture
| and brief account of the proceedings was
given him by the secretary. He remarked
| that for some reasons Lom bard street
wharf would be better place for the
free market than section 4 of the seawall
the location at first contemplated.
LON bard street wharf" he continued
| sis 600 feet long and so feet wide, whereas
section is 500 feet long and only 40 feet
| wide, with landing facilities on one side
| only, since it does not extend out into the
water, as the wharf does. However, the
| exchange may do as seems best to its di.
rectors; but before any decision is made il
might be well for the directors of the ex.
| change to visit and inspect the two Ioca-
| tions"
| This suggestion seemed reasonable and
the conference adjourned to the perfumed
precincts of the fish market and its en-.
vlrons, where they planned and proposed
Until the cold drove them h0me