PROCEEDINGS OF NINETEENTH FRUIT GROWERS' CONVENTION. 11 



such other things as may be conducive to the best interests of the fresh fruit industry 

 of California ; and be it further 



Resolved, That the President of this convention be requested to appoint a committee 

 of five, which shall represent all the above classes of shippers, for the purpose of taking 

 steps to carry the above resolution into effect ; and be it further 



Resolved, That the California Fruit Exchange, as it proceeds in the work of organiza- 

 tion, be requested to make the importance of maintaining such association very promi- 

 nent, and to impress upon all growers the necessity of strongly supporting it in all ways ; 

 and be it further 



Resolved, That the members of this convention hereby pledge themselves to give such 

 association, when formed, our continuous and hearty support. 



In accordance with the above resolutions, which were unanimously 

 adopted by the convention, the committee appointed by the conven- 

 tion, consisting of Mr. Frank H. Buck of Vacaville, Mr. Mathews of 

 Newcastle, Mr. Salsbury of Porter Bros. & Co., Mr. David Reese of 

 Florin, Mr. Earl of the Earl Fruit Company, and myself, came together, 

 and, finding ourselves in perfect accord with the sentiment expressed 

 in the above resolutions, unanimously agreed that the proposed reforms 

 were most essential to the welfare of the fruit industry, and, therefore, 

 issued a call to all shippers, cooperative societies, and growers shipping 

 in carload lots, to meet in convention in the City of San Francisco, for 

 the purpose of organizing the Fruit Growers and Shippers' Associa- 

 tion, called for in the resolutions passed by this State body. 



The convention was held, and there was represented at this conven- 

 tion practically one hundred (100) per cent of the fresh-fruit shipping 

 interests. All present agreed, in common with the committee, that the 

 proposed reforms were imperative and should be carried out. Accord- 

 ingly, the association was formed, a board of directors elected, with full 

 power of establishing a bureau of information for the purpose of issu- 

 ing daily bulletins, with the further power of approving of consolidated 

 auction salesroom at each auction point, and with instructions to see 

 that such consolidated auction salesrooms were made free and open to 

 all buyers, 



The directors were able to successfully establish a bureau of informa- 

 tion, and to issue daily " bulletins " throughout the season, which have 

 been of incalculable value in largely preventing unnecessary gluts, and 

 enabling growers and shippers to more intelligently route their fruit 

 than was ever before possible. It is a source of great regret, however, 

 that, despite all the efforts of the directors, it has not been possible this 

 past season to maintain consolidated salesrooms in the cities of Chicago, 

 Boston, and New York. 



I deem it hardly necessary at this time to enter into all the circum- 

 stances which have made the desired consolidated salesrooms in the 

 above cities impossible during the past season — the causes and the cir- 

 cumstances which have prevented the wishes of the growers expressed, 

 not alone in the State Convention of last November, but also in the very 

 many mass meetings held in the various fruit districts during the past 

 season, from being carried out. The causes and the circumstances 

 which led to this have been thoroughly discussed, pro and con, through 

 the medium of the press, through the medium of oceans of circulars, and 

 in debate at the various mass meetings held for the purpose of discuss- 

 ing the matter. Suffice it to say that the continued existence of rival 

 salesrooms in the chief markets of the country largely perpetuated 

 during the season of 1895 the evils which so seriously contributed to the 

 deplorable results of the seasons of '93 and '94. California fresh fruit 



