TWENTY-NINTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



221 



The sudden death of Mr. B. X. Rowley, which occurred in his office 

 at San Francisco on the 20th of November, was a shock to the fruit- 

 growers of California and an irreparable loss to our committee. Mr. 

 Rowley has acted as secretary of the committee during the past year, 

 and has been particularly active in furthering the work. His office has 

 always been at the disposal of the committee, and through the columns 

 of his paper, "The California Fruit-Grower," he kept the fruit-growers 

 of the State informed of the progress of our efforts to secure help from 

 the Eastern States. 



In our endeavor to secure sufficient help from the Eastern States to 

 harvest our crops, the committee has obtained a great deal of informa- 

 tion that will be available in any further campaigns that may be 

 planned for this purpose. 



The committee has effected permanent organization for the purpose 

 of continuing the work if the fruit-growers of the State believe the 

 necessity still exists of bringing more people here to assist in harvest- 

 ing the crops. 



All of which is respectfully submitted for your consideration. 



H. P. Stabler, Chairman. 



GENERAL CHIPMAN. Mr. Chairman, I desire to ask the gentle- 

 man a question or two in regard to his report. I want to know whether 

 any of those nine hundred people have remained in this State, or 

 whether they have returned to their homes in the East; whether they 

 were married, and what became of them? 



MR. STABLER. I can answer in a general way. They were not 

 all men. There were quite a number of families, and quite a number 

 of them have returned East. They take advantage of the low rates on 

 the railroads to come to California, during the fruit season earning 

 enough money to return home; but our records show that there are 

 still a great many of these people remaining in the State and in per- 

 manent positions in California. 



MR. CHAIRMAN. I would like to inquire if this committee is to be 

 retained in the employ of the Convention, or is it necessary to make a 

 motion to that effect? 



MR. STABLER. Well, I should say that this committee as organ- 

 ized is not a permanent body, and that if, in the judgment of this Con- 

 vention, a necessity still exists for continuing this line of work, the 

 committee will probably continue it. I would like an expression from 

 this Convention as to whether the necessity still exists. 



On motion of Mr. Johnston, seconded by Mr. Stephens, the Conven- 

 tion requested the committee to continue its work. 



At this time a recess was taken until 2 o'clock p. m. 



