The Seattle post-intelligencer. [volume] (Seattle, Wash. Terr. [Wash.]) 1888-1914, 1890-06-03
FRUIT LAND VALUES.
Prices Of State Fruit Likely to
Be StiE.
weALTH IN THE SANDY SOIL.
Orehsrdisss ON sake River Combine i.
Self Defense--Arrangenen for
shipmens Of Products.
weALTH IN THE SANDY SOIL.

CotfAx. May sI-Prices of fruits in the
markets supplied by Snake River orchards
are going mp like . sky-rocket this year.
Fortunate will be the consumer who pro-
cures peaches II less than 81 per box. or
five cents pound, on board boats at the
orchards. Apples viii command not less
than 81 Is per box. and probably more
piums, prunes and grapes will not 60 for
less than IS cents. and possibly 81 box.
These prices are among the clouds COM
pared with those of last year. when the
orch arciists were glad TO sell 1T one cent
per pound.
This great rise il partially due TO the
practical failure OF the fruit crops Of Walla
walla valley and the decreased yields on
the lower Snake river and in the vicinity OF
Lewiston; but il Is also in q measure due
to an organization OF the fruit growers in
the only district which can show an aver
age yield in Eastern Washington.
This organization is known as the Snake
River Fruit Growers Association. 1t rep
resents all the orchards ON both sides OF
Snake river. from Almota to keily's. q dis
lance of sixteen miles. IL has been or
gsuixed within the past few months.
Though it has q membership of but twenty.
it represents $50 acres OF the finest and best
yielding orchards in the inland empire.
The objects of the association are to pro-
mote, through the active cooperation and
concerted action OF its members. the in
terests OF the rapidly developing and al
ready important fruit industry, and to en-
able the benefciaries to realize high, or at
least remunerative. prices for the products
of their trees.
Hon. James v. O'Dell. one Of the largest
growers along the river. and member of
this association, was interviewed by the
Posr-lsTEILIeEScER correspondent in re-
gard to the organization. its plans. ex-
pectancies. ETC.. and its probable effects
upon the fruit markets supplied by Snake
river orchards
He said: "The Snake River Fruit Grow
ers' Association has practical control of the
markets this year. We are In no hurry to
sell. Last year the strong competition
from the Walla Walla valley glutted the
principal he me markets and extremely low
prices prevailed. This year Walla Walla
men have visited us and endeavored
to secure control Of our crops. Spokane
commission houses have also sent repre-
sensaiives among as for the same purpose.
In addition. private party has offered the
association seventy-five cents . box for
peaches. plums, prunes and grapes, and
$l.25 per box for apples. This proposition
was for two carloads each week during the
season, tor shipment East None Of the
offers made were accepted. Gold has
small temptation for Snake river orchard
lists this year. The party. or parties who
gain control a our fruits must Pie Il up
high"
.what prices do you expect to hold
for7''
Il could not say--all we can get. How
ever il is safe to place the figure not lower
than cents pound for peaches. on board
boats at the orchards, and other fruits in
the usual proportion. We will get our
prices. too. At our regular meeting. to be
held June Z. the matter Of prices will be
discussed. when definite conclusions may
be arrived at"
What arrangements have you made for
transportation and laying your fruits down
in fresh condition in the principal mar
kets %
I'VE are now negotiating with the Union
Pacific company to furnish US boats on the
river, leaving the orchards about D. IN.
daily for Riparis. where the cargoes will be
transferred TO special freight trains for
Spokane Falls and rushed through in the
night, laying our fruits down in that city
early next morning. less than twenty-four
hours after leaving the trees and vines.
Other points will be reached BY regular
freight as soon as possible Ii this ar
rangement cannot he satisfactorily made
we will haul in wagons to Staiey on the
Spokane & Palouse road. and from thence
distribute ty the Northern Pacific. This
was our route last year.
There are fewer peaches on our trees
this year than last. but they are larger and
finer. and the aggregate. in pounds. will be
fully as great as last year. Ii is estimated
that our association will have for shipment
i0l0a boxes, or 400 tons of fruits. Our
boxes and crates have already been con-
tracted for. and We get them cent cheaper
than ever before. The strawberry crop is
large and of the best quality: blackberries
did not doso well; grapes are better than
ever before. Peaches fail on an average of
about once in six years; other fruits have
never yet failed in our locality"
Are all fine available orchard lands nov
in cultivation
doubled by the use of pulsometers. The
sandnars are the orchard spots il water
can he gotten on them---the sander the
better. These pulsometers cost about 81 90
each, and will irrigate from forty to 30
acres of orchard. There are four now in
use along the river. They have . boiler.
bat no engine, and raise water from the
river and deliver it somewhat on the prin-
cipls of an ordinary fire-engine. They
throw from 100 to TO gallons per minute. -
What value is placed upon the average
orchard ?"
About $1,000 per acre. when
in good condition and bearing. They will
pay, one year with another. ten per cent.
interest on the; value, easily. besides ell
expenses. NY twenty -one acres have been
valued as high as 81 900 per acre; would
e. fssa -