davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-29

But the residents Of the South of Flor-
da awoke next day to hnd that the value
OF their fruit had doubled during the
night The ends OF the trees had been
nlpped by the frost but almost the en-
tirety of the orchards had been spared
I'rices had risen at n bound from between
so and Is cents a box to $3.50 This gave
a tremendous impetus to orange culture.
New groves were set out. and even roots
of frozen-down trees were brought south
from what had been called the "orange
belt" and planted. while the cd groves
were given more scientific care than ever
before
Stringent precautions nre now taken TO
ensure against a freeze. Quantities of
cords OF wood are piled around the
groves Some growers have even pro-
cured tents. which can be fastened over
the trees for their protection. should they
be In peril OF frost.
The principal varieties Of the citrus
now grown in Florida are the orange. tan
gerine. mandarin. kumGuaf. lime. citron.
grapefruit. lemon nd sbaddock. This
last. the largest species OF the orange. Is
coarse and bitter. and of little use The
lemon Is inferior to the Slcilian kind.
and n lemon orchard seldom brings much
to the owner in the way of profits. But
the oranges. divided chiefly into ''brights''
and "russets." produce considerable re-
turns. their present value on the trees
being about s1.1O per box. As 300 boxes
to the acre are considered nothing extra
ordinary In the way OF crop. the profits
Of orange growing can be estimated
Tangerines average $50 per box. while
the grapefruit brings as high $3.50.
This delicious fruit was only few years
nF0 regarded rs worthless. and grown
only rs n curiosity. Its selling value was
about one-quarter Of a cent apiece. and
shipments to the Northern States were
unknown. Finally physicians took up It's
cause and declared It to be not only
healthfui, hut. what was OF Infinitely
greater consequence. beneficial to the
complexion. Information was published
as to the manner In which It was to be
eaten. the demand Increased. and soon
high prices ruled At the present time
acres OF this once despised fruit are to be
seen In Florida. and the grapefruit
groves, With the long. slender branches
OF their trees propped up with poles in
order TO support the thick clusters of
yellow fruit. are one OF the most pic
turesque scenes in the citrus regions of
the peninsula.
The tiny kumquat, no larger than 4 wal
nut, acid and tart, whose rind is the
most delicious part of the fruit has
passed through a similar history. 1t now
obtains a high price. and IS used chiefly
in preserves, n use which may have been
learned fro mthe Chinese.
The orange tree. the strongest speci-
mems Of which are grown from Seeding
plants. first produces fruit In Its fourth
year. The barren. sandy soil OF the pen
insuln necessitates frequent fertilizing,
and This is done usually three or four
times a year. In Marsh the blossoms ap-
pear; a very waxy-white. with yellow
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-29

ccnters. those of the grapefruit. which
blossoms at the same period. being some
what coarser, but In other respects SINH
lar. The best fruit generally appears on
trees grown upon the poorest land-possl-
bly, on account of the greater application
of fertilizers. The fruit develops slowly
and begins to color in October, the first
picked being generally half green and rip
enlng in transit. 1t may be left upon the
trees till April May with no deteriora-
ton in its qualities, although 1t will be
liable to dlminutiOn in quantity by reason
of windfulls. This Is especially the cas-
with the grapefruit which are produced
abundantly upon the trees. and always in
clusters. so that the branches are quite
unable to sustain their weight during n
prolonged period. hence the grapefruit
senson Is somewhat shorter than that for
oranges.
When the orchard Is to be stripped Of
Its produce the orange clippers arrive
from the neighboring village or town
Their work is the hardest and the worst
paid of all connected with the grunge in
dustry. the price for filling n box being
usually five cents. Where the fruit is
tLick an expert picker is said to gather
as many as 40 boxes in day: but when
. 1t Is necessary repeatedly to adjust and
climb the long ladder to secure single
fruit depending from one of the highest
branches OF the tree. dollar n day is
hardly earned wages.
The clippers. who are usually. but not
invariably. negroes. come to their work
accompanied by wagon loaded with
empty boxes. which are distributed
throughout that section of the orchard to
be stripped. under the several trees. The
clipper wears large sack over his left
..r,f.. et..
around his neck. He carries long lad
der and a strorg pair of clippers. the
blades of which are curved much in the
manner OF nail scissors. to prevent any
chance injury to the fruit. Having
lected his tree and pulled down his
sleeves to mitIgate-for he cannot pre-
vent-the scratches which he viii receive
from the spiked boughs. he clips of the
fruit around the lower branches which
are within his reach. ellis the gunnysack
ut his side and dumps the fruit into his
bcx. He then places the ladder against
the boughs, ascending by degrees and
slowly clipping of The fruit within his
reach, until he has denuded 1t clear up to
the top After this he shifts and read
justs his ladder and continues to climb
the tree from the inside. In order to col
lect the few elusive oranges which are
invisible from the ground Here Is where
he loses time. The final process upon
each tree is the most wearisome and the
least profitable; but It is almost a point
Of honor that ench tree Is to be stripped
clean.
Clipping is invariable. and the orange
is removed from the stem az the closest
possible point to Its rind- A picked
orange is commercially almost vaiueless.
and a box of oranges that had been pick
ed instead of clipped would be rejected
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-29

