New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1897-04-18
THIS SEASONS ORANGES.
CALIFORNIA AND EUROPE FURNISHING
MOST OF THEM.
THE GREAT FLORIDA FREEZE CUT OFF CHIEF
SOURCE OF sUPPLY-RAPID TRANSIT
For SOUTHERN FRUIT.

THE GREAT FLORIDA FREEZE CUT OFF CHIEF
SOURCE OF sUPPLY-RAPTD TRANSIT
FOR SOUTHERN FRUIT.
The orange has become almost necessity In the
United States and the crops in Florida, California
and In the various parts Of Southern Europe are
closely watched by many merchants with whom
the yellow fruit Is the chief stock In trade Inc
great freeze In Florida by which this years crop
was reduced to about 10000 boxes made the de-
mand for California fruit greater than 1t has been
for many years Under ordinary conditions the
crop of oranges from Florida would have been
about 100000 boxes this year. according 10 the
calculations of a prominent fruit merchant. and
there would have been oranges for everybody
three times day and cheap at that Inc CaH-
forna crop Of 20O0O boxes did much to relieve the
shortage. but this will also be exhausted about
the middle Of May II the demand continues as 1t
IS al present Then the American market must de-
pend upon Europe for its oranges
Consgnments from Valencia. Palermo ana Mes
slna are now under way and will arrive in New
York before there IL any scarcity OF oranges. IL
usually takes the first steamer about twenty-one
days to come from Mediterranean ports and inc
oranges arrive In hrst-cass condition. II properly
packed and housed the fruit will keep sixty days.
and for that reason there is no necessity for send
ing 1t by express steamers. The importations OF
oranges and lemons last year amounted to about
$4,000 IN value but with the higher import duty
fruit it is believed that there will be railing
off in Importation. Frui' merchants think that
under the operation of the proposed new tariff
which imposes duty OF three-quarters Of cent a
pound on oranges. they will be high between the
months OF May and September
That Is the season." one merchant said, when
the American crop has been exhausted and. with
the exception Of what comes struggling along in
small and irregular shipments. We must depend on
the Dago' crops. From May until August our
supply comes from Europe; from August to De-
cember Jamaica and Mexico furnish much fruit
and from December to May have the American
article"
People who believe that the American orange Is
much better than the imported article wonder at
the fact that there so few American oranges
exported. but dealers say the reason is simply
that the Europeans believe their fruit equal TO the
American In flavor. But to supply a limited de-
mand in England and France for California navel
oranges select boxes sent by nearly every
steamer and they command a good price. In The
midst of the season large shipments are sometimes
made, and then the fruit comes by faSt frelght
from the Pacific Coast and makes close connection
with the fast freight steamers. so that the trip
between the orange grove and the English market
takes about twenty-four days.
More perishable fruits such as apricots. piimS
and peaches. are also frequently sent TO England
fron, the Pacific Coast Enterprsing firms in the ,
fast mail trains for that far
hours in order to take on the California freight;
and the combined efforts OF producer, railroad ana
steamship have brought the fruit from the CALI
fornia market TO the English consumer in about
eleven days But shipments Of fruit by fast freight
to Europe at high rates have not yet become popu-
lar
The subject Of rapid transit for southern fruit,
and vegetables for the New-York market has had
the consideration OF the railroads recently, and
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Company has
become "A competitor for the Southern vegetable
transportation business which until recently has
been controlled by the Pennsylvania company.
Shipments by this line being solicited for
Baltimore philadelphia and New York under the
same rates conditions and schedule time as here
tofore but the Southern shippers Will not he com
PEELED 10 ship by the route. and the way 10
romnetition is left OPEN The rates OF transporta
II 1, 10 \aw-York for Southern vegetables have al
WAYS been low and with the additional faculties
offered by the Baltimore and Ohio, New-fork
which has always been fortunate In that respect
will probably be still better supplied with early
vegetables.