70 PROCEEDINGS OF NINETEENTH FRUIT GROWERS' CONVENTION. 



rains. There were some packers who put up goods that ought not to 

 have been put up, because the goods were damp. They were not the 

 kind of raisins to put into boxes and send East. There is another part 

 of the packing that needs reformation, and that is, to secure proper 

 grading. Possibly it has been before this convention, but there is a. 

 general ignorance of what a grade is, and it is not known in an intelli- 

 gent way. A number of the largest packers in Fresno County were 

 discussing this matter, and it appeared that there were two grades of 

 clusters, four grades of layers, and four grades of loose and of seedless 

 in the early part of the business. Later there was but one and not over 

 two grades of clusters, two of layers, and two grades of loose. I chal- 

 lenge any of the commission packers to point out what these grades are, 

 and I have no hesitancy in saying it. The question of grading is reached 

 by means of the sales, but still it is a matter of judgment with the 

 packer. 



REPORT OF COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION. 



Mr. Weinstock: Growers throughout the State were advised of the 

 action of the committee and the railroad authorities, and the outcome 

 of our efforts, as all those proceedings were published in the press at 

 various times. It may be well to state that the Transportation Com- 

 mittee invited the growers throughout the State to submit whatever 

 grievances they might have on the question of transportation. A num- 

 ber of growers did so, and when all the grievances were filed, we found 

 that we would have to ask the railroad company to make the following 

 concessions : 



First — To guarantee a five-day service in ventilated cars to Chicago. 



Second — To secure a reduction of at least $50 per car in refrigerator charges. 



Third — To immediately reduce the local charges on fresh fruits ; that is, from interior 

 points to points on the trunk line. 



Fourth — To make a temporary reduction on raisin grapes, in order to, in some way, 

 modify the distress of the raisin-growers. 



The committee met in conference with the railroad authorities, at 

 which were present H. E. Huntington, the late Mr. Towne, Mr. Smurr, 

 Mr. Stubbs, and Mr. Fillmore; I think that is all. The petition of the 

 committee was read and thoroughly discussed. The committee was 

 treated with the utmost courtesy, and were told that the matter would 

 be considered, and, in due time, an answer would be given. In a few 

 weeks, the railroad company informed us that they could not make a 

 concession on their several roads; that they had secured a reduction in 

 refrigerator charges of from $25 to $40 a car, and that they were at that 

 time revising their local rates, with the view of seeing whether it were 

 possible to grant a reduction in local charges, and, therefore, could not 

 comply with the request to grant a temporary concession on raisin 

 grapes. Some two weeks later there was a reduction of about 40 per 

 cent in local charges, and, meanwhile, it had been announced that there 

 was a reduction of from $25 to $40 a car in refrigerator charges. 



I do not think that the Committee on Transportation is entitled to 

 any credit for the reduction in refrigerator charges. I think the reduc- 

 tion in refrigerator charges was the outcome of a new company entering 

 the field, which, in order to secure business, made a lower rate, and the 