at any packing house without hesitation
The tiny fragment of the stem. shriveled
to a small knob or excrescence at the
head of the orange. may be observed
upon aIl fruit exposed for sale. An or
ange pulled from the bough exhibits in
its place a little round depression. and
Will remain sound for n much brIefer
period Of time than the clipped orange
On this account the windfal.s. which lie
scattered everywhere. especially under
the grapefruit trees. cannot be included
in the crop. but are either eaten by the
proprietor disposed of Mt a nominal
price to travelling peddlers OF the village
stores.
When the crop has been gathered in
the boxes these are removed to the pack
ing-house to be prepared for the market.
The ordinary packing house has two en-
frances. one Mt the back. where the
freshly gathered fruit is brought In. and
the other Mt the opposite end of the
building. from which n raised passage
way leads directly to the freight cars
which are always In waiting. A busy
Westinghouse employees so or GO hands
during the rush season. most of them
whites, the rough work only being done
by negroes. A packer obtains four. or
sometimes FIVE cents per box. and as he
VIII attain to an automatic control
of his task at n considerable speed. he
cnn earn easily 81 day. exclusive of
overtime. During the packing season.
therefore. there Is considerable short
age of labor everywhere. employees leav-
ing the stores and public services to OBJ
tain improved wages and easy work. A
hoxmnker receives one cent per box:
good ma makes from So TO SIS a week.
When possible. the newly gathered
nnges are left for two days In order to
rIpen them. When they are ready to be
packed they are dumped from the boxes
in which they lie into an orange sizer.
These machines are of several kinds but
all of them effect the same purpose--to
sort the oranges according to their
spective sizes. There are two main
varieties of this machine:~the one n long
s'oping board with holes at the bottom
through which the oranges fall into CON-
partments situated on either side; the
other round. with the compartments form
Ing semicircle around the central space
into which the fruit Is first deposited.
The oranges. having been placed in the
sizer. run upon two cords passing along
a groove down an Inclined plane. and
each drops through the appropriate hole
Into the receptacle underneath. There are
usually six of these compartments to
every sIzer, and the boxes, when packed,
hold $50. 200. 1T6 $50. 1oG or 90 oranges
apiece. according to the dimension of the
fruit The cords. which carry the or
anges. are set In motion either by a crank
OF n foot pedal.
In front of each of these compartments
a packer stands with new. empty tox
in front Of him. In his right hand he
holds small square paper which he
has plucked from a great pile standing at
his right side. He seixes an orange from
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-29

