PROCEEDINGS OF THIRTY-SIXTH FRUIT-GROWERS' CONVENTION. 113 



entertain doubts as to their correctness : should such be the case, we most respect- 

 fully solicit that you make a thorough and critical investigation for the purpose of 

 showing us wherein we have erred. We believe if you will do this you will find 

 that, in a general sense, our statements are correct. 



Of course, in some cases the cost of growing and marketing a car load may be 

 less, but where there is one such case, there are likely to be two that will cost more. 



Last season, from which our expense figures were compiled, was probably the 

 most favorable for doing such work at a minimum cost that we ever had. Seasons 

 in which we have rain early in September, and two or three more rains before the 

 close of the season, the cost of putting up a pack is much more expensive than is 

 shown to be by the figures given. 



In such seasons in the past the same work has cost $291 per car, or $133 more 

 than our figures show. This is a statement of cold, unexaggerated facts, and of a 

 nature to demand your most serious consideration. 



Money paid out for permanent improvements is not included in the figures above 

 given. 



We believe that if your company will present to its connecting lines, in a manner 

 its power and influence will permit it to do. it will have but little trouble in con- 

 vincing them that the request of the deciduous growers and shippers is a just one. 



We have the utmost confidence in the ability of your company and its manage- 

 ment to bring about an adjustment of rates that will give a fair and just distribu- 

 tion between all interests in common of the profits made on deciduous fruit shipments 

 from the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys. 



Hoping for the best, we are 



Respectfully yours. 



R. D. Stephens, Chairman, 

 M. E. Angier, 

 C. M. Hartley, 



Fruit Growers' Committee. 



Sacramento. Cal., November 9, 1909. 

 Mr. H. A. Jones, Freight Traffic Jlgr. S. P. Co., San Francisco, Cal 



Dear Sir : We submit to you and ask that you give careful consideration to the 

 following statement, which is made up from the California Fruit Distributors' reports 

 of the -sale of California deciduous fruit — mostly table grapes — in the following 

 markets. 



This statement includes the gross sale of all cars reported by the distributors 

 and should be accepted as authentic and correct. The sales were made in the follow- 

 ing markets : 



New York. Chicago, Boston, Philadelphia. Pittsburg, Minneapolis. Indianapolis. 

 Baltimore, St. Paul, St. Louis. Cincinnati, Cleveland, and Buffalo. 



September 23d 40 cars grossed $32,489, averaged $S12 00 



September 24th 43 tars grossed 32.283, averaged 774 00 



September 27th 70 cars grossed 02,530. averaged 84!) 00 



September 2Sth 34 cars grossed 29,3S2, averaged 804 00 



September 29th 58 cars grossed 48,050, averaged 824 00 



September 30th 35 cars grossed 28.229. averaged 800 00 



October 1st 31 cars grossed 27,004, averaged 873 00 



October 4th 62 cars grossed 55,142, averaged 889 00 



379 $315,175 $831 59 



Total cars, 379 : average loss per car to grower, $108.41 $03,827 00 



Revenue to railroads from 379 cars $103,000 00 



During the time the 379 cars above mentioned were shipped there were 713 other 

 cars shipped, making a total of 1,092 cars in eight days. 



It is reasonable to assume that the ratio of profit and loss made on the shipment 

 and sale of the 379 cars above given would give a very close estimate of the result 

 of the shipment and sale of the 713 other cars and when applied will show the 



following results : 



Revenue to railroads : 



1,092 cars— 26,208,000 lbs $469,000 00 



Loss to growers : 



1,092 cars — average loss per car to growers, $168.41 $183,000 00 



In other words. S183,000 of the growers' principal, the capital they have invested, 

 to produce the 1.092 cars of fruit, was absorbed in making up the $469,000 income 

 to the railroads, and all in eight days. 



8 — FGC 



