The San Francisco call., 1909-12-08
NEED OF GOOD ROADS
IS URGED BY GILLETT
Governor Addresses Convention of State Fruit
Growers on Marketing Crops
TSpecial Dispatch 10 The Call

WATSONvILLE, Dec. 7.-Governor
James n. Gillett impressed on the fruit
growers this morning, at the opening
of their state convention, the necessity
of having good roads to assist them
in handling of their products economi-
cally.
j. W. Jeffreys, state commissioner of
horticulture. called the delegates to
order in the Christian church, and p. K.
Waters, mayor of watsonville. ex-
tended a cordial welcome to the
visitors.
Fighting the pests. the formation of
associations to market the fruit and
good and cheap transportation were
the three leading questions, said the
governor in opening his remarks.
You've got to handle your product
carefully" said he. You've got to con-
troll the market, you've got to work
with each other and not one against
another. that seems TO be the modern
way of doing business"
NEED OF GOOD ROADS.
Governor Gillett could not overlook
the opportunity of calling the attention
of the delegates to the necessity of
having good roads.
There is another question. and they
say il is a sort of hobby of mine, the
construction of system of good
smooth highways over which you can
transport your freight and get IT to
market in good condition" continued
the governor. IF there is a state any
where in the union where the people
in the rural districts can be so much
benefited by good roads 1t is Cali
fornia.
Our fruit is easily injured If we
have it injured in any particular. that
is used as an excuse to- cut down the
price of it, but if you can draw two
tons where you now are drawing one
ton with the same motive power. If you
can make four miles where you now
are making two. if you can get your
freight to the places where it is TO be
packed or whence il is to be shipped
in good condition, free from dust and
not jammed or bruised. that will save
thousands of dollars annually to the
people of this state engaged in raising
fruit"
CANAL PROMISES BENEFIT.
Governor Ginett called attention to
the fact that the completion of the
Panama canal would tend to solve the
problem of transporting the fruit of the
state and he closed with the request
that all possible encoura cement be lent
10 the viticultural and the horticul-
tural colleges of the state.
State Commissioner Jeffreys discussed
the growth of the fruit industry in
California and referred to the fact that
the orchardists- were prone TO allow
large abuses to fasten themselves upon
the business without attempting to
hx- off
PROBLEMS FOR FRUIT GROWERS
In looking over the work attempted
by the Sacramento valley conferences
one is astonished 10 see how the dele
gates avoided the speculative and cul-
tural problems connected with fruit
growing said Jeffery.
4 know that state wide convention
like this must handle more general
questions than the redemption of a
market lost through wormy peaches.
The interests of every commercial
fruit producer in the state are involved
in the farm labor problem. We should
promote the safeguarding of our trees
from the further invasion of insect
pests and plant diseases by the
thorough enforcement of the horti-
cultural laws. and demand equitable
freight rates on fruit and prompt, ef-
7cient transportation, and not the least
of the questions that should be discussed
is A general propaganda against the
promotion of land schemes all over
the state by syndicated orchards and
vineyards planted for the sole pur-
pose of selling the land"
PLEA FOR PARCELS POST
Edward Berwick of Carmel garden,
Monterey county, president of the
Postal Progress league of California
spoke of the great benefit that would
accrue TO the fruit growers by the
institution of an up to date system
of parcels post, instanced the ship
ping of butter in Japan, oysters in
Great Britain, and all kinds OF perish
able products at such rates as per-
mitted direct trade between producer
and consumer to the mutual advantage
OF both.
'.'Only very clamorous, persistent,
and united demand from the people
could overcome the inertia and apathy
of a congress dominated by machine
regulated by the transportation COM
panies." said Berwick
At the opening of the afternoon ses-
sion, Commissioner Jeffery announced
the following appointments: c. II.
Rodgers and +. J. Wickson, vice-presi-
dents: G. P. Rixford and Roy K Bishop.
committee on presidents address;
George p. Kellogg. A. n. Judd and ].
P Dargitz, committee on resolutions.
A paper by William NJ. Holmes of
Medford, Oregon on Southern Oregon