anaheim-gazette 1918-09-19

PROSPEROUS SEASON ENJOYED BY CALIFORNIA GROWERS OF GOLDEN CITRUS F Short Crop In Florida Responsible for Extremely High Prices on Eastern Market—More Than Forty-Seven Million Dollars Realized from Crop—Acting General Manager Submits Annual Report The opening of the season of 1917-1918 was preceded by an unusual weather condition in the form of several days of extremely hot weather in June which destroyed a large portion of the recently set fruit; the result being that only about 20 per cent of a normal Navel crop was produced, 47 per cent of a Valencia crop and 70 per cent of miscellaneous varieties of oranges. Lemons were also short until the bloom following the heat wave matured, since which time the pickings, including those from the young orchards coming into bearing have brought the movement for the season up to 71 per cent of the previous year. This is the only instance in the history of the industry where hot weather has seriously affected the California citrus crop. The shipments of oranges and grape fruit from California for the year ending August 31, 1918, were 19,456 car-adjust its affairs to handle the small crop at a reasonable cost per box. The results, as in 1913, when the shipments were greatly reduced by the freeze, show the elasticity of the organization and its ability to meet unusual crop conditions without impairing its efficiency. The average cost of the district exchanges was 1¼ cents per box, making the total average operating cost of the exchange marketing service 6½ cents per box or 1¼ per cent of the gross sales. Additional to the operating cost the exchange has expended 2 cent per box on oranges and 4 cents per box on lemons for national advertising, thus maintaining the continuity of our campaign and keeping "Sunkist" and the delicious, healthful and useful qualities of California citrus fruits before the consuming public. The Sales Departments to handling only more than usual heavy in storage than usual because slow time en routing of cars. Deca-hold to a minimum. The Navel shipmentally completed by three months earlier seasons. The ed to only about two previous year. Miscellaneous Value The Seedlings Sweets, St. Michael early along with them an excellent demand their small sizes. were more nearly ready about 70 per cent year's shipments be The Valencia practically continue tire year. Some shirley have been made. The heavy crop of it started to move last delayed by shortage and transportation in over 5,000 ceter September 1, 1918 moved by the first some of the late b shipped until January Then in March so moving new crop the bloom following the heat wave matured, since which time the pickings, including those from the young orchards coming into bearing have brought the movement for the season up to 71 per cent of the previous year. This is the only instance in the history of the industry where hot weather has seriously affected the California citrus crop. The shipments of oranges and grape fruit from California for the year ending August 31, 1918, were 19,456 carloads and of lemons 5,777 carloads, making a total of 25,233 carloads. The exchange shipped 14,058 cars of oranges and grape fruit and 5,114 cars of lemons, or a total of 19,172 cars, or 76 per cent of the shipments from the state. While the exchange membership is steadily increasing this much larger percentage of the crop compared to the former season is due partially to the fact that the exchange membership is large in the districts having the heaviest crops this year. In boxes the exchange shipments were 6,440,560 of oranges and grape fruit and 2,164,333 of lemons. The year starting in September included the carry-over of the 1916-17 crop of Valencias which was large in 1917, while a comparatively small quantity of Valencias of the 1918 crop is left to go after September 1st this year. For the crop year the total shipments of all varieties for 1917-18 will be about 38 per cent of the previous year. These light shipments coupled with a light crop of oranges and grape fruit from Florida caused extremely high prices to prevail. The returns for exchange shipments f. o. b. cars California estimating the cars unsold will be about $36,273,800. For the total shipments for the year ending August 31st based on exchange results the return to California will be $47,311,818.00, and the delivered value in the markets $58,204,981.00. These returns were not evently distributed between varieties or districts. The return to the growers on the Navel crop as a whole did not cover the cost of caring for the groves and the Navels constitute over one-half of the California citrus production in normal years. The other varieties of oranges being in larger proportionate supply and being distributed over a longer marketing period, because of the shortage of the Navels, brought high returns. There were no losses from uncollected bills, failures in business or in the transmission of funds during the exchange marketing service 6½ cents per box or 1¼ per cent of the gross sales. Additional to the operating cost the exchange has expended 2 cent per box on oranges and 4 cents per box on lemons for national advertising, thus maintaining the continuity of our campaign and keeping "Sunkist" and the delicious, healthful and useful qualities of California citrus fruits before the consuming public. The Sales Departments The last California citrus season was entirely different from any previous year in the history of the industry. The large carry-over of the 1916-17 Valencia crop due to shortage of labor, equipment and supplies; the very short Navel crop which