The record-union., 1899-07-09
PROSPEROUS FRUIT SEASON.
THE RULE rs GOOD PRICES AND
BIG CROPS.
Growers Greatly Benefited by the
Reduction In Transportation
Charges.

Fruit Company, was interviewed yes
terday regarding California fruit crops
and markets. Mr., Earl said:
1.-The outlook for California fruits
this season is brighter than for many
wears. California is practically the
only State in the Union with good
crop of fruit this season. Fruit crops
in many of the Eastern districts are
total failure, on account of cold wealth
er last winter, and in some districts,
notably Georgia, not only the peach
crop was ruined, but the trees were
killed. Even Oregon and Washington
suffered, and very little fruit will be
shipped East from Oregon and Wash
ington this season, with the exception
of apples.
.The California peach crop is one
of the largest and best ever grown,
and there is a fairly good crop of ship
ping pears, plums and prunes. Grow
ers have realized splendid prices for
fruit already shipped to Eastern mar
kets, and there is every prospect OF
good prices continuing. Growers have
contracted large quantities Of their
fruit this season to buyers in Califor-
MIA, including Gamers, shippers and
dryers, at splendid prices. and growers
who are shipping their fruit East OH
consignment are realizing excellent
prices.
TRANSPORTATION CHARGES.
I'm addition to the good crops In
California, and the good prices being
realized for same, transportation
charges on green fruits to Eastern
markets have also been reduced, and
are lower this season than in any pre-
vious year. Much has been said by
certain newspapers regarding freight
and refrigeration charges having been
increased this season, but the truth
of the matter is the expense of ship
ping green fruit to Eastern markets
this season is less per r'pound and less
per package than ever before.
1.-The railroads this season adopted
schedule of estimated weights on green
fruits, which are decidedly to the ad-
vantage of growers, shippers and East
ern dealers, and these weights aver
age less than the actual weights, and
enable all concerned, including grow
ers, shippers and Eastern dealers, to
figure exactly what the transportation
charges are. In previous years it was
impossible to figure from day to day
in advance what the exact expense
would be of shipping.
I'm addition to the advantages OF
the estimated weights established by
the railroads, the refrigerator lines
have reduced their refrigeration
charges this season 10 to 20 per cent,
compared with previous years. Reports
have been circulated recently in regard
to refrigeration charges having been
increased 1-3 per cent. These re-
ports are entirely incorrect. as the
icing charges per pound or per pack
age to-day are the same as they have
been since May 1st last.
ALLEGED COMBINATION
Much has been said during the last
few weeks in regard to alleged COM
binations of certain fruit firms and car
lines. AS far as the Earl Fruit Com
pany is concerned these statements are
entifely untrue, as the Earl Fruit Com
pany is in no combination of any kind
whatever, and is handling fruit on the
same terms and basis as in previous
years, and where growers are not IN
ciined to ship their fruit on their own
account the Earl Fruit Company is
prepared to buy it and pay growers
satisfactory prices.
Il have seen no indications OF any
combine among the car lines, either.
There have been radical reductions in
refrigeration charges by both car
lines this season, compared with their
charges in previous years, and there
is a larger supply of cars and the cars
are of a more modern build than many
of the cars used in previous years.
'I have been engaged in the Cali
fornia green fruit business for nearly
twenty-five years, and have never
known season when the prospects
were brighter for California fruits.
There was never a time when there
was a better demand for California
fruits, or when there were more cash
buyers in California, than to-day, or
when there were as good facilities for
growers to ship and market their
fruit on their own account East, and
there has never been a season before
when the expenses of shipping and
selling fruit in Eastern markets were
as low as they are this season"