The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1899-05-17
State Convention to Be Held
Next Wednesday.
Transportation, Refrigeration and other Subjects
Discussed Yesterday.

The conference held by the members
of the Transportation Committee of the
California Fruit growers Association
took place yesterday afternoon in the
Supreme Court room at the State Capt.
toll. It had been called by X. d.
Stephens, Chairman of the. committee,
to consider matters relating to market
ing Of fruit in the East and refrigerd-
tor freight charges.
Those of the committee who were
present were r. D. Stephens, A. D.
Cults, w. B. Gester, r. j. Blowers ana
H P. Stabler. Messrs. Edward Bar
wick and Frank H. Buck We're repre-
scented by proxy and M. A. Block was
mot present.
There was quite a large representa-
tion of fruit-growers present besides
the committee, among them being: Sen
ator B. F. Langford of San Joaquin,
George and Cummings Thrasher or
Gridley, r. w. Skinner of Marysviile,
Robert Hector A. H. Schnabel, }. F.
Madden and Gerald Geraldson of New
castle, A P Booth of Costumes, F. 8.
Jones of Cordelia, w. II. Barry, 0. Il.
Runyon, Mrs. Sol Runyon and Miss
Annie Crofton of Onisbo and, others.
Hon. r. D. Stephens called the meet
ing to order and said it was hardly
necessary to state its objects In con-
sequence of the combine of the refrig-
orator companies. some action was
necessary. They have formed a COM
bination and ask, What are you going
to do about it?" The only question TO
be considered is whether a convention
shall be called or not. AS far as he
was himself concerned, he thought 1t
should be called by those who own the
property most concerned in the mat
ter. Much has been said and there re-
mains much to be said to give informa-
ton to a great many who are deeply
interested. The difficulty is that the
fruit grower is so busily engaged in pre-
pairing his crop for the shipper and
commission man that he has no time
to think much on the problem.
He believed that this was the only
body so much interested that gives so
little thought to its own interests. There
is a combine on all things used by the
growers. The box industry has formed
a combine and tells the growers what
they can buy boxes for, and tell them
they can take them or not, as they
please, there is no competition. The
paper question is also of some import
ance, and these gentlemen are going to
inhibit all the growers from purchasing
their paper from other parties. Even
on nails there is a combine.
Here is an interest that, if properly
fostered, can be built up to the para
mount interest of the State. No other
territory on the globe possesses the re-
sources of California. Many others can
raise grain and vegetables, but they
cannot raise the deciduous and other
fruits that can be raised in this State,
and many organizations are reaching
out TO obtain control of this industry
and add 1t to their own interests. He
would now ask the committee what its
wish was. He felt that the best solu-
tion of the problem is to have an indie
pendent refrigerator car line. There Is
from $14O000,OO0 to $50, 100000 worth
CT property represented in the fruit in
dustry.
The growers pay insurance agents to
protect their property from loss. Why
should they not pay their quota Of the
expenses Of establishing an independ-