was spotted, making it difficult to secure accurate estimates of its size; the undesirably large sizes of Navels; the shortage of supplies, labor and cars and congestion of freight on the railroads, all were conditions the industry was never before confronted with at the opening of a season, consequently the situation had to be met from time to time as it developed. The final results show the value of organization to an industry with its resultant avenues of information enabling it to keep informed from day to day of the changing conditions and to guide its actions accordingly. The remaining Valencias moved out gradually as cars were available and although the last moved months later than usual and the time en route was very slow the crop was shipped practically without waste. The quantity of Valencias available held back the movement of the new crop Navels from the early districts until the eating quality of the fruit gave every satisfaction. There was no frost damage to the crops in California and the quality of all varieties was good. Much damage was suffered by shipments en route during the continued severe weather and freight congestion in January and February but this did not seriously affect the results as a whole. General employment and the high buying power of the people everywhere created an excellent demand for citrus fruits. While it would have been better for the future of the industry to have shipped a normal crop so that prices would have been more reasonable to the consumers and so they could have continued to use the usual quantities of citrus fruits, it is doubtful if the packing supplies, labor and railroad conditions would have allowed of the shipment of a full crop. Under normal conditions Valencia creased to a point with substantially one-hundred crop. A normal crop what it was seven years ago will many supply of oranges in cold storage. Vertising has informed Valencia is a fresh end of its luscious fruits. Orange juice more popular sums... The return to the growers on the Navel crop as a whole did not cover the cost of caring for the groves and the Navels constitute over one-half of the California citrus production in normal years. The other varieties of oranges being in larger proportionate supply and being distributed over a longer marketing period, because of the shortage of the Navels, brought high returns. There were no losses from uncollected bills, failures in business or in the transmission of funds during the year. The returns to California through the exchange in the last 15 years have aggregated about $262,000,000.00. The losses during this period from bad debts and from all other causes have been less than $8,000.00 or about 3.1000 of one per cent. The Cost of the Exchange Service The damage to the 1917-18 crop occurring before the opening of the exchange fiscal year gave opportunity to adjust operations and expenses from the start of the season. Some of the minor offices were closed and the forces generally reduced. Less traveling and other soliciting expense was necessary with a short crop, and many of the principal items of expense of the exchange depend upon the volume of fruit handled. The markets were thoroughly covered as usual and all of our valuable experienced employees were retained except where they have joined the colors. The operating cost of the exchange was 5½ cents per packed box. This is higher than in other recent years because of the smaller volume but still much less than any other general marketing service. It amounts to but slightly more than 1 per cent on the delivered value of the fruit. Considerable concern was felt in some quarters after the heat damage last year whether the exchange could The Navel Crop The Navel crop in the early districts north of the Tehachapi suffered from the heat less severely than in Southern California. The movement was nearly 50 per cent of former normal years. The supply of Valencias on the market and the state maturity law delayed the start until about December 1st by which time the eating quality of the fruit was good and the crop moved out rapidly under an active demand. Sizes were not abnormally large for the holiday trade. The Southern California Navel crop was much lighter and sizes were undesirably large although owing to the fact that the rains came late the fruit did not grow to the extreme sizes expected. With high prices and the small number of fruits per box the prices per dozen to the consumer were unusually high. Considerable success was attained by work through exchange agents and the jobbers with the retail dealers in having them feature bulk rather than dozen sales and the exchange advertising to consumers was directed to uses of oranges where one fruit would supply two or more services. Prices were quoted separately on each size to show the trade their relative value. This helped to influence the trade, accustomed The Traffic Through the traffic exchange filed within the year 11,926 charges and loss and in transit. These are $454,886.50. A pair shipments forwarded vious year. The loss transit were large due vice last winter caused to low tically double the amount of claims and cause of the great fruit. There were collections 10,138 claims at 475.11. On April 25, 1918 tariffs into effect immatured weight on pounds to 78 pounds from 84 pounds to increases were suspenders on May 22d to an opportunity to ENJOYED GROWERS CITRUS FRUITS to handling only medium sizes, to push the sizes heavy in supply. Refrigeration was resorted to earlier than usual because of the extremely slow time en route and heavy loading of cars. Decay losses were