The San Francisco call., 1899-07-14
THE CALIFORNIA WINE TRADE.

/ | into contracts with the grape growers or the
State to purchase all standard varieties of
grapes at SI4 ton has at least had the effect Of
arousing the grapeg growers and the winemakers to
renewed consideration of the problems which affect
their industry. 1t has, therefore, served good pur
pose If it do not result in agreement between
! Mr.: Crocker and sufficient number of the growers
to enable him control the market and maintain the
price he has offered.
In the meantime it is worth noting that the depres-
sion in the wine industry appears to be peculiar to
this State. In recent letter to the New
York Times reviewing the American wine trade
generally L. J. Vance, editor OF the American
! Wine Press, says it would be hard to match
the condition of the California wine trade in
that OF any other industry "At time" he says
1T looked as if the wne-growers of California had
laid the foundations of most prosperous and profit
able industry. With opportunity to supply and
control Gas they should supply and control the
kes of this country and successfully dspace foreign
wines, the California producers failed to grasp their
chance With every incentive to work together to
common end, growers and dealers have pulled apart
Thus instead of making money, most OF the people in
the California trade have for the last few years.
! either made money actually lost money
A very different condition prevails in the wine in
dustry OF other parts of the Union, according to Mr.
Vance, who says: In the wine growing districts OF
/ the East-in the South, in New York and in Ohio
there has been such spirit and methods entered
into the California industry. The most prosperous
wine cellars in the country in the Eastern States
On this account perhaps, Eastern wines and Eastern
champagnes are more widely and favorably known by
advertising than the California brands. While the
California establishments were losing, or making
money the Eastern cellars have mostly made money
While the Californians were selling their wines at
nominal rate the Fasteners have often been able to
get double that for their goods Thus, while the
wine production of California has been and is about
five times that OF the Eastern States, yet the latter
brings by far the most money In fact the total sales
of the champagnes made in the East amounting last
year to about 10000 cases, must have brought as
much money all the wine sold in California last
year"
Such statements coming from such an authority as
that of the editor of the American Wine Press ought
to have the effect of mpressing upon the wine grape
growers and the winemakers of California the folly
OF further antagonism and strife If the wine industry
of the East is profitable that of this State with its
splendid advantages for the cultivation of vineyards
and the production OF wine, ought be highly lucra-
tive
The controversy is in which outsiders cannot
we'll interfere 1t must be settled by the parties at
interest themselves. There appears to be nothing in
the circumstances of the market depress the indus
try. The outlook according to Mr.. Vance promis-
ing. He says: There is certainly better feeling
in the American wine trade to-day than for many
years This is largely due to the encouragement
which winemakers getting from wine
drinkers. The old notion that wine to be good
must be imported is being abandoned because num-
Der of American wine-celars are producing still and
sparkling wines admitted by competent judges to
equal in every essential the imported kinds"
Everything in the situation is therefore encourag-
ing, at least appears when from an Eastern
~ L., IL
for holding that the California wine industry do not
enjoy prosperity will be largely the fault OF the men
who control it.
The Paris has been safely beached in Falmouth
harbor through the skill and energy of the German
wrecking company that undertook the task. Super
irtendent Asbet, in explaining the difficulties of the
work to the Associated Press gave evidence of won
derment at the currents which he found swirling in
the vicinity OF the stranding If he had read Wednes-
days Call he would not have been much surprised
at his experience; the phenomena explained in
a manner which is usual with The Cal-that of ac-
curacy
In speaking welcome to the delegates of the Ma
tional Educational Association Governor Gage di-
lated glowngly upon the fertile fields and fruitful
orchards of the State, but he eloquenty silent
in reference to the sheep ranches. There are some
subjects that his Excellency declines discuss
San Franciscans desire SO keenly to make the Ore
gon boys feel perfectly at home that some Of them
have been praying for good old Portland rain.
Kansas City has offered $4,000 for the next Demo
cratic National Convention. At that rate, what would
it offer for the Jeffries-Sharkey fight?
And now Liberia wants the protection of the United
States. We do amount to something after all