The San Francisco call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1895-1913, 1897-08-08
THE WINE INDUSTRY.

The action of the Winemakers' Corpora
ton in arranging to supply to the wine
manufacturers all the capital necessary to
handle the grape crop OF the State IS
notable example of how cooperation and
com bina ton can be used as forcefully for
good purposes as for bad. By the strength
of this collectiv effort ore of the leading
industries of California is saved from Ian
gushing this season from mere lack OF
funds to get the generous product OF the
vineyards into marketable shape.
Mr.. Henry ]. Crocker, in his address to
the board of directors of this corporation
on Friday, showed the great Importance
of encouraging the wine making industry,
and laid down a programme for the equit-
able securing of profits to the three
branches of the trade-the graz growers,
the wine makers and the dealers. With
such purpose in view the corporation
becomes an instrument for the extension
of the general prosperity OF the State, and
ii is for this reason that it has been able
to secure the necessary financial backing
to fully take care of the crop.
In explaining the Importance of the
viticutural industry to the welfare of
California Mr.. Croker calls attention to
the fact that this is the only State in the
Union where the true wine grape will
grow, and that therefore we have 20 000,-
600 customers, or, rather, people who
should be our customers, without export
ing gallon, and that we could multiply
our product fifty-fold in order to equal
the output of France, whose natural ad-
vantages are not superior to ours.
The growers will be pleased to
learn that the corporation proposes 10 Sc
cure them price for their grapes which
will be in fixed proportion to the price
the wine will bring in the market. This
plan, if carried out, will assure them that
sincere effort is being made to fulfill the
promise of an equitable division of profits.
Under such a system there could be no
object to the corporation in putting any
limit to the price of the grapes except the
legitimate one OF maintaining or extend
ing the market in a way that would be
mutually advantageous to winemakers
and grape growers.
The ratio mentioned is TO pay the
farmer 81 per ton for every cent per gal
Ion the win, will bring on the market. A.
Sbar boro OF the Italian Swiss colony says
ILLS bdo bSCn dOpIc0 III many Oh
the European countries and has met
with success. If the foundation ratio is
recognized as a fair one the plan seems so
eqaitabl as to deserve Endorsement by all
the growers. The justice of the division
OF profits would only need investigation
once to make the grower content in all
fluctuations, whereas, without the ratio
system, he might suspect that every
| change in the price, whether up or down,
was either arranged or taken advantage of
without considering his interests.
The fact that for months there has been
an uneasy feeling that the extra large
crop % grapes now maturing could not
all be saved because of lack of money to
enlarge wineries and increase machinery,
in addition to paying for the grapes
makes the success of the corporation in
securing ample financial aid TO carry for
ward the industry matter for gratula-
ton by the entire State. This assistance
of capital is not for this year only, but is
permanent arrangement by which the
viticultural interests are to bs sustained
and enlarged.