thus held to a minimum. The Navel shipments were practically completed by the 1st of April—two or three months earlier than in ordinary seasons. The total crop amounted to only about 20 per cent of the previous year. Miscellaneous Varieties of Oranges The Seedlings, Mediterranean Sweets, St. Michaels, etc., moved out early along with the Navels and met an excellent demand on account of their small sizes. These varieties were more nearly normal in volume—about 70 per cent of the previous year's shipments being forwarded. The Valencia Crop The Valencia movement has been practically continuous during the entire year. Some shipments of this variety have been made in every month. The heavy crop of the previous season started to move late and was further delayed by shortage of labor, supplies and transportation equipment, resulting in over 5,000 carloads moving after September 1, 1917. These mostly moved by the first of December but some of the late bloom fruit was not shipped until January and February. Then in March some shippers began moving new crop Valencias because smaller size packages. No agreement concerning a change in the standard box for oranges could be arrived at and the higher weight will be effective again September 1, 1918. This increases the freight charges on oranges $1-3 per cent. A new standard lemon box has been adopted on which the estimated weight of 84 pounds will apply. The general 25 per cent increase in freight rates ordered by the United States railroad administration, which was effective June 25, 1918, increased the orange rate from $1.15 per cwt. to $1.44 per cwt. and the lemon rate from $1 per cwt. to $1.25 per cwt. These advances, including the 3 per cent war tax on freight bills increase the freight charges on California citrus fruits substantially 40 per cent, aggregating about $7,000,000 on a normal crop. The industry feels that the freight rates on citrus fruits are directly related to the long established estimated weights and that the latter should not be disturbed, without considering the rates themselves; also that the flat percentage increase in freight rates places on California citrus fruits more than their proper proportion of the added transportation costs due to war conditions. All California shippers have joined in an application to the railroad administration for relief. Owing to the changed conditions brought about by the taking over of the operation of all the important railroads by the government the manager of the traffic department has discontinued his active connection with the Fruit Growers' Supply Company and is devoting his entire time to traffic matters. The Field Department The work of the field department has been of particular importance during this season with the small quan lines of business, made it possible to maintain complete facilities at a reasonable cost to the growers. A large percentage of the exchange employees have been with the organization for a number of years and consider themselves a part of it, and are as proud of the accomplishments, growth and standing of the exchange, and their connection with it, as the growers and shippers themselves. Although co-operative agricultural associations are expected from the provisions of the food control act, the exchange, desiring that its operations conform to the policies and regulations of the government, voluntarily applied for and is operating under a license from the United States food administration. In July, 1917, the exchange was requested by Mr. Herbert Hoover to contribute the services of our general manager, G. Harold Powell, to the government to organize the perishable food division of the food administration. Our directors cheerfully acceded to this request and Mr. Powell has since been in Washington in charge of this important work, which includes fruit and vegetables, potatoes, fresh fish, city milk distribution, butter and cheese, poultry and eggs and cold storage warehouses. He has been able to visit California for short periods every few months and to confer frequently with our division managers in the east and is available for consultation by mail or wire on important exchange matters. Respectfully submitted, E. G. DEZELL, Acting General Manager. LIMA BEAN CROP SAME AS LAST YEAR Threshing on San Joaquin Will Be Some shipments of this variety have been made in every month. The heavy crop of the previous season started to move late and was further delayed by shortage of labor, supplies and transportation equipment, resulting in over 5,000 carloads moving after September 1, 1917. These mostly moved by the first of December but some of the late bloom fruit was not shipped until January and February. Then in March some shippers began moving new crop Valencias because of the active demand for small size fruit. These early shipments were not sufficiently matured to give satisfaction to the consumers. Most of them were shipped by speculators who purchased the fruit from the growers on the trees and who had no interest in the matter other than to secure the immediate profit on their purchases. The prices paid by these shippers looked high to uninformed growers but as usual proved to be from 20 per cent to 50 per cent less than the value of the fruit under the prevailing conditions. Sizes of Valencias ran medium to small which was desirable from a selling standpoint but reduced the number of boxes from early estimates. The shipments for the crop year will be about 7,500 carloads compared to approximately 16,000 carloads the previous season. The longer marketing period for Valencias, their good quality, a lighter supply