The Colfax gazette. [volume] (Colfax, Wash.) 1893-1932, 1903-07-24
FRUIT COLD STORAGE
Growers Of Whitman County
Propose to Organize.
A Committee of Prominent Men
will Examine Into the Feast
bility of the Proposition.

Col. r. c. Judson, industrial agent OF
the y. X. Il N. company, was in the city
Monday in connection with the PROPOSE
ton to organize a fruit growers union
and establish a cold storage plant. MIR.
JudsOn was for a number of wears the
manager of the Minnesota state fair and
in that capacity became prominent in
agricultural and horticultural pursuits.
At the present time he ia the superiA~
tendent of the 0. r. / n. company's eg-
pertinent station in this state and inaug-
trial agent for tie railroad.
The purpose OF Mr.. JudsOn's visit to
COlfax at that date was to assist the
fruit growers and shippers of Whitman
county ID organizing an association and
presenting to them the railroads plan
for cold storage shipments. plumber
OF growers met Mr.. JudsOn at the office
OF Harry Cornwell Monday afternoon.
| There was not as large an attendance as
was desired, it being the hope of the
promoters that a number of the grow
ers and shippers from various parts of
the county would be present.
1t was decided, however, to look
further into the proposition as presented
| by Mr.. JudsOn and the standing com
mittee appointed at meeting held several
weeks ago was augmented by two new
members The committee as it now
stands consists OF R. II. Lacy, Edward
JOhneOn, Zell NJ. Beebe, T. w. Walters
and Geo. H. LennOx. This committee
was given the power to examine into
| the proposition of the formation OF an
association and report its findings at
the earliest possible date, so that the or
ganization may be completed in time to
handle this years apple crop. 1t is the
desire of those interested to secure the
cooperation of all of the fruit growers
of Whitman county. Similar organiza-
| tiOns are in extant in various parts OF
Oregon and Washington and there is no
apparent reason why Whitman county
could not be organized along similar
| lines.
The object of the union or association,
| which ever it may be called, is to estab-
| lish a standard for packing and ship
| ping. By doing this they hope to raise
the standard OF the fruit shipped, there
! by creating a degree of excellence never
| heretofore attained. If that is done
there is no reason why the growers will
not receive better price for their pro-
| duet when it is placed on the market.
| Ieutcc VIII De uduO IOF LIE packing anu
care of fruit and better shipping faciIi-
ties will be obtained. When those two
| objects are attained, the market will ad-
just itself to the supply OF fruit.
The cold storage plant idea will be
taken up after the union has been Or
| ganized. 1t is the desire OF the growers
to interest as many people as possible in
the plan. 1t is quite probable that if a
county organization is affeceed, that
storage plants will be established at Col
fax, Pullman, Garfield, Pennington and
Endicott. These plants are inexpensive
and are the same as those which are be,
ing used by the railroad companies. By
their use it is hoped to be able to place
the fruit of Whitman county in direct
competition with the fruit grown in
other parts OF the United States and by
that means have it reach the best mar
kets in the country. 1t is thing which
every fruit grower should at once be
interested in. If his fruit can be placed
in the select markets he will receive
better and steader prices than be will
if he has to search year after year for a
market. The growers of Whitman
county will do well to investigate this
matter.