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



115 



October 1st ; one ear brought $1.233.00 ; two ears $1,144.00 ; three cars 

 $1,058, and fi4 cars average loss to grower $206.38, making a total loss 

 cf $3,936.00. The whole list is gone through in that manner. 



I wish to state in addition that the Sacramento Valley Development 

 Association, those men referred to as legitimate actors — that is, honor- 

 able in their actions to build up the Sacramento Valley — gave an 

 unqualified endorsement to our committee, in as strong terms as an 

 endorsement can be made, because they saw and they see now that some 

 relief in some manner must come to this, the greatest of all interests in 

 the State of California, to the producers, or else you can not build up 

 this State, and particularly the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, 

 upon a permanent and solid basis. Now, Mr. Chairman, if you will read 

 the committee's letter addressed to Mr. MeKevitt and Mr Walker, you 

 will see how they stand. 



Sacramento, November 20, 1909. 

 Mr. F. B. MeKevitt, Gen. Mgr. California Fruit Distributors, Sacramento, Cal. 



Dear Sir : Realizing that in the position you occupy, that of General Manager of 

 the California Fruit Distributors, you have opportunities of gathering information 

 as to the actual results that came from the sales in the Eastern markets of our 

 deciduous fruit shipments during the present season, we, the undersigned members 

 of the Fruit Growers' Committee on Freight Kates, appointed by the fruit growers 

 of the State at their last State Convention, 190S, respectfully submit the following- 

 questions, and ask that you give to them your careful consideration, and if after 

 so doing, in your judgment, they have sufficient merit and bearing upon the future 

 development and prosperity of California's greatest and most valuable of all its 

 many resources, viz., its horticultural interests, you will give us the benefit of your 

 knowledge as to the facts involved in the questions, you will greatly oblige the 

 members of our committee. 



If we are wrong in any of our contentions, do not hesitate to say so. All we want 

 is the truth. In answering the questions should you see proper to do so, we wish 

 you to take into consideration the fact that there has been 15.00T> car loads of 

 deciduous fruit shipped to date this season, against 7,416 in 1907, or, an increase 

 of over 100 per cent in two years. 



In 1900 there were 2,050 ears of table grapes shipped against 5,751 cars to 

 date this season, or. an increase of over ISO per cent in three years, with the 

 probabilities of a proportionate increase for several years to come, providing the 

 interest can be placed on a paying basis from a grower's standpoint ; otherwise a 

 large percentage of the present acreage must be uprooted. 



Do you believe that the request of the deciduous fruit growers of the State, and 

 more particularly those of the Sacramento and San Joaquin valleys, which was 

 made and presented to our initial railroads on the 30th day of January last, to 

 have their shipments to Eastern markets given the same transportation rates as 

 were then being given to the orange growers from south of the Tehachapi on their 

 shipments to the same destination, to be just and equitable to all legitimate interests 

 involved ? 



Do you believe from the experience and the results obtained from the sales of 

 our fruit in Eastern markets, taking into consideration the great increase made in 

 shipments that the relief prayed for by the deciduous growers would, if granted, 

 be sufficient in itself to place the deciduous fruit industry as a whole upon a sound, 

 dependable and reasonable paying basis? 



Has the demand for our fruit in the East kept pace with the rapidly increasing 

 supply ? 



Has there been an increase in wages for orchard and vineyard labor, and is there 

 a sufficient supply of a class to properly and economically handle our crops? 



Is it true that a large per cent of the table grape crop is left on the vines for 

 the reason that it would entail a loss to pick, pack and ship to market without 

 taking into consideration the cost of production, taxes and interest on the capital 

 invested? 



From your experience as a grower what has been the cost, since the rain, to 

 properly pick and pack a crate of Tokays? 



Respectfully yours, 



R. D. Stephens, Chairman, 

 M. E. Angier, 

 CM. Hartley, 



Fruit Growers' Committee. 



