The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1902-03-22
TALKING
BERRY
INDUSTRY.
Promotion of Small
Fruit Cultivation
Relation of Strawberry 10
Dairy Business.
Newberg Has Organized an
UniJn on The Salem Plan
lFrom Newberg GraphIel.

Those most concerned in awakening
interest in this vicinity in the small
fruit industry we're agreeably surprised
at the number of people who attended
the fruit growers meeting at Craters'
hall which was addressed by the vet.
eran strawberry grower of Salem, Ed
tor Hofer, Of the Capital Journal The
good attendance was no doubt
partly due to the fact that many re-
membered the interesting address on
strawberry culture which he delivered
here last August before the state hor-
ticultural society. Before the meeting
Mr.. Hofer was taken over town and
introduced to many Of our business
men, to whom he explained his visit
and whose cooperation in the good
work he invited.
JOS. Hall, Newberg's enthusiastic
berry grower, was made chairman OF
the meeting and introduced the speak
er. Mr.. Hofer proceeded TO give
heart to heart talk, the sequel of which
proved that his words carried convic.
ton to his auditors. The main points
Of his address are here produced:
The Strawberry Industry.
As II has been said that he who
makes two blades OF grass grow where
but one grew before, is benefactor,
the founding of new industries, such as
that of strawberry culture, is a great
public benefaction. The interests of
the railway and transportation com
panies and those OF the producers OF
any locality are one, and the way in
which the former are encouraging
fruit unions by handling and distrib-
uting their products, finding distant
markets, etc, insures the success OF
the industry. For instance, the rail-
way companies take care OF the Sa-
lem unions berries by shipping them
in refrigerator cars at carload rates to
Eastern points and distributing them
on the way by wire, as the demand
calls for. Many people who have lost
in handling green fruits are discour-
aged, but the strawberry light in
weight, is shipped at medium freight
rates and brings the largest returns.
The market is absolutely unlimited, as
our berries when shipped in the latest
improved refrigerator cars can be put
in good condition into Chicago, or even
Boston. Seattle. Spokane, Butte, Salt
Lake, Fargo and Sacramento have
proved good markets. The prime requi.
site 90 success is TO raise the straw.
berries In quantities, and TO organize
an efficient union to take care OF the
crop. This is the day of cooperation,
and no man can succeed alone. When
the local demand is supplied, the indi.
yidual grower has hard work finding a
market in the first place, and in the
second he can get no concessions from
transportation companies. But once
let union announce that Il has so
many carloads OF fruit for disposal, and
all kinds OF markets are offered, and
the railroads bid eagerly for the
freight. What is needed here is for so
people to organize and set out from a
half acre to two acres OF strawberries.
From an industrial standpoint, it would
be the greatest thing that could happen
to Newberg. IL would give labor for all
the people at time when work is
scarce, and would put money in gener.
al circulation. All that is needed is
spirit OF rustic and enterprise. No
bonus, no capital, no equipment is de.