of competitive deciduous fruits, and the general prosperity of the country resulted in a very satisfactory season for the Valencia grower notwithstanding the smaller production. Under normal conditions the California Valencia production has increased to a point where the output is substantially one-half of the Navel crop. A normal crop is now double what it was seven years ago and there is a large non-bearing acreage. It is not unreasonable to expect that within a few years the crop of Valencias will equal that of Navels. To date the demand has kept pace with the increased supply. While the Valencias meet the competition of all the deciduous fruits, the summer orange is popular with the consumers. A few years ago many people believed the supply of oranges in the summer were from cold storage. The exchange advertising has informed them that Valencia is a freshly picked product and of its luscious and healthful qualities. Orange juice is becoming a more popular summer drink as a result. Owing to the changed conditions brought about by the taking over of the operation of all the important railroads by the government the manager of the traffic department has discontinued his active connection with the Fruit Growers' Supply Company and is devoting his entire time to traffic matters. The Field Department The work of the field department has been of particular importance during this season with the small quantity of fruit shipped and its high value. Many houses operated for only short periods or intermittently and small amounts of decay caused heavy allowances. The inspectors assist the associations in checking and improving the handling methods in the groves and the packing houses and keep the sales departments informed regarding the fruit and packs and general conditions in the field. They are able through their familiarity with the operations of all houses to advise the shippers the methods and equipment which have given the most successful results elsewhere and to suggest available competent men to fill positions in all branches of the work. The standing of the exchange in a district rests. In final analysis on the results obtained for the fruit, which are largely dependent on the efficiency of the association in the handling from the tree to the car. The field department has strengthened the entire exchange movement by devoting extra attention to associations whose fruit has not given satisfaction in the markets, assisting the directors and managers in improving their working organization and methods. The membership work has been constantly followed up in co-operation with the district exchanges and associations. Since the organization of the field department four years ago an additional 10 per cent of the total crop is being handled through the exchange. The growers and shippers who are not members have had the advantages and facts concerning the organization placed fairly before them where before most of their information regarding the exchange came from those unfriendly to it. The acreage of members joining the exchange during the season represents about 1,500 carloads of fruit in a normal year. The Effect of the War The war has directly affected the citrus industry in connection with its labor supply, wages, materials and freight rates. The full effect of frequently with our division managers in the east and is available for consultation by mail or wire on important exchange matters. Respectfully submitted, E. G. DEZELL, Acting General Manager. LIMA BEAN CROP SAME AS LAST YEAR Threshing on San Joaquin Will Be Finished in Two Weeks Present indications are that the average output per acre for lima beans on the San Joaquin ranch will not be any greater than last year. Threshings so far have shown some of the leases lighter than last year and some a bit heavier, with the indications that the average will be about the same as last year. When bean cutting started in it was thought that the output would show an average increase of one or two sacks to the acre. There are four big threshing outfits at work on beans in the San Joaquin section, with another big outfit in the El Toro country, with some smaller outfits here and there. There are at least three fewer big outfits in the VICTOR CEMENT AGENCY GIBBS LUMBER East Broadway ANAHEIM CAL. OFFICE PHONES HOME 753-1 SUNSET 341-J. Res. 125 E. Broadway, Cor. Claudina RESIDENCE PHONES PACIFIC 341-M HOME 753-2 J. W. TRUXAW, M.D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON HOURS 11-12; 2-4; 7-8 GERMAN AMERICAN BANK BLDG. Cor. Center and Los Angeles Sts. ANAHEIM, CAL. J.C.Osher,D.D.S.,M.D. PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON EYE, EAR, NOSE AND THROAT—ORAL SURGERY—GLASSES FITTED SUITE 1 CENTRAL BLDG. PHONE SUNSET 337 Dr. G. A. Neth General Drugs Practitioner the demand has kept pace with the increased supply. While the Valencias meet the competition of all the deciduous fruits, the summer orange is popular with the consumers. A few years ago many people believed the supply of oranges in the summer were from cold storage. The exchange advertising has informed them that the Valencia is a freshly picked product and of its luscious and healthful qualities. Orange juice is becoming a more popular summer drink as a result of the exchange advertising and promotion work. The Valencia is popular with the trade through its good keeping quality, enabling distribution over long distances during hot weather without loss and making their orange business a continuous one throughout the year. The Traffic Department Through the traffic department the exchange filed with the railroads during