The herald., 1897-12-13
THE FOREIGN. TRADE
HOW TO OPEN IT UP AND Elk
TEND IT
Opinions Of J. A. Filcher, r. D.
Stephens and Col. de Leur Agree
Necessary and Limitless

GLE COnNChSiOAS tWCuty-HI ScoSiOi,
held at Sacramento. on November 18TH
10Th, last, committee of fifty were ap-
pointed as per resolution adopted No
vember 18th to solicit subscriptions to O.
fund Of $4,000, for the purpose Of adver-
tising California fruit products in Eu-
ropean markets
J. A. Filcher, manager Of the state
board Of trade and late commissioner to
the Hamburg exposition from Califor-
MIA, read q very strong paper before the
convention, giving convincing facts and
figures to back up his arguments in
favor Of extending trade for California
products abroad. Among other things
Mr.. Filcher said: 1.-THE cry of Califor-
mia has been: We want a market for our
fruits Europe is that market. but IL
would be foolish to think it can be cap
tured and held without an effort. The
interest in our products is such that the
work would be easy, but there must be
work.
"If the funds were available, now
would be the time to do this work. With
very little expense an exhibit could be
collected, and for $4,000 1t could be set
UP and displayed for say month and 4
half In each of the six main trade CEN
ters Of Europe. Allowing half month
for each move, this would require year,
and year Of such work honestly and en-
ergetically performed and intelligently
directed. accompanied by the establish
ment Of agencies for the sale and dis
tribution Of California products in the
different centers visited, would so en-
large the market and the corresponding
demand for our fruits that we would be
pressed to supply 1t and such demand
once started among SO dense a popula-
tion must inevitably grow equal to. II
not faster than tho supply.
Estimating the California dried fruit
crop annually at 100000, 900 pounds, and
1T is considerable more, it can readily be
seen that anything that will advance
the price one mill. or tenth Of cent
pound, Is worth to California 100000.
Anything that will advance the average
price half cent pound is worth to the
state half million dollars, and an ad"
vance of cent pound Is worth round
million dollars.
"Hence, when a good and promising
field stands to be explored, when prom
Using market stands to be opened UP, this
state cannot afford to quibble about the
expenditure Of few thousand dollars"
OF the above statements, r. D.
Stephens, chairman Of the convention,
expressed his entire endorsement Of the
idea 'of further educating the people
abroad regarding our products and
pushing the foreign market. the fruit
business Of California would soon find
itself on sound and profitable basis,
and the day would be much nearer when
the state could dictate the price of
canned and dried fruit to the world.
1T is important that no time should be
lost in raising the necessary funds to
make the exhibit, for apparently there
Is no other purpose for which $4,000
could be expended that would result in
accomplishing so much good, not only
in the interest Of the fruit growers Of
California, but also in the interest Of the
people of the state" 100
Col. Albert de Leur, who has Just re-
turned from tour Of the continent, also
endorses the scheme Of opening up trade
for California on the other side Of the
water, and he is very emphatic, as are
]. A. Filcher and others who have been
there and know the people and trade
conditions, on the imperative necessity
Of sending only first-class goods, in uni
form packages and with a reliable and
Interchangeable brand.
Those three requisites are absolutely
necessary. in order to keep the trade
once opened up, and fourth is to have
plenty Of goods in reserve for quick re-
turn orders.
The only practical way for Southern
California to introduce her fruit into
Germany, France, Belgium and Hol-
land, according. to Col. de Leur, and all
other practical business men who know
what they are talking about, is for the
commission merchants in the cities to
organize, have the fruit cured and sorted
under brand, which shall establish a
reputation, and then be lived up to by a
uniform quality always sent under that
brand, and the market will be unlim-
tied.