The daily journal. (Salem, Or.) 1899-1903, 1903-03-28
HOOD
RIVER
GROWERS
Discuss Crop and Berry
Prices
VIII Pack Several Grades Of
Strawberries This Year
CHood River Glacier.)

(Hood River Glacier)
Hood River strawberry growers this
year will pay a cent and a half box
for picking, and 81 a day or half a
cent a box for packing. This is the
decision reached at a meeting OF rs
strawberry men in A. o. u. W. hall,
last Saturday.
The meeting was presided over by
II. f. Davidson, manager of the Dav-
ldson Fruit Company. Mr.. Davidson
stated that his company and the
Fruitgrowers' Union were daily re-
ceiving letters OF inquiry from people
who want to come TO Hood River to
pick strawberries. In order that
these people may be given a definite
answer the strawberry men OF the val.
ley should decide on a set price which
they will pay for picking and packing.
Mr. Davidson said further that a great
many people after making inquiry
about the price for picking. etc. do
not come because they cannot be as
sured that the farmers will provide
shelter for the pickers.
The motion that the pickers he paid
a cent and half a box provoked
much discussion. S. G. Zeigler OF
White Salmon said that when the
best part Of the berry season on his
side Of the river was over he found It
necessary TO pay two cents or more
box, in order to keep the pickers from
crossing to Hood River where berries
we're more plentiful Some of the
Hood River growers experience the
same difficulty, and have had pickers
leave early patches in the lower part
Of the valley for better picking fur
ther up the valley. A suggestion that
plckers be secured by contract for the
season. and that they should forfeit
a percentage OF their earnings by
leaving before the end OF the season,
met with little favor Judge a. r..
Byrkett remarked that as the price
of wages everywhere Is higher now
than for years past, the customary
price OF cent and a half a box may
not be sufficient inducement TO secure
plckers.
An amendment was proposed max
ing the price for picking a cent and
three quarters. and giving packers
three.fourths Of a cent a box. This
would mean an additional cost OF 3
cents to the grower, and was voted
down by a big majority.
The dlHiculty OF keeping pickers
throughout the season and Of securing
satisfactory work Is serious Ques-
tion with the growers. Lee Morse
said he treated his pickers with con.
sideration and had the same ones re
turn each year. During the hot days
he keeps his two boys packing drink.
I ing water TO the pickers and also has
them carry the hand crates to the
packing house A. c. Staten thought
the growers should provide a comfort.
able building as shelter for the pick
ers G. H. ateman offered a scheme
for building bunk and mess houses for
the pickeFs at some central location
in each neighborhood
b. +. Shoemaker thought the grow.
ers were too much AZ the mercy of
the ditch companies and hat IL was
Iup TO the strawberry men TO do some
thing to secure more irrigating water.
Those having strawberry crates had
their say and the meeting adjourned.
Crop Estimated at $4,000 Crates.
This years crop OF strawberries is
estimated To reach 10000 crates, or
more. No definite estimate has as yet
been secured this spring. and these
figures are based on the estimates
made last fall, when the Increased
acreage was planted, This estimate
is considered rather low by some. who
think the total number OF crates will
reach 80 0.0OO or more, The 1902 crop
amounted TO between $1,000 and 5S,-
600 crates.
Il Is too early in the season 10 Sc
cure an estimate on prices. The crops
in California and the Eastern states
win govern the price 10 a great extent
and il will depend on whether the Cal
| ifOmia aud Eastern strawberries rip.
en- at or about the same time The de
mand though. stin keeps up for the
Hood River product, and II the right
quality OF fruit is put up. there win be
little TO worry about regarding the
price.
G.J. Gessling. secretary OF the Hood
River Fruit Growers Union. announe-
es that this year the union win ship
nothing but nrst'olass berries. A rig-
ia inspection will be enforced. and n