of course. the expenses OF the packing
house in the matter of haulage to and
from the orchards. as we'll us tie cost Of
lumber and paper. their machinery and
general upkeep. and the salaries OF those
employees who are not paid by piece work
A box OF oranges sold at auction in New
York fetches on an average something
under IS. though prices fuctuate consid-
erably.
It Will be seen that a considerable por
tion of the returns are thus absorved by
the wholesaler, and this opens up one of
the sorest spots In the history of orange
culture. The wholesaler reaps his rewnrd
because be controls absolutely the dis
tribution of citrus fruits: because the
grower must sell at $1.10 upon the trees
or submit to the extortlons of dishonest
commission men.
There are two ways In which the grow
or disposes of his fru- lie can clip and
prepare It for the market in his own
packing house and ship It to some produce
agent In the North. to be sold on com
mission for him. or be can sell upon the
trees to the buyer of some Northern
house, who viii relieve him OF all cost
and responsibility of clipping. packing
and shipment and pay him from 81 to
S1.15 per box.
Sometimes the packing houses purchase
the fruit from the grower on their own
account, but they more often act as local
agents for the Northern firms receiving
from them a certain sum to cover their
expenses.
Bnt 1t is manifest that the grower
would receive greater returns l.. packing
and shipping his own fruit than by sell
ing 1t at $1.1O upon the trees Why.
then. does he hand over large portion OF
his profits to the middiemen?
He has learned by experience that the
percentage of dishonest commissicl agents
Is sufficiently large to 1eopardize all prof
its from his shipment.
Here Is a favori:e trick played upon
him:
One commission shark II some Eastern
point says to another. II have just re-
ceived a carload OF oranges to sell on
commission. Have you any7''
Yes" replies shark No. 2, Il have just
received carload Also"
Then sell me yours at $1.25 per box.
and | will sell you mine at S1.25-"
Shark No. agrees. and each wires his
principal: ''FruIt received In bad con-
dition; have sold at 1928" which be re-
mIts. This transaction is entered upon
the books of either firm as a bona ide
sale of a carload of oranges at 81 .25 a
box. BY this transaction the commission
agents have merely exchanged consign-
ments; but each has acquired a carload
Of oranges at S1-25 per box. which he
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-29

sells afterward at the market price.
which may be assumed to be SO. Total
profit from fraud 800 boxes Mt S1.T5
equals 1925 in addition to commission on
the fraudulent sale. Others more bold.
sell the consignments and retain the en-
tire proceeds.
Thus the grower has been taught By
experience that It Is better to accept a
low price for the fruit upon the tree than
to risk losing the returns Of his entire
shipment.
An ex-senator of Florida was at one
time the means of exposing some OF these
frauds He shipped a consignment OF or
anges to n commission agent In New
York by water and went thither by train.
knowing that he would arrive before the
ship came In. He arranged to be upon
the dock when hts consignment was IN
loaded and, being unknown. secured an
option upon the fruit Mt a good price. I'm
nediateIy the agent sent a telegram to
the senator's wife: Fruit arrived IN bad
condition." and named some low price as
the best that could be obtaine for It.
The telegram was sent back to the SEN
ator. and he confronted the commission
agent with It. The effect was electrical.
Cajolinent. threats and the offer OF bril-
were successfully resorted to In vain
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-29

That particular commission-house was
put out OF business Unfortunately the
exposure had no permanent effect. and TO
the present day many IN orange grower
who attempts to realize the full value o.
his produce learns by experience. grows
wise and passes into the bondage of the
middleman. VICTOR ROUSSEAU.
The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1906-12-29

its compartment with his left hand; his
hands approach each other with spon-
taneous movement. and almost immedI-
ately the fruit lies in the box. wrapped
securely in Its paper covering. Very soon
the box is full. and the packer. register
ing another four cents In his mental nc
count-book, thrusts the full box aside.
seizes another and resumes his task.
Very much the same procedure is en-
acted with the grapefruit. which are,
however. scraped with 4 blunt knife and
polished before passing into the packers
hands. The grapefruit average about "a
to the box. Three hundred boxes of fruit
go to the carload. and busy factory Will
turn out three carloads daily
Leaving the aromatic atmosphere of the
packing house we approach the box
makers habitat. where two more men
are censelessly engaged in turning out
new boxes for the reception OF the fruit
The time occupied In turning ont box is
between two and one-half and three min
utes. and the operation Is of the simplest
character. The room is piled high. almost
to the roof. with ''centers'' of solid pine
wood. sent from the lumber camps OF the
Southern States. and with ends of
paneied pine wood. fat pieces cut Into the
shape of the panel of door the
tion OF window frame. thereby making
a projection which the hands can grip I'm
lifting the full boxes. Two lends are
placed parallel TO one another. with n
center" piece between; sides are nailed
on and three long. 1.-The slender strips or
hoops of birch bark. imported from
Maine. are nailed around the frame In
less than three minutes after the ENDS
were placed into position the new box
stands completed. The factory being
usually situated over the packing room.
the box is slid down nm Inclined roadway
to the floor beneath. where 1t Is taken by
the packers as 1t Is required.
Between the tree and the consumer the
orange passes through the hands OF the
picker. packer. produce agent or whole
saler and retailer 1t Is obvious that IN
der such circumstance its price must be
considerably enhanced before IT passes
Into the hands of the public. Here are
the figures showing the average receipts
In transit
Received by the orchard owner. per
box 81. III
Received by the clipper. per box. -O5
Received by the packer. per box. .o4
Received by the boxmaker. per box. OF
Shipping charge. per box. to East
ern points averages. -.-....s.. 90
This makes a total cost Of 81 30 per box
to deliver In New ork or any Eastern
point To these figures must be added.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-05-31
gests that the socialist movement itself
is In process Of disintesration.

