PROCEEDINGS OF TWENTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 35 



are attended with so much prosperity at home, is the fact that we have 

 already extended our trade abroad and have secured so large a place 

 in the markets of the world. The time is auspicious for continuing and 

 completing the conquest. It must go on without delay and must be 

 thorough and permanent. To that end every step must be wise, suc- 

 cessful, unretreating, and must command and retain the confidence and 

 approbation of the American people. We must injure no existing 

 American industry. We respectfully request Congress, therefore, to col- 

 lect without delay, from every available source, full and exact informa- 

 tion as to the efi'ect of all proposed treaties upon industries now 

 successfully established, so that none may be sacrified, and in that way 

 whatever may be accomplished shall be both beneficial and enduring." 



For some years past it has been urged and advocated that a permanent 

 California Bureau at Washington, D. C, be established, so that a direct 

 representative of this State would be in continual touch with the differ- 

 ent National departments, particularly during the interim between one 

 session of Congress and the other. Such a representative could not only 

 insist that the interests of California should be protected in these 

 reciprocity treaties, by asking for lower rates on such of our products 

 and manufactures as could be benefited by them, but at the same time 

 protect California's interests by seeing that the tariff into this country 

 is not reduced on such articles on which low tariffs would tend to injure 

 the sale thereof. Such a representative would gather valuable statistics 

 and be prepared at all times with the necessary arguments to show our 

 requirements on both sides of the question. 



At a recent meeting of the Chamber of Commerce, m this city, Mr. 

 Wm. M. Bunker was chosen as special representative to permanently 

 represent the interests of the chamber at Washington. No doubt he will 

 look after reciprocity matters, questions of tariffs, interstate commerce, 

 and other subjects of legislation, so far as they affect the interests of 

 this State. 



Not the least feature in the distribution of California canned and 

 dried fruits is transportation facilities, and the future holds out brilliant 

 promise in this regard. New lines of steamships, the promise of the 

 Nicaragua Canal, and new lines of railroads, mean new territory to be 

 opened up. At the present time it is hard to say what effect the amal- 

 gamation of the different lines of railroads may have on the future of 

 this State's products. Certainly such amalgamation ought to result in 

 better facilities for moving the products to their markets, and it would 

 almost seem that unity of interest should result in the manufacturer 

 and producer seeking new markets, and the transportation companies 

 opening up new and vast sections to the traders of this Coast. 



In this regard, the interests of shippers and transportation com- 

 panies are identical. The transportation companies should name such 



