Prosperous Fruit Growers

lhe Kural Caliíornian has au article entitled, "How to Get Rich?" and answers the question in a subheading, "Buy a fruit ranch, or, better still, buy land and plant it yourself." The article is very interesting for comparison with the statements made by the California fruit growexs to McKinley's committee last spring. The Californian says: "The question is often asked of the Californian sojourning in the eastern states by every f our out of six people he meets who have a desire to lócate here, 'What can I do in your glorious country to make a living?' The question can be readily answered, 'What can I not do to make a living?' Though of course there are many avenues open to capital and to the man of brain and brawn, the backbone of the country is horticulture. This, more than all other industries combined, has made many people with no capital at all well to do in a comparatively short time. Nor is horticulture confmed to growing a few varieties of fruits, but embraces pretty much the fruits of the températe and semi-tropic Kones, all of which are produced with the same unvaryiug succosa in all portions of southern California, some localities being, of course, better adapted to particular kinds."' In another columu The Californian says that land for orange groves is now selling at even higher prices than during the "boom" period, and it remarksagain that the cry so often heard in the east that fanning does not pay is never heard in California. Some time ago a correspondent of The San Francisco Chronicle said in that paper: "Contracts for figs for next month run from $50 to $80 a ton, and raisins in the sweat box are easily contracted for at $120 a ton. In consequence of this boom in fruits it is thought there will be fully 12,000 acres of deciduous and citrus fruit orchards planted in southern California before next May." lu view of this favorable outlook, and with many other cases illustrating it, the correspondent said that it was "easy for any one in southern California to know a fruit grower at sight. Every fruit grower in this part of the state is in the happiestmood." Some years ago California began to make raisins, but it was not until last year that the quantity of dried grapes in the state attracted more than passing attention. Some lots were exported to Europe and the Atlantic states with favorable resulta. The encouragement received along this line has determined others to einbark in thisbranch of trade, whilo those who were in the trade last year are increasing their output. Australia will take quite a quantity of California raisins and prunes this season. Fresno raisin men and Oregon prune growers claim to have large orders in hand for shipment to that country. Yet with this very prosperous showing of the California fruit industry , the growers represented to Maj. McKinley last spring that they needed higher protection on all kinds of fruit. McKiuley obediently gave them the dnties asked for. The duty on oranges was about doubled, but the senate restored the old rate. McKinley, however, succeeded in putting a duty of 30 per cent. on the boxes or barrels containing the oranges. The duty on raisins and figs was raised from 2 cents a pound to 2i cents. On plunis and prunes the 1 cent duty was doubled. The California fruit growers have successfully learned the trick of the manufacturera of "talking poor" in order to get higher protection. How long is this system of sham and insincerity to be believed in and sustained by the people?