The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-07-16
lie CROP IN
fine CONDITION
YIELD ESTIMATED AT 400 CARS
Cold Storage Plants VIII Provide for
Big Crop Which May Require
New Methods Of Marketing

shippers to put on their thinking
caps aud estimates as to size of the
crop ale already being made. 1t is
admitted by all who are familiar with
the condition OF the half grown fruit
that this years crop is one of the
finest that ever hung on the trees
here both as to quantity and quality.
Weather conditions in the spring and
early part Of the summer were most
favorable in giving the young fruit a
good start and there is no reason to
believe that it will not mature into
the greatest and best crop of apples
that ever shipped out Of the valley.
Estimates as to number OF boxes OF
apples that will be shipped from Hood
River this year run all the way from
225, 600 to 400, 900. These figures are
he guesses OF those who have made a
considerable study of the question
and while there is rather wide vari-
alton between the minimum and max
imum figures as to the production 1t
is accounted for by difference of
opinion "a to what the young orchards
which will cume into bearing this
year will produce. A safe estimate is
thought to be In the neighborhood of
25O, 900 boxes which will make a ship
ment of something over 400 cars or
almost ouble the quantity Of fruit
ever placed on the market by Hood
River in previous years.
The steady increase in the size of
the crol is expected to call for some
What different methods OF marketing
than has been in vogue Hood River
for several years, as it Is not expected
that one Arm will attempt to handle
the entitO crop as has practically been
the case heretofore. 1t is thought by
thoee wLo are watching the interests
of the apple business closely at Hood
River that the time Is not far distant
when something approaching stand
ard Liice tor apples will have to be
ieteI mined on each year and tho fruit
sold in car lots to several firms. lt
is with this possibility In view that
the directors OF the Apple Growers
Union are erecting cold storage
plant next to their large warehouse.
They realize that with greatly in
cieasing crops each year a surplus of
fIuit over the first purchases made for
shii mont direct from the orchard
might mean lower prices IL no storage
facilities were provided and are max
Ing ready for such contingency
sho, Id it arise. The plant now being
built will not necessarily have to be
con. pleted before November or De-
cemGer, but it is expected to be
ready before that time. With the fine
plaBtuf the Davidson company and the
one Nhich the union is building Hood
River will be better equipped to han
die it's apple crop than any apple grow
in, lection on the coast. 1t is stated
also that as soon as crop yields de-
, mand 1t large cold storage plant will
be built adjacent to the Mt. Hood
railroad In the East Side district SO
that growers in all sections of the
valley will be protected.
Apple buyers are little later In
showing up this year to investigate
conditions than usual, but advices
whit b have been received indicate
that they are taking just as much in
terest In Hood River fruit as former
ly snd that representatives of several
firms will soon reach here on their
annual trip. SO far very little specut
alton has been INDUCED In as to
prices, but there Is no reason to be-
lieve that they will be any lower than
they have for the last two years when
crop and other conditions are taken
into consideration. This does not,
OF course, mean that such top notch
figures as So. 25 a box will be reached,
but that a good profitable average fig
ule Is expected for the crop. Sales
that have been reported from other
districts justify this expectation as
vel as the fact that frost aud other
cau es have already caused shortage
In me OF the big apple growing dis
ts In other sections.
Forest Fire Threatens Homes.
A ire which started In some stumps
in The Kay orchard Saturday threat
entd for time 10 destroy the power
house of the Hood River Electric
Light Company and also the Euild-
ings Oh the Schenok Kay ranch.
When the fire first spresd, the wind
was blowing from the east and carried
1t into the timber toward the power
house and also toward the buildings
on the Kay place. 1t was not, how
ever, thought to be dangerous until
about 2 o'cluck in the atternon when
NJ. III Der of men we're taken to the
scene OF the confagIation by Mr.. Kay
aud the electric light company. Sew
erni OF he eighbors also sent men to
help fight the flames, which had en-
croached 80 close TO the home OF Mr..
KY aud friend who is camping on
the place that they had moved many
rheir household effects to place
Of safety. BY quick aud hard work
lasting several hours the fire was
finally gotten under control and tt.
came extinguished.