Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1907-07-26
FOR TRANSPORTATION
OF GREEN FRUITS
Railroad Companies Willing to
Deliver Fruits in the Best
Possible Condition.

1t is interesting to review the pro
gress made in the transportation OF
green fruit from Hood River to the
great markets of the eastern side OF
the western continent. Not SO very
many years ago it seemed an impossi.
bility to export the small and easily
perishable fruit from Oregon, owing
to the long haul causing the fruit to
become decsysd and unfit for sale in
the great centers of the east and mid.
die west. Now it is common occur.
renee to hear of our strawberries for
sale in the fruit stalls of New York
City and Chicago.
Aud the modern equipme ent in rail
roadiug are responsible for this.
Nowadays farm produce of this ma
ture is transported in the most scien.
titic and expensive refrigerator cars
that inventive genius is capable OF
manufacturing, and it arrives at its
destination in nearly as excellent
condition as when first prepared for
its long journey.
Strawberries from Hood River this
season went to eastern oonsmers in
what might be termed palace re-
frigerator cars, every endeavor having
been made on the part of the rail
roads to favor the shippers. These
cars are equipped with every facility
to prevent their contents from being
damaged in the least and none of the
elegant pullmans which pass through
Hood River ride SO easy as they.
They sre made especially for the
Pacific coast traffic and have fully
proved their worth. They went
through on fast express time and the
fruit which they transported was sold
for top prices. Such is the progress
made for carrying the small and per-
ishable fruit of this part of the
American continent
The future of the strawberry in-
dustry in Hood River valley has been
the subject of interesting discussion
among growers aud shippers 1t Is
our opinion that the acreage will
never be materially increased over
that of this year. Our prophesy is
based upon the fact that the young
orchards are crowding out the berry
fields. 1t is practically impossible to
grow berries in the orchard after the
trees become FIVE years of age, and it
would not justify grower to plant
the berries for a less term of years.
1t is true, however, that much new
land is being cleared annually, but il
seems that the acreage that is an
nually being cleared and set to straw
berries, is not in excess of that which
is being abandoned each year.
We are of the conviction that the
time will come in Hood River when
it will be impossible to ship in cal
load lots, and we hail the time when
the straw berry crates can be ex
changed for apple boxes. When thin
day comes Rood River will be til,
wealthiest rural district on the habit
able globe.
~~Oo~O~-~~-~~~~1~~~-
held is the practice always carried ou
at such gatherings. At the time tn,
Oregon Irrigation Association held it
annual meeting last year in Hood Rive
that enterprising valley had the bes
fruit exhibit ever to that time held il
the United States. The Californian
are now making preparations to hav'
in Sacramento at the time Of the meet
ing in that city Of the National Irri
CATION Congress, the first week in Sep
tember, the most complete exhibit o
the agricultural products of that stat
ever yet made.