The herald., 1898-03-11
REDUCED FREIGHT RATE
CITRUS FRUIT GROWERS AND
SHIPPERS ASK RELIEF
CONVENTION HELD YESTERDAY
COMMITTEES of Seven Appointed to In
terview the Transportation
Companies

and shippers, held yesterday afternoon IN
the assembly room Of the chamber Of
commerce. was called to order promptly at
o'clock by General Torman. e. w. Holmes
OF Riverside was elected chairman and X.
ii. Young of San Diego. secretary.
Mr.. Young stated the object of the meet
ing to be an effort to secure lower freight
rates OH citrus fruit. 1.-THE industry Of
citrus fruit growing he said, "in South
ern California is on the decline. There are
two or three thousand carloads more OF
fruit in the country than will be removed
unless the railroads come to the relief OF
the growers. There IL no necessity of any
| buster; the matter can be simply stated
| to them so that they will see it to be mat
| ter of loss to themselves as well as to the
grower.
",rhere Is a difference of opinion as to
rates. Some want 1t on lemons only, some
on seedlings and others for rate clear
through TO the east on all. California de-
maf,ds reduced rates because she must
| have them for her prosperity and devlop-
| ment. The object Of this convention is TO
appoint committee to ask for what we
want and stay with 1t until we get II.
| N. w. Blanchard of Santa Paula SAID
| there could be hut one opinion and that was
| tndv Lne rates are tOO Hi6hs oee fAAS ''e-'
surprised at the statement that more Or
chards are being dug up than are being
planted. In his opinion the output Is
doubling The estimated yield for this
season is 1900 carloads, and had 1t not
been for the frost 1t would be double that
1t Is a plain proposition that the grower
must have lower rates; not on lemons. nor
on seedlings alone, but on the whole citrus
crop. If not profitable now what Will II De
when 1t increases?
If the railroads can be made to see that
reduced rates are for their interest as well
as the grower they may make some con-
cession, but unless that phase of the case
appeals to them 1t is hopeless to ask.
A. p. Griffith the next speaker, read
recent market report of the sale or Cali
fornie oranges and said II better prices
could not be secured 1t would be better to
destroy the orchards. Should the seeding
crop not be shipped it will affect many per-
sons in California as well as the eastern
people deprived Of the fruit Quoting the
prices for different grades of fruit he con-
tinued that the conclusion was clear that
better prices could be obtained If the low
er grades of fruit are not shipped. In that
case the railroads would lose large
amount Of revenue as well as the growers
and the commercial interests of the COM
munity would be affected. The speaker
was in favor of asking for reduction for
this year and letting next season take care
of itself.
b. w. Wall Of Tustin and A. w. Keene
of San Diego county spoke on the subject
to the same effect. The unproftableness
of citrus fruit culture under present prices
for shipping was brought forth.
Mr. Packard of Pomona said that an eff
fort was made last September to place the
lemon situation before the transportation
companies and the latest Information re-
ceived was that the matter Is still before
the eastern trunk lines and they are con-
sidering a reduction. They expected soon
to reach decision, the whole situation
being fully understood by them. Could
they be convinced that unless they. come
to the relief Of the producers lemon groves
In California will be budded over to or
anges, the prospect in reduction of the
total tonnage might be convincing ar
gument on the situation.
A discussion then ensued on the time
worn subject of shipping inferior fruit and
whether or not a reduced rate would re-
suit in flooding the eastern market with
unripe seedlings. No conclusion was
reached, as Mr.. Griffith suggested what
the grower needs is a rate to protect the
industry and not to protect them from
each other.
Mr.. Cowan, from Bellery, Mitchell & Co.,
New York. who was present, advised them
to take such rates as the railroad COM
panies offered. for in case of no concession
to California growers the foreign importers
would continue to get the bulk of the
lemon trade, the California fruit being
comparatively little known.
The final result of the discussion was
the appointment of committee of seven
with Mr.. Packard of Pomona as chairman
to bring the matter to the attention of the
transportation companies and to ask for
such reduction as in their judgment seemed
advisable. The committee is as follows,
in addition to the chairman: A. B. Rug
giles, San Bernardino; A. p. Griffith,
Azusa; E. F. c. Klokke, Orange; N. w.
Blanchard. Santa Paula; r. H. Young,
San Dego; A. P. Johnson, Riverside.
Abbot Kinney stated that meeting Of
the horticultural committee had just been
held and one of the subjects to be consid-
cred at the coming convention would be
lower freight rate for citrus fruit. Some
gentleman in the present convention was
requested to be present on that occasion
and lead the discussion.
THE SITUATION
The following is the text of the letter ad-
dressed by the San Diego County Packers
and Shippers association to the agent of
the Southern California railway and dated
March LIST. The communication reveals
the precariousness of the situation:
1t Is now seven months since the new
tarin law went into effect. Said law has
resulted as desired in curtailing importa-
tions, still the financial condition Of our
country is such that the consumption of
citrus fruits has fallen of largely, and
prices, of oranges at least, declined fear
fully We are not getting within so cents
a box as much for navels as last year, while
seedlings are scarcely worth shipping.
In looking over the telegraphic reports
for five days of last week. from seven lead
ing cities, we find that 20S cars of navels,
largely fancy, brought on an average S226
per box. Allow 80 cents for freight, IS cents
you see the growers received only 81 cents
per box for this luscious fruit.
From the same source we learn that
sixty-ive cars Of seedlings brought an
average of $152 per box. Deduct fixed ex.
penses and you see the growers received
| just II cents per box. These fiavels and
| seedlings came from every portion Of
Southern California, but largely from
Riverside. Redlands and Highlands.
The markets have been, and still are, de-
| clining. How much longer do you think
growers will continue to risk q fixed
charge Of $1.45 per box on seedlings in order
| to get back a possible II cents additional
| And the facts are, that only the best Of
| the fruit IL being marketed. Small sizes,
| of which there are vast quantities, and
standard fruit are now seldom shipped.
| Southern California has at least 5000 car
loads of seedlings still on the trees. Unless
the market improves or the railroads come
to the rescue half of this fruit will never
be shipped. Figure the loss to the rail-
roads, to growers. packers and shippers.
At the low price Of $50 per box, delivered.