The herald., 1898-12-22
FOR LOWER RATES
Orange Growers Tramp Over the Same
Old Ground

In response to the call sent out by j. A.
Graves and others, about forty of the orange
growers Of Southern California met in the
assembly room of the chamber of commerce
yesterday afternoon. Captain Cameron 4.
Thom was elected chairman and A. II. Car
gill of Orange county secretary. The oh.
ject of the meeting was not new, nor were
there any new ideas advanced. 1t was
practically the old story, excessive freight
rates on oranges as this happens to be
orange season, and the effort was a renewal
of the apparently hopeless undertaking of
securing a lower rate, which has been con
sidered by fruit and nut growers of al, kinds
in many preceding conventions.
Mr.. Graves OF the firm Of Graves, O'Mel-
veny and Shankland, was the first speaker.
He read lengthy petition that he had pre-
pared to present to the railroads, with the
approval of the meeting. The petition i.
drawn up for signers, and sets forth that
the orange growers have been engaged in .he
business in periods varying from five to
twenty-five years. That they have paid
freight on every article useful and orna.
mental they wear or use; implements used
in farming; the lumber and nails in the
boxes and paper in which the fruit is
wrapped. That as much money has been
invested in purchasing lands, developing
water and putting it upon the land az any
of the trans-continental railroads of Amer
lea has cost. In the past season $1,000 car
loads of fruit was shipped, or 100000 boxes,
on each of which the railroads receive 90
cents, aggregating "a 4,536, 900 prior to the dis
tribution in the east. The growers have
received for this same fruit, after picking
and packing, not to exceed 80 cents per box,
or $2,520, 900; in other words, the transpor-
tation companies have received $2,Ol6, 500
more than the growers.
Figures are given to show that the seed.
ling growers are at greater disadvantage
than the naval orchardist, as the fruit
brings much lower price. Out of 269 boxes
Of seedlings shipped to Chicago last April
at SLIGO per box, after expenses were paid,
the net profit to the producer was $l44.l7,
adding the cost of picking and packing left
him but $59.H. In short, the railroad re-
ceived 90 cents per box and the producer 80
cents. The disadvantages under which the
California orange grower is working were
specifically and graphically set forth in de.
tail, and a forcble appeal was made to the
railroad authorities for their earnest con.
sideration of these facts.
After the reading of the petition it was
discussed by number of the delegate. Alb
bot Kinney added more facts of similar
discouraging character to those set forth by
Mr.. Graves. He expressed himself in favor
of the petition, and made the time-honored
suggestion always heard at fruit conven-
tions, that this is an age of combinations,
and fruit growers must combine for their
own protection. When they do this, rail.
roads will come to them for fair treat
ment, instead of the reverse, as it is now
Mr.. Graves thought it necessary, also,
that the growers own their cars, to avoid
being robbed by car owners.
Mr.. Wiltshire took long look ahead, and
proposed that the convention pass a reso-
luton advocating government ownership
OF railroads, otherwise there can be no per-
manent relief, in his opinion. A sentiment
favoring public ownership among the pro.
ducers will have more influence with rail
roads than petitions. A. P. Griffith rose
to a point of order, the business Of the con.
vention being the discussion OF lower fire. :ght
rates, and not politics. Mr.. Griffith en-.
dorsed the suggestion of the orange grow
ers' associations owning their own cars
Mr.. Wiltshire got back at Mr. Griffith at
this juncture, as car ownership was not an
issue on the present occasion, but he was
not sustained by the chair. Mr. Naftzger
spoke at some length on the discouragements
in the orange industry and the disadvant.
age the producer labors under in the financial
outcome, but he could suggest no remedy
that had not been tried.
The chairman appointed D. @. Story, J.
A. Graves and Abbot Kinney committee
to circulate the petition for signers and to
bring it before the railroad authorities, after
which the convention adjourned.