SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CITRUS EXCHANGES. 513 



is nominal. It is probable that the district Exclianges have 

 also incorporated. 



The Exchanges, however, did not find it all plain sailing. 

 There were dissensions among themselves. The fruit of some 

 localities was better than that of others, or at least better 

 known, or believed to be better, and at any rate was in most 

 demand. It was found that at a uniform price the fruit from 

 these localities would be taken first, leaving that of other local- 

 ities largely in the orchards, until the better or the better 

 known products had been disposed of. The favored districts 

 thereupon strenuously objected to the prorating of orders, 

 according to the plan, stoutly insisting that they were entitled 

 to the benefit of the better reputation of their fruit. The east- 

 ern buyers, also, insisted that when their orders specified the. 

 fruit of any locality, they must be supplied with the fruit of 

 that locality, and no other. The less-favored districts, on the 

 other hand, insisted with equal vigor that they could not be 

 expected to engage in an enterprise for the general good whose 

 result, to them, should be the leaving a large share of their 

 fruit on their hands, at least until tlie close of the season. The 

 result was a great amount of internal friction, and a proba- 

 bility, ill 1896, that the Central Exchange would be discon- 

 tinued, and that the local Exchanges would compete freely 

 among themselves. This was finally prevented, by a close vote 

 in some of the Exchanges, with the result, however, that a 

 niwnber of independent local Exchanges were organized and 

 are still maintained. These usually sell their fruit loaded on 

 the cars at home. Those in the best-known localities sell 

 mostly upon telegraphic orders from eastern buyers, tlie others 

 usually selling to local buyers. The main body, known as the 

 "Southern California Fruit Exchanges," maintains a corps of 

 agents in the east who supervise the business there, directing 

 the cars, when on the way, to the points where the best demand 

 exists, and arranging for sale, either by auction or through 

 brokers, upon arrival. The sales of these Exchanges, includ- 

 ing the independent societies, for the past year have been 

 $2,067,902, after deducting freights paid, and as to some por- 

 tion at least, all expenses of every kind. 

 38 



