PROCEEDINGS OF NINETEENTH FRUIT GROWERS' CONVENTION. 3 



convention will stay over Saturday I will be pleased to accompany the 

 members to Folsom, and see that proper arrangements are made for 

 visiting that place. 



The Governor then retired. 



ADDRESS OF WELCOME. 



President Cooper: The City of Sacramento and people generally 

 have designated Mr. George B. Katzenstein to deliver the opening 

 address. I have the honor to present to you Mr. Katzenstein, of Sacra- 

 mento. 



Mr. Katzenstein spoke as follows: 



Ladies and Gentlemen of the Convention: In behalf of the Chamber 

 of Commerce and the citizens of Sacramento, it is my pleasure to wel- 

 come you to this your capital city. The principal matter for discussion 

 at this convention is the growing, handling, and marketing of our fruits. 

 If you will take a map of the State of California and draw a line around 

 the City of Sacramento, taking in an extent of fifty miles, you will find 

 that this country, at the present time, produces and ships eastward more 

 than three quarters of the deciduous fruits that are raised in the State of 

 California. There is one class of fruit-growers who see only the dark side 

 and find fault with existing conditions. Those who will come after us 

 will undoubtedly profit by our present experiences, but there is nothing 

 dark nor threatening in the situation. The matter of cheap transportation 

 and how to cooperate will come before this convention, and I may say 

 that many things are dependent on the action of this body assembled at 

 this time. The eyes of the entire United States are upon this body, and 

 its actions will be noted. I believe that we will overcome all these diffi- 

 culties, and that there is a bright promise of the future before us. Many 

 strangers are now coming here from the East, and the best inducement 

 to them has been the culture of fruit to be seen along the railroads. 

 Many inquiries are now being made, and data should be placed at their 

 disposal to answer the questions they want to solve. Some of these 

 questions are: "Is there a profit in raising fresh fruit?" and "Can 

 lower rates be procured for dried fruits?" 



The Governor has very kindly referred to Sacramento as the " New 

 Sacramento," and has called your attention to the new era. Sacra- 

 mento has broad views and a bright future, and we are more than willing 

 to yield all these things, and you are to take part in the awakening that 

 is now going on. In behalf of this city, this city of perennial flowers, 

 we welcome you, and I hope that your deliberations and the work of the 

 convention may prove highly successful, not only to those who compose 

 it, but also to the commonwealth as a whole. 



VOTE OF THANKS. 



A vote of thanks was tendered to Mr. Katzenstein for his address. 



