The San Francisco Call. Newspaper, December 19, 1897, Page 6

THE SAN FRANCISCO CALL, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1897. QAGGIE. By HENRY MILLER, of Miller & Lux. T can safely be said that until last vear stock interests, sheep and cat- tle especially, have not proved re- munerative to those pecple who raised them on their own land. The cattle market has been con- siderably overstocked, owing chiefly to the large number of animals sent in from parts of Arizona and New Mex- ico., Moreover, the prices at which these cattle are placed on the market are such as to bar out competition on the part of our own dealers, As for the sheep business, during the last three years the majority of peo- ple solely interested in it have become bankrupt. The reason for this is that the price paid for wool has been ruin- ous and the price paid for mutton next to nothing. Most of the sheep men had to go out of business as a resuit of the bad times. California is raising of hogs. State as good well adapted for the In fact, I consider this as any other in the Union for such purposes. Our barley and corn are as good for fattening pur- poses as the Eastern article and our climate is suitable to their needs. The animals are not liable to disease, and hog cholera is unknown. We, however, are handicapped by costly labor and the higner price of grain. The East has the advantage of us in this respect and it is for this rea- son that we cannot compete in a way to make the business remunerative for export. By close figuring, however, and by a reduction in the freight rates, the hog business can be placed on a better basis. The Valley Road has benefited this business as much as others, and as the road is built farther south it will benefit the country the more, as a large number of hogs are raised on the land through which the line passes, and as rates go still lower prices will improve. 115 8o the time -T"Took forward hop: " we anéfi%pn hog plodulde .ine g: in¥ it Sont pg- fronf ihe h sforfunedas }Zfient is Shat wé hdve r e £ abunddnte'»f-meat, stroinz local etifiun;and 0o putside m or the surplus, “EX] from alfiioad haderwondered gt this.aril an W‘ansl We butside markdi (future siness has BéY) ye; and althohB t othex mar! fon\t _extortjon “‘5\ & ;hll the p! e gre a los3\\o Y Il ohytefer, 'that! Giuch i sacri- ficed,.and |thi _must make his profit yut of the' choic€ portions, The WesterA\Meat Compan™ 13 ¥olng much to bring about a better condi- tion of affairs locally, and although the firm is in the same line of business as our own, and competes with it, I cannot but praise it for the good it is doing the business in general. Compe- tition on such lines is beneficial and 1 feel sure that the ultimate results will be such as I have predicted—increased demand with better prices. Could we establish a brisk livestock export trade we should be all right. We could consume ail the cattle that come from Southern Oregon and Western Nevada, but we should then find an outlet for those which come from the Southern States and Terri- tories. At present cattle on the hoof are sell- ing for more than on the hook, owing to the scarcity of marketable cattle, 8o the producer is benefited, which has not been the case for many years. In conclusion, I feel that the outlook for all kinds of business in California is good. The New Era is upon us, and if people will only be content with small profits, and not try to make their fortunes all at once, they will soon find out that California is one of the best States in the Union. FRUIT AND NEW MARKETS. By ELLWOOD COOPER, President Horticultural Society AD I not been in attendance at the Fruit Growers' Convention re- cently held in Sacramento I could not have ventured to write this paper. The conclusions drawn fPom the most intelligent opinions would encourage the belief that California has a great future for her fruit products. Her needs, however, are many, and will require the combined efforts and wisdom of those engaged in this pursuit to over- come the obstacles that now prevent prosperous results. First—A rigid inspection law to prevent the shipment of damaged and inferior products that depress the markets and degrade the prices of good quality and sound fruits. Second—An amendment to the pure food law creating a commission, with sufficient appropriation, and to make it obligatory upon the Commis- sioners to arrest and condemn eyery food product that is misbranded and which is not in accordance with the provisions of the law. Whex we have accomplished these two important measures we will have arrived a long way toward improvement in bettering the condition of the markets. To the first proposition there does not arise any profit to the shipper, and in such cases inferior and damaged fruits could ve utilized in byproducts and in feeding to animals, giving much better rcturns to the grower, To the second proposition, substitution of inferior and cheaper erticles, that have no merit or value, for the real substance would be re- mcved from competition. Increased population—The Impetus given to wheat growing and other farm products will decrease the area devoted to pasturage, inercase the price of meat, which will tend to Increase the demand for fruit and its products, the same being cheaper and more healthful as a