The record-union., 1897-09-26
DRIED FRUIT FOR GERMANY.
AN ORDER RECEIVED FOR A
SAMPLE CARLOAD.
Views of a Gentleman Recently
Returned From There as to
Future Prospects.

Edward Bonnheim, brother OF Al
bert Bonnheim of this city, some OF
whose interesting letters while in Eu-
rope have been published in the rec
ord-Union," arrived in this city few
days ago, on a business visit from his
home in New York.
While in Europe several months ago
Mr.. Bonnhein's interests took hlln 10
Hamburg, among other places. and ne
visited the exposition and frequently
met Commissioner J. A. F1lcher there.
He had been requested, previous 10
his departure, by H. Weinstock, Presl-
dent of the California Fruit Growers
and Shippers Association, to inVesu-
gate the subject of broadening the mar
ket in green and dried fruits, Wnlch IS
the main object of the association, and
while in Germany and England ne
paid special attention to the matter
He found on inquiry that IN Ham
burg California dried fruits were wen
known in many Of the households, puC
IN Berlin and the interior cities such
was not the case.
In Berlin" said Mr.. Bonnhelm, L
found that dried fruit Of various xmas
sold at from % to b cents pound
in the retail stores, when it should sen
for from 10 to D cents at the OUTSIDE
OF course, at such prices, only the rlch
can afford to buy California DRIED Iult'
and the poor cannot afford to eat II.
I believe, however, that it can ana VIII
be so handled in the future that thefe
viii be a large consumption OF II
throughout Germany, in due course ol
time.
II investigated the market at MI
Weinstock's request, both as regafoS
dried and canned fruit. l FOUND the
people prepared to take up the con-
sumption of dried fruit in a liberal way
but with timed goods it was dlftefent'
There is a very heavy duty upon II IN
Germany, which viii for the present at
least, be prohibitory as regards a mar
ket for it in that country. 1t may DC
different in the future at some time
4 was advised to visit a certain
large house and see if it could be IN
duced to go into the matter OF drled
fruit. I did so, and after some tiflle
consumed in investigating the state VI
affairs found it willing to take up the
matter and give it trial. peheVe
this house to- be the best house IN the
empire to do the matter full justice,
as it already handles many arucles OIL
American production and enjoys to the
highest degree the confidence OF the
commercial and banking circles.
Since my return a number Oh caole
messages have passed back ana Iorlh
and the result is an order to-day Ior d
sample carload of dried fruit TO De
sent TO the house. OF course TINS Is
not a large order, but it is a beginning
and an indication of what may be eX-
pected to follow. None but the pest
of fruit will be sent, and it Will reach
directly the hands for whom 1t IS IN
tended. There will be no ln1ateo
Drices but the fruit will be of good
quality and in year or two we nope
to see it a good staple article OF 1ooo
in the households Of that country.
prices for dried fruit are higher
this year than last, fully cents
pound. 1 should think, but they called
for our price, and when It was naIhed'
we found the people anxious to get
the fruit even with the raise IN cost
The house is such a large one, and with
so many connections that 1 think II 1t
efves. our fruit a trial, it cannot fail to
make a success of the experiment. 1t
is a provident. far-seeing and energetic
l.
In answer to a question as to the
prospect of a German market for green
fruit. Mr.. Bonnheim said: Some think
that we can make a success with SNIP
ments of green fruit, but think there
is more or less risk and L should not
like to advise shipments of it, at pres
ent. at all events. Yes, it IS beng
shipped to England successfully, but
time is a factor. 1t reaches South
arnpton in six days from New York. 1t
takes nine days for it to reach Ham
burg. I do not think there is much dlf-
ference in freight charges. They are
about the same to either port. Nor is
there much difference in distance or
time in taking it from Southampton to
London or from Hamburg to Berlin.
But it is not in either Southampton
or Hamburg that we viii find our mark
cts. We must go to London or Berlin
London stands in the same relation TO
ENGLAND that Berlin does to Germany.
It is in those cities that the rich peo-
ole live and they are the ones that VIII
be in the main the consumers OF our
dried and green fruits. If good green
fruit can be placed in Berlin in good
condition and at a reasonable price II
viii sell much better than at Hamburg
and it is only about 120 miles farther.
7 hardly think that a fruit auction IN
Berlin would be a failure. There would
not be much difference in time between
there and Hamburg and there is where
the rich people live
In answer to a question as to wheth-
er business was improving in the East,
Mr.. Bonnheim said:
Yes. there is a very perceptible i'm
provement in all lines. Woolen goods
of all kinds are increasing in price and
cotton goods also are advancing. There
is a better tone to the whole market for
the reason that confidence is being re-
gained. Wheat is fetching a better
price and other things respond. The
old maxim that people like to buy on
q rising market is again being verified
People do not like to buy to-day if they
think goods may be ten per cent. lower
tomorrow. They prefer TO wait till
tomorrow and save the ten per cent.
But il the market is rising and they
think goods VIII be ten per cent. high
er tomorrow. they are in a hurry TO get
in and buy to-day. Confidence is re
stored and business is decidedly i'm
proved. but after so long a period Of
business depression, it viii still be some
time before the country entirely recov-
ers from it,
WALKED INTO TIE WELL.