PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS* CONVENTION. 



85 



Some think that, as the days grow shorter and the nights longer and cooler, it is not 

 important to see that the ice tanks are kept/wZZ and that fast time be made in the carry- 

 ing of our fruit shipments. 



Such ideas are erroneous, for the reason that fruit does not differ from other earthly 

 things in its power of endurance, to which there is a limit. Fruit, when fully matured, 

 soon begins to decay and becomes worthless, unless care and attention are given to 

 prevent such a result. 



Since the elimination of the private refrigerator car lines from the transportation 

 service, the time consumed in the transit of our fruit shipments becomes the most 

 important factor, and should be given paramount consideration, for upon improved, 

 uniform and reliable time-schedule fruit-train service depends the development of Cali- 

 fornia's great horticultural resources, which are yet, comparatively speaking, in 

 embryo. 



Additional facilities must be given by the transportation companies, for when the 

 new acreage, which is very large, comes into bearing, and the many more acres that we 

 are inviting and urging people to come to California to plant to fruit, also come into 

 bearing, better time must be made in the transportation of our fruit products, or heavy 

 loss will inevitably come to many growers. 



What the fruit-growers desire is that the agreement entered into between them and 

 the Southern Pacific Company on May 21, 1901, be put into effect, which was as follows: 



Southern Pacific Company, 



San Francisco, Cal., May 21, 1901. 



Mr. R. D. Stephens, 



Chairman Transportation Committee, 

 Fruit Growers and Shippers, 

 Sacramento, Cal. 



Dear Sir: — 



deciduous fruit traffic. 



Referring to the memorial from the fruit-growers of California to the transportation 

 companies through committee of fruit-growers, of which you are the chairman, and copy 

 of which was duly furnished this office. 



I beg to say that we have had extended correspondence with our connections, looking 

 to a time-schedule on deciduous fruit from northern California, during the season now 

 opening, that would be as far as feasible in line with the wishes of the fruit-growers. 



As expressed to you when I had the pleasure of appearing before the Convention at 

 its session in this city December last, it is the desire of this company to do its share in 

 fostering the fruit industry, and lend it our influence in giving it satisfactory transpor- 

 tation. 



Am now able to say to you accordingly that it is the intention of this company to 

 run trainloads of fresh fruit from Sacramento to Ogden within 60 hours, provided, if 

 there is but one train, it be ready for departure from Sacramento not later than 12 

 o'clock midnight ; if two or three trainloads, it will be necessary that the first and second 

 be ready to go out at earlier hours, say at 10 and 11, respectively. 



The Union Pacific and its connections have authorized us to say that their time from 

 Ogden to Chicago will approximate 84 hours for shipments thus delivered them in train- 

 load lots, of which 24 hours will be consumed from Council Bluffs to Chicago. 



You will observe that this will bring the fruit into Chicago in the early morning 

 hours, as a shipment, for example, which leaves Sacramento on Monday midnight would 

 arrive in Chicago on the morning of the following Monday— this, too, bearing in mind 

 the two hours' difference in time owing to meridian. 



If, when shipments begin in quantity so as to make up trainloads, shippers will so 

 arrange their forwardings as to give the whole trainload to one connection through to 

 Chicago, I believe you will find results justify the effort. This can be done without giving 

 one line an undue proportion of the business, by alternating the lines over which the 

 trains would move; but all notify us that unless they can get the fruit in trainloads, 

 they can not make the schedule called for. It will make no difference in our time up to 

 Ogden whether the fruit is there delivered to the Union Pacific or to the Rio Grande 

 Western. 



