The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1903-01-05
Santa Re to Assist California
Lemon Growers.
Will STORETHE FRUIT
Chicago Cold Storage Men in
the Deal.
Will Cause Development Of the
California Lemon Orchards.

Some time ago it was announced by
President Ripley of the Santa Fe that
n scheme had been devised by which the
Santa Fe would aid the citrus fruit
growers Of California to market to bet
ter advantage the lemon crop. Tho
general features of this plan were given
b. the state Journal at that time. A
supplementary announcement is now
given out by President Ripley, in when
the details Of the plan are made pup
lie. and the statement is made that II
viii be put into operation at once.
The lemon growers of California have
heretofore labored under Disadvantages
IN the matter of marketing their prod
ucts when prices were best. The prod
uct of the California orchards has
steadily grown as the improved methods
Of picking and handling have Deen
adopted
There has always been one disad-
vantage. however, and that was thal
the grower was compelled for want OF
storage facilities to rush the whole crop
on the market in lump. 1t had been
shipped and sold TO the dealers as 1t was
picked. This resulted I'm low prices and
often great loss from spoiled fruit
There was another disadvantage that
the California grower labors under IN
his competition with the foreign lemon
grower, and that is that the domestic
fruit comes on the market during the
winter months or when the demand IS
not so great naturally as it is during
the summer
The Santa Fe's plan win correct
these things and give the California
lemon equal chances with its compeu-
tors The plan consists of the Organiz-
alton Of a branch of the Santa Fe's re-
frigesat0r department, which viii trans
port the fruit in specially designed
and ventilated fruit cars ana PROVIDE
storage in the cold storage warehouses
of Chicago where the fruit can be held
and put upon the market as the de-
mand calls for it.
The plan is in accordance with the
general policy Of assisting in the de-
zelopmeut of the resources of the cOun-
try served by its lines. AS the lemon
grower viii be induced to plant more
trees and produce more lemons be-
cause of the certainty of a steady mar
ket at remunerative rates. so the rail-
road company Will profit from the ad-
ditional traffic which will result.
OFFICIALS of the Santa Fee have been
considering the plan for some time
and all the details for preserving the
fruit SO as to prevent either the glut
of the market at the time of ripening
or--a. scarcity when the trees are. not
yielding have been carefully gone over.
Arrangements with the storage houses
of Chicago have been made that viii
insure special rates and ample space
reserved for the lemon crop.
The special cars is one of the import
ant features Of tie plan. The careful
handling of the fruit during transpor-
tation will insure it's preservation in
good condition until such time as it is
wanted for consumption.
The special refrigerator car adopted
by the company after experimenting for
several months is one equipped with the
Bohn ice tank This tank instead of
having a closed bulkhead has an open
bulkhead or what is known as the ST.
phon system. The manner in which this
works is to keep all odors. dust and dirt
out of the compartment where the fruit
Is stored while the car is running. The
impurities are carried off through the
drip pipe. Purified dry air is returned
60 the provision chamber
Santa Fe officials believe that the new
method Of handling the lemon crop of
California win prove very satisfactory
10 the grower, the consumer and the To-
cal dealer i'm fruits. They look for a
very material increase in the industry
of growing the fruit in consequence.