The royal wedding at Madrid today
y an event Of International interest.
It is an Anglo- Spanish alliance, and
while Il is not true that 1t carries with
II the political Significance such an
alliance Of royalty would have carried
q century or more ago, It viii In q
measure create bond Of sympathy
between the two nations that may In
the future turn the scale Of some NICE
" adjusted diplomatic move notable
IN history. What the world sees tor
day is 9 course Of true love that IL
running smooth and free from any en-
tangiing difficulties.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-05-31
THINK IT OVER.
BY c. A. r.

We have heard about people having
money to burn, but It remains for
Omaha to furnish an example Of q dia-
mond studded appendix.
Struck with the architectural beauty
Of the Davenport restaurant in Spo-
kane. Ebert Hubbard IL thinking Of
In Guiding L. J. Davenport in his "FIall
OF Fame" Hubbard has probably
never seen the Lewiston city hall.
Nowadays the democrats always
open the campaign with dollar dim
ner. 1t was different In the Cleveland
administration. when they opened It
with bowl Of soup ana closed it with
. calamity wall.
Carnegie might have his ..tainteds
money denatured.
Railroads that do not have the .JimS
Crow cars make It up TO the public in
the quality 81 the service
The small boy and the cannon
cracker VIII soon 81 placed IN happy
juxtaposition.
That Tacoma boy who was chased
BY real bear and kept prisoner in
the woods Tor two days ought to be
able to rive an answer to the much
Yn1ratnA nfsAafS<n ~ hoxr, %hsne,s 1<~x,Hr -
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-05-31

It II source Of congratulation for
the people Of the Columbia river basin
to know that the open river project IL
now recognized az q continuing COM
tract and il provided for substantially
In the sundry civil bill under the head
Of work authorized and under course
Of construction The appropriation
for the Dalles- Cello canal n es5o. 900,
and there is half az much for the Col
umbia below Portland and an addi-
tiOnai 100000 for the work 1T the
mouth OF the river. The great water
way IL now in q fair way to receive the
recognition hitting to its worth as an
artery Of commerce. The battle for the
open river has been fought and won.
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-05-31

There was . Significant movement
n tlae convention Of Western Fedora
ti0u Of Miners at the meeting now be-
ing held at Denver when socialist dele
Gntes were seated from Butte and the
remainder Of the Butte delegation bolt
- aSed thrsatened to disrupt the fede-
radon. Il i predicted that the recog-
ultlon Of socialism IL the entering
Npdge that win emo In open rebellion
- M part Of some Of the strongest
unlons h tse federation. This fact In
1inee4len wi4h tie announcement
~ - oocla1ists are 1t war with
eIvee anA Are dividing into rev
6fn<foniets* onk ''conservativesr' sug-
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-05-31

The Northern Pacific railway an
nounces low round trip tickets to the
following points:
Account meeting knights Columbus
to be held 1t New Haven, Conn.,, June
;. Tickets on sale May -, IS and e..
Account meeting Of First Church
Christian societies to be held 1t Bos-
ton, Mass. June 10 70 II. Tickets on
sale June 4. and Z.
Account Home coming week Of Ken-
tuckenians, to be held at Louisville.
June IL to II. Tickets on sale June
4. and Z. Will also have low rates
to National convention Of BAptists
Young Peoples Union Omaha July ~
to is. Meeting Elks Denver. Col, July
~ to ~. These tickets win ali be good
for 30 days returning. Will b sold
about basis OF one FIRST class fare plus
SO for the round trip. For full par-
ttculars call or write. W. J. JORDAN.
Agent. Lewiston; idaho jus
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-05-31
THg acHooL or GxpgRiENc1.