food, and with this also the further tendency of more care in selecting our foods. As the world advances fruit-eating will advance. The monetary depression of the past few vears has necessitated greater economy in preparing the fruits for market. It has evmpelled the growers to confine their energies to higher grades and those best adapted to the surrounding conditions. Therefore we are in a condition to profit by the lessons so dearly learned and which 1 hope will cement a combined effort that will overcome the greatest obstacle that confronts us— that is, how to market and where to market with reasonable profit There are many objections to the present methods, and especialy to the consignment plan, for the reason that the seller has no interest beyond the commission he receives. While we cannot dispense with the middlemen in the distribution, we can make them interested by compelling them to be purchasers, which would insure the greatest activity in disposing of the same to save loss, as also to increase the markets. To effect this we will have not only to establish uniform prices, but also uniform grades. This radical change from present methods, which have existed for so many years, would be fraught with serious danger. First, because in the new order Healers would be very conservative in their pur- chases, and if our competitors should continue on in the old lines we might lose the markets. Can we take the risk? I say no. Hence we should estab- lish agencies in all markets where any considerable quantities could be sold and from these centers canvass all intermediate points. The grades and prices being fixed, dealers would run no risk in laying in supplies. Another important feature would be to seek European markets, the exhibit at Hamburg having resulted in the sale of 500 cars of dried fruits by reason of the effort made at that place. I have offered these susgestions 10 encourage the hope that by intellizent marketing a brighter future is be- fore us; To sum up, it is my conviction that we will compass all the diffi- culties in the way'of our success. We have a climate unsurpassed, a rich and virgin soil, a population engaged In this pursuit without an equal any- where in the world. Let us not relax our effort or lose hope or let others snatch from us that which is justly ours—a most honorable calling that contributes to the health and happiness of mankind. bk = £ e o e e A BEEG SUGAR. By CLAUS SPRECKELS, President American Sugar Refinery. HE success which has marked the development of the beet sugar industry in California, during the past decade, has been gratifying to those who have work- ed to that end, and now see it firmly established as one of the leading industries of the State. The abundant evidence, at present afforded, of capital rap- idly flowing in this new direction attests the depth of the channel and the suitability of the ground. New factories are being built, and the capacity of existing plants en- larged. Thousands of additional acres are being planted to beets. Withdrawn from less profitable uses, such as grazing and grain raising, they will not only yield larger returns to the farmer, but will give employment to a vastly larger number of laborers. Many causes have contributed to bring about this re- sult at this time. The prolonged and extreme depression in agriculture and the poor prices obtained for farm pro- ducts, generally, compelled farmers to consider the claims of this new industry. In this State, the altered conditions of the trade itself, together with the incontestable proof of California’s su- periority in the production of the sugar beet, have given such an impetus to that production that the output of 1898 wiil more than double the output of the present year. The four factories now operating in California will turn out, this season, about 37,0060 tons of sugar, as follows: Alameda Sugar Company (Alvarado)....... Vestern Beet Sugar Company (Watsonville) Alamitos Sugar Company (Anaheim) .. . Chino Valley Beet Sugar Company (Chino)... Total .. As the season is not yet concluded, these figures are approximate only, but will be found to be substantially correct. The estimated output for 1898 is as follows: Tons. Alameda Sugar_Company (Alvarado).......... 10,000 Western Beet Sugar "Company (Watsonvilie). Alamitos Sugar Company (Anaheim) S Chino Valley Fcet Sugar Company (Chino). Spreckels Sugar Company (Salinas) Ventura Sugar Company (Hueneme). A total of ,..oeueene 59,200 The addition of the two last named factories will more than double the present production of sugar in Cal- ifornia. Together they represent an investment of $6,000,000. The TWll CAPACRY. €S tWO-PUINTS Wil MURH exceed Wsos, the Salinas factory. being ca- -Of turning out 60,000 and, the Venturz nlant 30,000 tons, when in comp Wr and woen the re- g gilable, /n\l 18 ‘due 19 the enterprise o Quisite, supply -ol hA v "¢ S ’g.lpel‘en_uznteg thez: factory “The_ latter” estal e oo~ 5 ¢ .~ v&’ The o mof8h pro ectgundcé,, edhisider= ationg@ut’the Plins -emt y& sufficienggy devgloped to wagrant at this timg, Theproa 1:%’ re- m B L ing ex- traordin, = N A humpers) 90.000 tons pf shgar W eed; he Paj Cuas’( Stat ilan su; were imported. s T i beeS st be r?