Los Angeles herald. [microfilm reel] (Los Angeles [Calif.]) 1900-1911, 1910-03-25
LEEDS THWARTS
PROFIT PROBERS
COMMERCE COMMISSION FAILS
TO GET AT FACTS
PRoUTY ASKS WITNESS TO REAP.
PEAR WITH DATA
Railroad President, Whose Presence Is
Wanted at Citrus Fruit Growers
Hearing, Shifts RESPONSE
blIity to Manager


that when the railroad company inn
poses a rate of $115 on lemons there
is at present very little profit in the
business for the man who grows them.
The railroads get the profits. And in
addition to this the citrus fruit grower
is compelled to pay an arbitrary
charge of $50 a car for preceding and
icing, even where he proceeds and ices
the car himself.
Ripley Dodges
Attorney A. T. Call, representing the
citrus fruit growers, tried to get Prosi-
dent Ripley of the Santa Fe, or some
other managing traffic official, to be
present at the hearing. He was in
formed by T. J. Norton of the Santa
Fe that General Manager Wells would
be present but denied that Mr.. Wells
had anything to do with the fixing of
rates.
"Mr. Chambers" he said. "can an
swer all questions relative to rates"
Does Mr. Chambers fix the rates?"
asked Mr.. Call.
"He can give information about
Them" said Mr.. Norton, but as he
spoke Mr.. Chambers was nOdding his
head in way that affirmed he had
authority to regulate the rates
IT thought So" Mr.. Call muttered'
smiling.
ATTORNEYS for the citrus fruit growers
then sought to have introduced at the
hearing the minutes Of the transconti-
mental freight bureau. but were in
formed by Attorney Durbrow that the
concern keeps no minutes This caused
much establishment, but Attorney Dur
brow insisted no minutes were kept.
"When did you cease to keep them?'
asked Mr.. Call.
forward, and looking curiously at MT.
Durbrow, asked:
'Do you admit that the rate was ad-
vanced by agreement"
Growers Have Rights
mo" said Mr.. DurbrOw. but added,
"Of course a rate cannot he advanced
without some consultation among the
carriers"
This was regarded as an important
point for the fruit growers.
When S. B. Hampton, manager Of the
Corona Lemon company, resumed the
stand yesterday he gave further de-
tails as to revelations which his testi-
monv contained Wednesday. He re-
heated that It costs S16394 an acre to
maintain the average lemon grove one
year, and that the average lemon yield
is ninety-seven boxes a year.
IleSe nguTeSss ne Stilu uO llON llloAuAO
the lemons shipped in mixed cars, or
cars containing oranges also, such as
are shipped to the smaller markets.
Some growers, he said, expend Is much
as S22S an acre to maintain their lemon
groves one year.
The object in bringing out his point,
said Mr. Call. was to show that a year
of neglect will throw the industry back
three years. And a general serious
neglect Of the industry is said to be
threatened if the new rate of $1.15 IS
enforced by the railroads.
Mr.. Hampton stated that there are
about 10000 acres Of bearing lemon
groves in California Government re-
ports indicate that the yield per acre
is from 300 to coo boxes. Mr.. Hampton
stated that California ships out every
year from 5000 to 60O0 carloads Of
lemons
A lemon grove costs more than an
orange grove after it is five years old,
he said, but previous to this there is
no difference between the two in cost
of maintenance. The quality of first
grade lemons, he said. is about the
same now as ten years ago. He did
not know the length Of life OF a lemon
tree, but said he knew of three trees