PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-THIRD FRUIT-GROWERS f CONVENTION. 103 



route would be with its grades and curves completely blockaded. But 

 the association of interests has resulted in the expenditure of almost 

 $40,000,000 in reconstructing' this main highway, Ogden to California. 

 It extended the interest of Eastern men of wealth and enterprise to the 

 Golden, Gate. Since that time the energy and money commanded by 

 Mr. Harriman and his associates have been given without stint to the 

 development of California commerce and California's transportation 

 facilities, whether the job be one of creating mammoth ships to carry 

 commerce to Asiatic shores, the capture of a runaway river that threat- 

 ened to engulf an area larger than many an Eastern state, the construc- 

 tion of a double-track water-level railway across a bay and through 

 five hills into San Francisco, or the creation in two years of 6,600 refrig- 

 erator cars, the best yet built, to carry your green fruit to its market 

 in the best possible condition. 



The cost of these cars exceeds considerably the estimate made for 

 7,000 cars three years ago, because these are much better cars— by far 

 the most expensive refrigerator cars yet constructed, with the largest 

 loading capacity. The average cost is $1,750, a total of $11,550,000 for 

 the 6,600 cars received to date. They were built by the Southern 

 Pacific, Union Pacific, Oregon Short Line, and the Oregon Railway and 

 Navigation companies to care for the fruit business originating on these 

 lines, ninety per cent of which grows in California. To insure greatest 

 efficiency in operation, a separate company, the Pacific Fruit Express, 

 was originated to look after the distribution, use, icing, etc., of these 

 cars. It has its own representatives, but all agents and departments of 

 the Southern Pacific give these cars the same consideration as if they 

 were directly operated. The cars were built specially for fruit trans- 

 portation. The inside dimensions are: lengtli 32 feet 11% inches, 

 width 8 feet 2% inches, height 7 feet 1 1-16 inches, outside length 41 

 feet 10 inches. I believe the shippers who have used them agree that 

 these cars give better service than any other without question. The 

 large inside dimensions make it possible to load the product low, giving 

 full efficiency in refrigeration. The Bohn patent ice tank, proved 

 to be the best made, is used. 



Icing is done carefully, and shippers are invited to visit the plants, to 

 inspect the methods, and to satisfy themselves they are receiving all they 

 pay for. 



During the season ending October 31, 1906, 5,930 cars of deciduous 

 green fruit were shipped East ; this season to November 1st, 7,048 cars. 

 This has been the banner year in the green-fruit business. California 

 has received more money net than during any previous season. Many 

 cars of fruit brought over $2,000 each, while cherries in a number of 

 cases ranged from $3,000 to $5,000 per car. The total northern Cali- 

 fornia shipments of vegetables, green deciduous and citrus fruits, during 