@- d fi%\mc 4o the A 4. and, Quring \# i e ¢ @ E§ it m x:?t'qr .a. wgk%e \k which th vill 4’%‘}%&-« consy heka e Ia ih Constant. e, and labye, 1) yea s %Ee}hl S mfifi’ ‘ih p\j‘;‘ ofLYp a marked 2oty 1y in euck, g2owit to pay $5 for the dle safety deposit vauly Rl pre uf&qlsed to 90,000 tons, be groadgy ss Than -5 per cent of red for\ tion in this country, tend the course of the trade, that of overproduction will ast ke ont of them for many, years to come. The promise of permanence given by this valuable in- dustry makes it desirable that everything possible should be done to safeguard and to cherish it as one of the chief resources of California. The changing conditions of the trade have rendered inevitable the establishment of many new concerns, all of which, however, can find room for their operations. An auxiliary business which might, with advantage, be entered upon at an early date is the production of beet seed on a large scale by expert horticulturists. The best qualities are at present imported from France and Ger- many, where the art of producing, by repeated selection, the most perfect kinds of seeds has been long carried on. This country could certainly produce its own, and thus save not only the cost of freight, but the deterioration due to the ocean passage. It is also noteworthy that in Germany one-fourth of the entire sugar production is carried on in co-operative fac- tories, the farmers holding a considerable number of the shares. The best possible results would follow to all con- cerned if some plan could be devised by which farmers might subscribe for shares in a company's stock, for at once an identity of interest would be established that could not fail to conduce to the welfare of both parties. California is face to face with the opening of a new era. In swift' evolution from one phase to another of her industrial progress, she enters now upon a path which de- mands a closer union and a stronger social bond, but which, given these, leads to a greater wealth than the past can show. Only one obstacle stands in the way of the full reali- zation of these plans and purposes, and that is the threat- ened annexation of the Hawailan Islands. The results that would follow such action would seriously imperil the future development of the beet sugar industry in this $tate. The employment of coolie labor at $12 a month (the Jaborers providing everything for themselves) would cer- tainly affect the position of workmen here earning $2 a day in a similar capacity. Let it also be remembered that the already large proportions of the Hawalian product are sapable of Immense expansion by means of irrigation, and Jjt will be seen that the menace to the new industry here js a real one. Not California alone but the entire country is inter- ested in the permanent establishment of the beet sugar industry in those districts which are best adapted for it and under those conditions which will best conduce to the’ upbuilding of a prosperous trade, and the well being of all concerned. —_— The woman who goes about the world remains young and cheerful much longer than she who stays in the place of her birth. 1In the latter case, people who remember the woman'’s age set the standard for her behavion and expect much mora sedateness from her than her feelings war- rant. If a woman wants to be kittenish at fifty, or even ffifly-n\'e. there is no law against it; .and her youthful . 1 8pirits will give her also a more youthful appearance. WHERAT. By HORACE DAVIS, President Sperry Flour Company. HE past year taking it as a whole has been very sate isfactory to the wheat farmers; they had a fair P and have averaged excellent prices. In the early pait of the season the crop bade fair to be exceedingly heavy, hut dry weather in April cut it short and les ened the yield materially. However, the farmers g very good prices for what they did harvest, and best « all, the price rose early in the season before they Lad part- ad with their grain. 65 Prices for wheat have been so low since 1893 up togNo- vember, 1856, that it has been very hard for wheat r to keep even with the world. During a portion o period wheat has sold below the cost of production N the farmer actually went backward, not getting even the cost of raising, to say nothing of what he needed to pay his taxes, support his family, and perhaps pay interest up- on his mortgage. Last year wheat rose to a remuncru' tive price, but not until late in the season when most o the producers, pressed by the hard times, had parted with their wheat; so that the exporters and the middlemen made the profit; but this year, as I said before, the ad- vance came early and the farmers got the benefit, where it was needed the most. It seemed early in the harvest year as if we were to have exceptionally high prices, but the free sales and de- liveries of American and Russian wheat checked the a vance in Europe, and here in California it was further 1 back by the sharp rise in freights, which played an i portant part in the wheat market, and to get a good under- standing of the condition of things we must review the freight market, too. It looks as if the extreme depression of wheat was over, and we were approaching a period of better prices probably not =o high as in the '70's and ’80’s, but a better average than the ’90’s. The trouble with wheat raising is that we have to com- Jete With newly settled countries all over the world. Tne boor man who strikes out into the wilderness and takes up or buys virgin land must raise wheat hecause it takes Saly a few months to mature his cxzs “and B gets an im- ediate return, .