100 PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS ' CONVENTION. 



151 hours, which schedule was almost entirely maintained during the 

 season. 



RATES. 



The question of rates is a most important one, and the distributors 

 have labored constantly to help the growers of California secure such 

 concessions as would put the industry on a safe and paying basis. At 

 the last Fruit Growers' Convention a transportation committee was 

 appointed to consider this matter, and I want to heartily commend the 

 splendid work it has done. The committee has been untiring in its 

 efforts, and has collected an array of statistics which are a revelation. 



We had hoped to be an effective agent in aiding the growers obtain 

 the desired relief, and to that end we sent a representative from Cali- 

 fornia to attend the recent meeting of the Transcontinental Traffic- 

 Association at Chicago to urge upon the representatives of the trans- 

 portation lines at that meeting the absolute necessity of granting us 

 the so-called "postage-stamp" rate of $1.15 per 100 to all points in 

 the East. Owing to unexpected opposition in some quarters, we were 

 unable to obtain what we asked for, although we must give credit to the 

 Southern Pacific and the Santa Fe representatives for what we believe 

 to be a sincere wish to secure for us the desired rate. A considerable 

 concession,, however, was obtained, as can be seen by comparing the old 

 rate with the new one that has been promised : 



New York, Boston, Philadelphia, Baltimore, old rate, $1.45 ; new 

 rate, $1.40; and on peaches and grapes, old rate, $1.45; new rate, $1.25. 



Buffalo, Pittsburg, Cleveland, old rate, $1.35; new, $1.30; peaches 

 and grapes, old rate, $1.35 ; new, $1.25. 



Detroit, Cincinnati, Indianapolis, old rate, $1.25 ; new, $1.20 ; peaches 

 and grapes, old rate, $1.25; new rate. $1.20. 



Chicago, St. Louis, Minneapolis, St. Paul, $1.15. No change. 



It is a great disappointment that our just demand was not granted, 

 but as the rate asked for is absolutely essential, we will continue our 

 efforts, and that ultimate success will be achieved we do not doubt. 

 Even as it is, however, had the present crop been handled on the 

 reduced rate, a saving of over $200,000 would have been made, which 

 sum put into circulation among the growers would have tended to 

 alleviate some of the heartaches. 



In making a comparison of the shipments of this season and last it 

 is to be seen that the gain of nearly 2,400 car loads was made entirely 

 in peaches (gain 620 cars) and grapes (gain 2,059 cars), other varie- 

 ties, with the exception of cherries, showing a decrease. Heavy ship- 

 ments of peaches were made from the San Joaquin Valley, where the 

 crop was fine, more than overcoming the considerable shortage in ship- 

 ments of this variety from Placer and other sections, and creating the 

 excess of 620 cars. A considerable part of the increased grape ship- 

 ments came from the Lodi district, where the acreage of table grapes 

 is very extensive, but all parts of the State contributed in proportion. 

 In the Lodi district a larger percentage of the output was handled by 

 shippers outside of the California Fruit Distributors than ever before, 

 and the San Joaquin Valley was an inviting field, not only for these 

 firms, but for several new ones who tried their hands at the game, and 

 it is a significant fact which may or may not be related to this condi- 



