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



gence in listening* to statements of a few things the Southern Pacific 

 Company has done, or is doing, to solve these problems in which we all 

 are mutually interested. These are not offered in the light of defense, 

 but as improvements in which I believe you have a personal interest. 



The greatest freight transportation problem faced by the railroads is 

 the movement of California green fruit so deftly and quickly that in a 

 trip of two thousand or three thousand miles, or may be to London or 

 Paris, its color, its fine aroma, its delicate texture and flavor shall be 

 as perfect as when taken from the tree or vine in the sunshine of Cali- 

 fornia. Through heat and cold, over high mountains, across deserts 

 and wind-swept prairies, your fruit must be carried quickly in an 

 environment of even temperature. 



Three years ago we depended upon a refrigerator company of inde- 

 pendent Eastern ownership to supply our green-fruit shippers with 

 cars. The agreement with the Southern Pacific Company provided for 

 cars np to five thousand in number— a number now insufficient. Some 

 of the gentlemen here present will remember the discussion in relation 

 to the Southern Pacific furnishing its own cars. At that time I gave 

 $8,000,000 as the estimated minimum cost of seven thousand refrigerator 

 cars, and stated the fact that the freight charges the Southern Pacific 

 alone would receive from the movement of green fruit under ice would 

 not pay interest on cost, taxes and repair charges on such equipment. 



Later, conditions became such that it was necessary to give further 

 consideration to the car supply. And here I wish to point out to you 

 the benefit of associated ownerships of railroads— of consolidation, if 

 you will. That which the Southern Pacific alone could not afford as a 

 business project to undertake, because of the number of cars required 

 in relation to its individual haul, the lines associated under the presi- 

 dency of Mr. Harriman could and did undertake— all having an inter- 

 est to be served by such an enterprise. Thus was born the Pacific Fruit 

 Express. 



I have heard some criticism of the merging of interest of the Union 

 Pacific and Southern Pacific railways. Why, is not apparent; no one 

 can point out harm resulting. There has been no curtailment of serv- 

 ice, no raise in rates as a result. On the contrary, the evidence in 

 behalf of its benefit to California is overwhelming. 



At the time of this association of interests the Union Pacific had re- 

 constructed, Omaha to Ogden, a fine highway, but only half the way. 

 The Central Pacific needed reconstruction badly. The line was con- 

 gested. California products could not be moved with any degree of 

 certainty whatever; very well I remember studying the tissue sheets of 

 car movements to locate cars thirty days out and not yet into Ogden, 

 before and during reconstruction. With the present tonnage, actually 

 more than double that at the time of consolidation, the old Ogden 



