Los Angeles herald., 1907-04-10
FRUIT GROWERS
ENJOY PROFITS
TRADE REVIEW SHOWS ERA OF
PROSPERITY
Decreased by Car Short
age, but Prices Have Been High.
Aprioots and Peaches DAM
aged by Storm

The first three months Of the current
year have been months Of great pros
perity throughout the whole country,
the volume Of business showing n de-
cided increase over the first quarter of
1906. In our immediate district reports
from all sections tell of prosperity and
progress in every line of endeavor,
more factories established, more mining
camps opening. more orchards planted.
Nurserymen report unusual demand for
citrus and walnut stock. 1t has been a
record breaking year for planting OF
fruit trees.
The heavy and constant rains have
retarded farming operations. 1t is esti-
mated only half the usual acreage will
be put into late cereals. Sugar beet
planting has been curtailed, but un-
used beet land will probably be planted
to beans and corn. The wet winter has
caused serious damage to apricot or
chards and Inconvenience shippers, but
has filled the resources of our water
supplies, storing up surplus for time CT
need. A wet season in the long run has
always proved most advantageous to
Southern California.
The citrus crop this season is proving
a good moneymaker and March market
conditions were never better. Ship
lltlllS lldNG UGtIl 10 SOIIle 6N-
tent by washouts and car shortage, but
this fact seems to have worked to bene-
fit the growers. To April about 1900
cars less have gone forward than last
year to same date, but this condition
has been offset by absence of market
gluts and resulting high auction prices.
Prices have ranged high all the time,
reaching $420 as highest point. IIavels
are bringing 81, orchard sun f. o. b.
orders are plentiful and held at $2.35 to
$3.50 for extra fancy. Lemons are in
good demand, bringing fine prices
quoted 1925 f. o. b., few going to auc.
ton.
Short Sugar Campaign
Prospects are that sugar campaign
will be short one at Oxnard, as less
than one-thlrd usual acreage has been
put into beets in that district. The loss
to deciduous fruit crop by recent storms
cannot be estimated with any degree
of certainty, but there is scarcely a
doubt that apricots suffered severely,
and in some districts the crop is prac-
tically ruined. Peaches were damaged
to some extent, but fair crop is
looked for. Prospects for other fruit
crops are good. Bean market has lost
its apathy by reason of flooding of the
river growing districts, and prices for
all varieties except limas have ad-
vanced sharply and are firm at higher
quotations.
Business is not being forced in cured
fruit market either by buyer or seller.
The few holders of apricots are not
offering spot goods at any price
Peaches are not so firm, being quoted
down to 10 cents for choice. Supplies
Of spot raisins on the coast are nearly
exhausted, seeded have advanced to
101s cents and options are being taken
for new crop OF Az cents.
The output of olives, both green and
ripe, also oil will be smaller than for
several seasons. Prices have advanced.
Petroleum industry continues active,
the production reaching 10000 barrels
daily. The demand is growing and the
price of oil increasing. Locally business
in all lines keeps up good par, with
every assurance of present activity be-
ing maintained we'll into the summer.
There is plenty of money, but COM
mercial demands are strong and rates
are trifle higher for real estate trans
actions. Bank clearings for March
show gain of nearly three millions
over same month last year. and postal
receipts show a gain of 20 per cent for
same month. Building permits were
issued to value of $1,273.156 which was
considerably below last years March
record. This is due to increased cost OIL
building materials.
Failures for the month, II: liabilities
$2S 900; assets, $4,000 Same month last
year, % failures; liabilities, $780, as
sets, SAT 900.