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lower rates we will get them. Ten years ago I was in this convention 

 and the rates were $800 a carload, and we sent a committee to the rail- 

 road company and they asked what we wanted, and we convinced them 

 that we needed lower rates and must have them and they came down. 

 We can now assure them that we have got too much pressure on. They 

 have got to come down and they know it. They know that they are 

 not only ruining the people of this State and the interests of this State, 

 but they are building up the great Sound country up there. They are 

 building up the interests of that country against us, and they will come 

 down. I am in favor of a committee that will see those people and 

 make a proper statement to them, and I know they will come down. 



NICARAGUA CANAL. 



Mr. Edward Berwick introduced the following resolution relative to 

 the Nicaragua Canal, which was referred to the Committee on Resolu- 

 tions: 



Resolved, That this Convention of California Fruit Growers, assembled at Sacramento, 

 California, November 20, 1894, believes that the construction of the Nicaragua Canal 

 would give an immense impetus to American commerce and prove of lasting benefit, 

 not only to the horticulturists and agriculturists of the Pacific Coast, but to the entire 

 nation. On this account the convention respectfully begs Congress to grant urgency to 

 the consideration of such measures as shall insure immediate action, so that the canal 

 may be completed and opened for traffic with the least possible delay. 



O. F. SMURR ON FREIGHT RATES. 



Mr. C. F. Smurr, General Freight Agent of the Southern Pacific Com- 

 pany, said: 



Mr. President, Ladies and Gentlemen: I am here as a representative of 

 the Southern Pacific Company. This is a fruit growers' convention; it is 

 a fruit carrier. It therefore follows that the Southern Pacific Company 

 is as vitally interested in this question of the profitable marketing of your 

 fruits as you can possibly be. It has no desire to forego the carrying of 

 your goods. It has heretofore regarded the fruit industry of California 

 in the same light as the iron industry of Pennsylvania is regarded 

 by the people of that State. The fruit interest is to this State of quite 

 as much importance as the iron interest to the State of Pennsylvania. 

 It has been asserted on the floor that in former years the fruit grower of 

 California has made money, and has made plenty of it. I believe that 

 may be stated truly of each and every industry of the State of California. 

 The wool industry, the lumber industry, in fact every industry that is 

 located along the lines of the different railroads of this State, which are 

 something more than 4,000 miles in length, about 2,400 miles of which 

 are operated by the Southern Pacific Company, have suffered the same 

 depression. And in my capacity as agent of the road there is no single 

 day passes that I am not interviewed by persons representative of some 

 great interest of our State, urging as a reason for reducing railroad rates 

 the depression of the market, a condition from which all our trouble 

 springs. The markets for everything that we manufacture or produce 

 are suffering from the same depression, limiting demand, but the several 

 industries all come to the railroad for relief. I observe with pleasure 

 that you gentlemen think there are other directions in which you can 



