The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1908-09-03
TEL S OF APPLE
zUYING IN EAST
II. F. DAVIDSON TALKS ON SITUTION
Business Conditions Retard Sales...
Presidential campaign Also Hav-
ing Influence.

Ii. +. Davidson, president of the
Davidson Fruit company at Hood
River. arrived home Monday after an
extended trip thl ough the fruit grow
ing sections Of the east and middle
west. Mr.. Davidson was in attend
ance at the annual meeting Of the In
ternationsl Apple Shippers Associa.
tion held at Nisgars Falls August 8
and 6 and also visited many of the
large apple dealers in New York City
and Chicago. In his observations he
states that the apple crop in the east
from the lakes to the Atlantic coast,
both in the United States and Canada,
viii he large this year, but that the
crop in the middle west Is very light.
Until he reached Colorado on his re.
turn trip he found no evidence Of
abundant fruit crops and In some SEQ.
tions of that state the applesyield will
be small.
He states, however, that there is an
abundant yield all over the country
this year of farm produce, particularly
corn. Apart from apples he found big
crops ofsother varieties OF fruit, more
especially pears and peaches. In none
OF the districts he visited had winter
apples as yet been bought, although
usually at this season of the year most
OF the crops are contracted for. This
situation, he discovered, applies not
only to the east and middle west, but
to apple shipping centers on the coast,
which he dropped off at on bis way
home.
The tardiness OF buyers In contract
ing for apple crops this year, Mr..
Davidson believes, Is due to the fact
that the high prices at which the fruit
was bought last year, coupled with the
financial panic which came on shortly
after the crops were.purohased, caused
many eastern dealers to lose money.
The profits which dealers expected to
make are said by number of them
with whom Mr.. Davidson consulted to
be reposiDg In the pockets OF the
growers who they say we're never more
prosperous than at the present time.
Another fact that is causing buyers
to hold off is said to be because con-
sumers lack the purchasing money
they had last year, owing to business
depression. Many of the big indus
tries In the large manufacturing cities
of the east have not resumed full oper-
ations since the panic and are run
ming on short time. This has affected
an abundant circulation OF cash and
caused the fruit buyers to be more
wary this year In placing large orders
in advance of full resumption OF
business. The ultimate result of the
presidential election IL also thought
to be having its influence on the ac-
tion of buyers who, to some extent,
are afraid of contraction Of credit In
the event OF change OF administra-
tion. Mr.. Davidson was informed by
large operators In the apple business
that there is no lack Of money In the
banks, but that they are Withholding
its investment pending the results of
the presidential campaign. He be-
ieves, however, that lator there will
be a good market for the fine fluit or
Hood River and the coast, and that 1t
will move at profitable prices.
In comparing conditions between
the east and west Nh. Davidson,
whose home was formerly In Ohio,
said:
"After my trip am more than ever
| impressed with the superiority of the
resources and advantages Ut the west
and Oregon In particular over those
| of the east. Nowhere did l find indi-
cations of such prosperity as exists In
the northwest. As an indication OF
| this found no better barometer than
the faces of the people whom l met.
AS came west on my return trip l
noticed that the smiles grew broader
until reached Oregon, which pre-
sented a broad grin of sunshine,
peace and content. For three weeks l
sweltered in the east with the Their
mometeI no higher than 1t reaches
here, the nights being particularly un-
pleasant. Instead of arising in the
fresh and invigorating atmosphere OF
Oregon l got up IN an atmosphere
that was already sizzling. Our ell
mate can not be surpassed, our oppcr-
tunities are unlimited and nowhere
went did | find more progressive and
prosperous class Of people than those
of Oregon and the northwest in gener-
al. | found also that the judioious
advertising campaign that is 6eing
conducted in our state Is accomplish
ing Wonderland is creating an inter
est that can not fail to attract many
desirable residents and added capital
to this section of the country"
Announcement.