the year 11,926 claims for overcharges and loss and damage to fruit in transit. These claims aggregated $454,886.50. A part of them cover shipments forwarded during the previous year. The losses by freezing in transit were large due to the slow service last winter causing cars to be subjected to low temperatures practically double the usual time. The amount of claims averaged higher because of the greater value of the fruit. There were collected during the season 10,138 claims amounting to $211,-475.11. On April 25, 1918, the carriers put tariffs into effect increasing the estimated weight on oranges from 72 pounds to 78 pounds and on lemons from 84 pounds to 90 pounds. These increases were suspended by the carriers on May 22d to give the industry an opportunity to experiment with The war has directly affected the citrus industry in connection with its labor supply, wages, materials and freight rates. The full effect of the decreasing labor supply has not been felt by the citrus interests because of the short crops. Wages, however, have advanced sharply, likewise the cost of all materials entering into the growing and packing of the fruit. The labor situation for the future gives the industry great concern. The railroad situation, which was serious during the winter has been largely straightened out and perishables have been promptly supplied with necessary equipment and given reasonable service en route. A greater demand for all perishable foods has resulted from the appeals to the public to substitute these for the more concentrated foods needed abroad. Thirty-six of our young men employees are with the colors and we may expect to have increased difficulty in maintaining our forces during the continuation of the war. In this connection it would not be proper to fail to acknowledge the loyalty of exchange employees generally to the organization in connection with their salary arrangements for the season. With a small volume of fruit it was necessary to hold expenses down to the minimum and their acceptance of the conditions in the face of the constantly mounting living expenses and opportunities in other HOTEL VALENCIA Modern in Every Respect Finest Hotel in Orange County Accommodations Unsurpassed By any hotel in the Southland and prices reasonable. Corner Lemon and Center Sts Anaheim, California Rates, $1.00 per night, up. Special Rates by the week or month. AMERICAN GROWN SUGAR AVERTS SERIOUS SHORTAGE Four Billion Pounds Will Be Produced This Year The sugar beet farms of the Central and Western states and the cane fields of Louisiana and the island territories of the country which are expected to produce over four billion pounds of sugar this season will be our main reliance in averting a serious sugar famine during the latter half of the present year according to figures just compiled and published by Facts About Sugar, a leading authority in the industry. Statistics collected by the International Sugar Committee of which Geo. M. Rolph, head of the Sugar Division of the Food Administration, is chairman, show that during the scarcity that existed at the end of last year over 85 per cent of all the sugar distributed to the American public came from domestic sugar fields. Of this amount a little less than 50 per cent was supplied by the beet sugar factories, 32 per cent by Louisiana and the remainder came from Hawaii, the Philippines, Porto Rico and the Virgin Islands. The production of this large amount of home grown sugar resulted in giving every person in the country an average of seventeen pounds of sugar during the final quarter of the year as against a normal consumption of twenty-one pounds for this period. Without the sugar grown in the United States, these facts and the importance of sugar in the diet of modern nations as revealed by the war are given in explanation of Food Administrator Hoover's anxiety to conserve the available supply so that there will be no serious scarcity and his efforts to encourage the production of a full supply of beet and cane sugar in the United States throughout the period of the war. SELL GOURDS FOR BEANS Two varieties of edible gourds, long known but little grown in this country, have been widely advertised recently as "butter beans" of rare quality and high productivity. Vague but glowing and extravagant claims are made for them which has led the United States Department of Agriculture to warn farmers and gardeners to be on their guard. Their culinary value is similar to that of summer squash, say department officials, and they are interesting as curiosities, but have very slight practical worth. The name Gigantic New Guinea Butter Bean has been given to the common Cucutza or sweet gourd. It is frequently found in Italian vegetable gardens and is offered in the markets of New Orleans, but is considered of such little value that regular seedsmen rarely give it notice. It has been reported that this so-called new bean has been offered at extravagant prices, for example, 6 of the gourd seeds for 50 cents, or 16 for $1. The Snake or Solomon Island gourd also has been renamed in certain advertisements as Guada bean. This gourd can be grown only in warm climates and is adapted to rather limited regions in the southern part of the United States. "The spaces of land and sea are Anaheim Cash Market A Good Place To Trade J. E. STROUP, Prop. Home 282 Pacific 300 109-111 N. Los Angeles St. Griffith Lumber Co. SEE US FOR YOUR BUILDING MATERIAL In Any Amount, Large or Small South Los Angeles St. H. M. ADAMS, Mgr. CITY MEAT MARKET 117 W. Center St. ED. W. 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