The record-union., 1899-05-24
Tired Of Exactions Of Com
mission Men.
Will Seek to Run Their Omn Cars and Handle
Their Omn Fruit in Future.

The Fruit Growers Convention,
called by the Transportation commit
tee appointed by the last Fruit Grow
ers' Convention, met yesterday to con-
slider the question of organization ana
of TRANSPORTATION and marketing Oh
fr1lit in the Senate Chamber OF the
State Capitol.
The interest aroused in the questions
was evinced by the assembly that early
filled the chamber and occupied every
available seat. Prominent fruit-grow-
ers from every section of the State
were present. Placer County being very
largely represented.
The meeting was called to order by
r. D. Stephens, Chairman of the
Transportation Committee, who spoke
as follows:
question: little, plain question, one oil
four little words and each word a mono
syllable, that l desire each and every
fruit-grower to ask; it is why are we
here?" This question is apparently a
simple one, and yet if you will make an
earnest and sincere effort to to answer iEn 1, IT.,
avenues of thought and the correct an
swcr burdened with manifold reasons why
you find your property, interests est IN sHe
with utter ruin. To answer this queS-
tion intelligently you will have to think
and that is what is wanted. Think for
yourselves instead of permitting others to
think for you, as you have done IN the
past Those who have been engaged IN
the conclusions at which they had ar
rived as to what you should do with
your orchard products, have grown I'M
mensely rich while you day by day nave
The remedy for this evil lies with you.
1t is not yet too late, but still in your
mis- q
past and thereby create condltlon OF
affairs that will result in bringing TO
you a fair and reasonable profit upon the
capital and labor you have invested. But
in order to accomplish this much needed
and desired result, you must make up
your minds to help yourselves.
No man ever succeeded in life. built
up protected and maintained property
and business interests who left the man
agement of his affairs wholly to those who
had no interest in common with him, but
who on the contrary could better pro-
mote their personal interests by pursu-
ing a policy that would result in their ul-
tmately absorbing the principal.
1t is but human nature for the strong
to oppress the weak. This is the rule the
Judging from the experiences of the fruit
growers of California; it does not appear
that they belong to the class of eXcep-
tions. but on the contrary have paid the
full penalty imposed by the rule, and un-
less they awaken to the magnitude OF
the peril with which their property is
certain manner that they have resolved
to protect their property by taking charge
there will be but little hope for. them
to save their property and they will soon
be free to enter upon some other vocation
in life.
But how different the situation of those
who have been doing the thinking for
and handling the products Of the, fruit
growers. and furnishing them with sup
plies. Some of them have made large
fortunes and retired from business, while
others who still continue in the business
own and control refrigerator car lines,
which, by the by, are the bane of the
horticultural interests of the State to-
day Strange as 1t may seem. through
ments,-a system enforced by it-almost
absolute control of the fruit output OF the
State has been given into the hands OF the
few. This control can only be broken by
heroic action on the part OF the growers
The most effectual remedy for this evil
and curse lies in the power and ability
of the growers to construct and control
refrigerator car line. 1t Will take put
a very small per cent. OF the value OF
their property to secure this line and
then all other things necessary to their
prosperity will easily follow. That TINS Is
a feasible and practical proposition there
can be no doubt. With refrigeration under
yonr control YOU can offer protection to
railroads which no doubt will gladly be
accepted by them. You will take from
the present regime the power to demand
concessions from transportation compan-
les, and thereby raise the pail that Is
casting shadows over the hearts OF the
households of the fruit-growers of Cali
fornia.
The Chairman then called for NOM
nations for Chairman, and fruit
grower placed in nomination r. d.
Stephens. and the election was made
unanimous.
b. M. Lelong was unanimously elect
ed Secretary.
Mr.. Stephens said he supposed the
matter at present of most interest to
the assembly was the questions asked
of the Southern Pacific Company and
the answer returned. He would. there
fore, ask Mr. Lelong, the Secretary, to
read it.
THE QUESTIONS ASKED.
The letter of the Chairman was read
by the Secretary, as follows:
San Francisco, May IS, 1899.
William Sproule, Freight Traffic Mana
ger, S. p Co.-Dear Sir: The Committee
on Transportation appointed at the last
Fruit-Growers' Association, held meet
ing on Tuesday of this week and selected
us as committee 10 wait upon yourself
and ascertain what aid the Southern Pa
cfic Company is willing to extend to the
fruit-growers of the State in their desire
to secure cheaper facilities for marketing
their fruit Knowing that ii is to the
interest of the Southern Pacific Company
fornia and appreciating the fact that
fhe company has made many concessions
TO growers in the past in furnishing ven
tilator ears and an expedited train service.
and in other ways, we feel no hesitancy at
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