+ And so you will find that the cofintries cof ributing the largest supplies for hungry Em‘oue\m;: m ) Iy y set- tled countries. Canada, the United SHates, APgepitifs, Rus- v rope, 8la, India_and Australia ar3 the main.f derg” 4nd all bf these except India pfaduce thdr heat offcom- Daratively new land, At the pyic VuiliEg for 17 last Fev, € ing wheat is lqlfry rofitaplg in an old ;!: mco 3 land lse%grth % MACH Whe? pelfil/l&b_i!m\‘ 3 r u o ang It“cannot competein ¥gjume of, ces With new lanty anfessyheavily r_fwm'ed.’0 2Eng! hirty zmrs gr/i-ai&ed WostigYds of h AX[ORO, She pro- uces ‘Onfy_one-third, ¢ha on hayin, ily._falls off With The Seeling’ e b s Allantic seaboard Stagd 3tuffs; now they dep vears ako o W T e e ; A \, R Tel 2 Gt g ng?fi:‘:: OV / we canlff ou¥ reckoning. s ceased, to/produce a large he/:' Tand to more profitable hSwvér/State, has an enormous Wi yield this year as much' ! sibly re, serd of course with 0] ey Wil a larger surplus than 88 I/sald, hp¥“drawn tonnage away from the(price of frefght, At the same time their competel With. ours for theé export trade of the Fas ~iic- Ocean. seridusly affecting our exports of flour. The freight business has undergone a great change in the last few years. The advent of large iron four-masted ships has so cheapened the cost of carriage that rates which would have been ruinous to the ship owner twenty years ago are now become profitable. Again, the pres- ence of steam tonnage has become a material element dur- ing the last year or two in checking an extreme advance in freights, and each year of late our tonnage supply is re- inforced by tramp steamers from the Orient, which come here seeking grain charters. Last year they exercised a considerable influence in keeping freights down to a rea- sonable figure. During the period from July 31 to Decem- ber 30, 1897, twenty-five steamers took grain and flour car- goes from this port, besides three from Northern ports, and the whaleback City of Everett, which sailed for Calcutta June 13, with a cargo of grain for the famine stricken d trict of India. Of these twenty-nine steamers, nine w bound to India or Australia, the rest to Europe. The av age rate of charter was 27 shillings, and it was about the same to India and Australia as to Europe. It is certainly an extraordinary feature in the history of cheap transportation that charters should be sought for a voyage of 16,000 miles under steam at the very moderate rate of 27 shillines. When I look back upon the tont record and find that sailing vessels in January, 1873, re- celved 95 shillings for the same voyage, and that the rate by sailers was never as low as 27 shillings till 1886, then I realize the wonderful change that has come over trans- portation. The farmer is now amply protected against m:? freights, if 27 shillicgs will tempt tramp steamers acros: the Pacific as it has done for two years past, and is doing now. The freight market never got down to 30 shillings until 1882; now it looks as if nothing would ever take it up to that figure except the demands of war transportation. All this suggests the possibilities of the Nicaragua canal. The greatest boon the farmer could have now would ba the Nicaragua canal. ‘With this completed, we should be within thirty days’ steaming of Europe, and should prac- tically enjoy the advantages now possessed only by the Atlantic States. We could recruit our tonnage from Eu- rope as well as Asia, and the grain seller would be safe against “corners” and ‘‘cinches” in freight. Our millers could then sell flour in the European markets on short time delivery just as the millers do in Michigan and Min- nesota, which we cannot do now; the completion of tha canal would increase the production of flour here very largely. California harvested this year about 900,000 tons of wheat. In spite of the incursions of fruit raising, the in- creased production of other grains, the increase of popu- lation and the low prices, we seem to hold on to about that average. Of this amount we shall need ahout 0000 tons for food, seed, feed and to supply our Pacific Ocean export trade in flour. But our northern sister States have a crop as large as ours, with considerably less requirements; so that the Pacific Coast as a whole will have to markset nearly 1,000,000 tons in Europe, and it looks as though e coast might have a surplus approaching this amount ffror vears to come. The English and French markets will feon- tinue to make our prices as they have done in the past, ex- cept that now and then some unusual demand may create a brief spurt in values as the shortage in Australia did last year and the year before. ' England is the world’s main dumping ground for sur- plus wheat, but this year the total surplus with the re- serves is hardly enough to furnish food till harvest. The huge reserves of 1894 are used up. The low prices caused by over supply have checked production and the reserves have disappeared. We take a fresh start without the de- pressing conditions of the last five years, and may hope for fair prices till wheat raising is again ovérdone ge