u S \. 49, Is ,.,..s =. s...s J. = W.
q. ~. s. 49,, Y
80 $3.50 - - -, ~ q. 49,, ~ -.
.,e g ~. $50, 49, n. W.. sSIool
-. ~. $3.50 s. &. 80 81 =
-. s s IS ~. ~. ~
g ,.ss... q 49, ~.
ssss a. 80 -ss.'n 49, y. . none ~ 'sast
'.-s ~. : -. ~ -. y ~. IT 80
81 -
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-05-31

teln 1850 - - eau0 4.
oo you want 49, : - amuul.toI
blne exaesasel 49, rs \ { 4. 7
tnat o. NJ naston' mesr 1.eso
woman. NET s'ue stOoa tne pletsy
wicow WIN t.ae coveteu c1ekuO caan
ing 20 ner nana.
blngs tuined merry red ana caugns
wiidiy q =. nat q 49, ne suI'pos 81
y 70 &C. only 90 nnu tnat ne Vas I'D
ninG nimseE WIN y makinH a. cln'
harnesses DoW' ne Oesan " mop -.
perspir1ng race vloienlly.
Here's yer pfamn' az saio SAM
iaconicaiiy' pauslne "a iront n baneA
bines turned Iasclnated eyes on me
tning. wnicn seemed 60 MN % nave
greatly increased ~ size during ~
progress rom tne auctloneers stand.
And = Daoy's Nien cnalrs announced
anofner laughing voice - me speaker
craned forward and Inspected Bings
Oariicaoe.
There was general craning 81 necka
ana z little req rocker" exclaimed
announcer.
4 doiI-and 9 doll carriage.
q cnAd's COT
ootstoca. work Dasket, sewing CHAIR
Ia sewing machine. enumerated
Mnitiock. pushing nearer. Threat %.
piter' sings! what does this meanT
win mock severity.
oor D,nss .nahked my stars Mat
none - tnen kneW o. tnat crauie -
tne atuc. tne result o. former aDerra.
ZION. ne eazed neipiessiy around .
Ms ~. urnentors, tnen at nis narrlcada.
war On eartn nad lnduced MN 20 Did
- ~ tnat STUN
g nav Maoe nlmseH 70 ridicuious ID
ler eyes nea NOV stana 2 gnost q
SNOW now. Inc oniy tning LETT for MIN
!. - ~ 49,. as = 'i'aAe nis escape as Des'
~ .oulu'
i, nss slanceu Iur.lyeiy around nut
~ Venues WEE closeu ~ Laughing
.aces' I.e srsw uespeiate. Just e ne
was contemplating oasn Tor liberty
uIons w ''ne - ne ieast resistance
uae n,lacas u'at - nau Oeen s0 skep-
'icaa uooue nappeneu.
= Iractious morse, 2 woman's scream.
! scene e conI fusion. ana wnen bings
Sal's ~ .s aouna nis arms around tne
pls..y w'uow' VINO Was ciasping inc
pretty cnerup g ner Dreast ana SOD
ulns nysler'caly On ms snouider: On
bs.y -oear' uear niiiy: save me- save
mel
A. tnese INSPIRING words Bings cour.
age rose % the occasion. his bashful-
ness slipping from him IKE q cloak.
neIore tne astonisned eyes Of the whole
staring crowd ne bent ana kissed the
pretty widow and the dimpled cherub.
There. there, sweetheart" he said
soothingiy. the danger = past" Then,
turning to the gaping crowd. Bings
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-05-31

Now u the time to sow yo~r lawn.
A fresh shipment Of white clover ana
blue grass has just been received 1t
the Russell Grocery,
Lewiston evening teller. [volume] (Lewiston, Idaho) 1903-1911, 1906-05-31

Take your prescriptions 70 the Owl
Drug oters, prsseriptien specialists.