22 



OFFICIAL REPORT OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE 



I 



were loaded in Fruit-Growers' Express and Continental Fruit Express cars. This cen- 

 tralization of fruit in these two refrigerators caused us to follow the lead of the shippers 

 and engage from the Fruit Express and Continental Fruit Express all the refrigerators 

 needed for this traffic. 



Our response to your first and second questions consequently is that we have con- 

 tracted for all the refrigerator cars necessary for the deciduous-fruit traffic. Were we 

 to accept special lines of refrigerators in endeavor to satisfy the various and often con- 

 flicting interests of those promoting individual car lines we would have so many 

 refrigerators on the line and under such variety of auspices that serious confusion 

 would develop, together with a multitude of cars for which there would be no loads. 

 We have already had experience of this kind, and from the highly perishable nature of 

 the traffic and large quantity to move must know in advance from what source cars are 

 obtainable, having reasonable assurance of load, and of adequate facilities for icing and 

 care of the refrigeration on the way to every destination, diversions in transit notwith- 

 standing. Refrigeration is a matter of method and expense apart from the transporta- 

 tion ; it involves foresight and organization, and arrangements which cannot be left to 

 haphazard. * 



As to the remaining questions your letter recites, new ventilated cars could not be 

 obtained at this late date, and we have none of the ventilated fruit-cars formerly in 

 the service, except such as are necessary for our strictly local business. We cannot 

 take them out of the local and put them into the through traffic, because in the through 

 they would make two, possibly three, trips in the season, whereas in the local traffic 

 they make many trips and are used continuously. To take them out of that service 

 would cripple it unwarrantably to the injury of the California grower of fruits and 

 vegetables desiring to have his product handled short distances in suitable cars, which 

 to the grower is quite as important in its way as is the through movement. 



I trust you will pardon the observation that this company's relation to the refrig- 

 erator lines is the same now as in previous seasons. The company has no interest in 

 either line, and the cars engaged for the service are those which the shippers have 

 designated by their use of them, the others being dropped merely because of non-use; 

 hence we deprecate the present agitation because of its tendency needlessly to depress 

 orchard values, in a year which otherwise affords every prospect of attracting to Cali- 

 fornia fruit interests the favorable attention of the nation, giving the State a new 

 impetus toward increased prosperity. 



Very respectfully yours, 



WM. SPROTJLE. 



Upon motion, the report of the Committee on Transportation was 

 received, with thanks to the committee. 



DISCUSSION. 



N. W. MOTHERAL. In Kings County we were ready to cooperate 

 and hold up the price and quality of our products. We cannot go 

 alone though, because you have got so many more pounds than we have; 

 however, we have got enough to forever keep any other organization 

 from being complete; but we are willing to cooperate with you, I have 

 some few prunes of my own, but we have one of the finest and largest 

 prune orchards in that county that there is in the State, and we produce 

 a large quantity of fruit per acre. You claim that we do not make as 

 good fruit as you have, but we do not believe that. We know one thing: 

 we can make more pounds than you have. We cannot do anything by 

 permanent organization unless we go with you, and we are perfectly 

 willing to do that; but I do not believe you can get a green and dried 

 fruit combination in one until you have done it step by step. It will 

 take time. 



