Complimentary Banquet to Luther Butbank 



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fulfillment of Mr. Greeley's prophecy, and if they do not en- 

 tirely account for it, they show the wisdom displayed by 

 Mr. Burbank in having become a Californian. 



Prior to the opening of communication by rail with the 

 East the industry had no motive for expansion. So late as 

 in 1880 we exported of fruit but 546 carloads of ten tons 

 each. But in 1890 ten years later we sent out 16,194 

 carloads. In a report which I made to the California State 

 Board of Trade for that year it was shown that the value 

 of the fruit crop, sent out of the State by rail, exceeded that 

 of wheat and flour exports by over half a million dollars. 



This was a startling revelation to the wheat growers of 

 the State but the figures could not be disputed. Great ac- 

 tivity in tree and vine planting followed and, with greater 

 or less persistency, has been continued, and, to-day, fruit 

 growing is the dominant industry related to the soil. 



Sixteen thousand carloads seemed an enormous output, 

 and by many it was thought we had reached the limit of 

 eastern consumption. But mark what has followed. In 

 1904 our shipments out of the State, by rail and by sea, 

 of the products of the orchards, gardens and vineyards, 

 reached the enormous proportions of over 92,000 carloads 

 of ten tons each. Let me ask you to carry home with you 

 the concrete facts that 76,652 carloads were fruit in various 

 forms; 10,148 carloads were wine and brandy, and 5,251 

 carloads were vegetables. 



You who are engaged in other State industries 

 and have had trouble to procure cars to handle 

 your products, will understand the reason for it. 

 You will understand, too, why the necessity for 

 moving the rapidly developing business of California 



