92 PROCEEDINGS OP THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



to Pittsburg — 5 days longer — and it made just $100 a day difference in 

 the sale of that fruit. There was $500 difference between the sale of 

 those two cars. This shows conclusively the importance of good time. 

 Of course, we put in a claim. What became of it I don't know, but I 

 think the railroad company will allow it. In the quantity of cars that 

 have been sent forth and that will be sent forth in the future you will 

 see that $100 a day difference on each car means millions of dollars to 

 the State of California, and therefore I can not repeat too often that this 

 is the paramount question. It has more bearing upon the future pros- 

 perity of the fruit-growing interests of California than any other, and 

 I feel optimistic. I believe the officials of the railroad company will 

 take this matter up and give it due consideration. I feel that if we urge 

 it in the proper spirit and the proper manner they will do this for us, 

 because it will be in their interest to do so. Mr. Anderson says that the 

 fruit shipments were very small in comparison with what they had 

 been. That is true. My crop of fruit was about twenty per cent of 

 what it was last year, my neighbors' about the same, and the loss pre- 

 vailed almost throughout the State, with the exception of a few localities. 

 That shows that if we had had a full crop this year, instead of having 

 7,000 and some odd cars, we would have had 10,000 or 12,000 cars, so it 

 makes this question of transportation more and more important. Next 

 season, if we have a full crop, and we have as good a grape crop as we 

 have had this year, you will see from 10,000 to 12,000 cars shipped, 

 instead of 7,000, and therefore it becomes important that this interest 

 should be given due consideration. What we want is a time-schedule 

 that we can depend upon, the same as a passenger train, or so that we 

 will not pile up our fruits and our shipments in different markets. 



MR. BERWICK. Mr. Chairman, I am very glad to see our Conven- 

 tion so harmonious in this matter of transportation. We have had 

 it sometimes rather acrimonious than harmonious, and I think we 

 owe a very big debt of thanks to Mr. Stephens for his persistent and 

 indefatigable opposition to the private refrigerator car lines, and I beg 

 to move that this Convention tender its thanks to Mr. Stephens for his 

 long, continuous, persistent warfare and final victory in the passing of 

 private car lines. I move a rising vote. 



The motion was duly seconded and was carried by a unanimous 

 rising vote, with applause. 



MR. STEPHENS. I wish to say that I feel greatly complimented, 

 far beyond anything I am entitled to. This vote of thanks is full com- 

 pensation for any services I may have rendered in this matter, and I 

 feel that another vote of thanks should be tendered, as suggested in our 

 report. I feel that when there is a disposition manifested on the part 

 of any person or any interest to do that which is right; if they listen to 

 reason or feel that it should be recognized and considered; therefore, 



