The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1909-03-18
APPLE Box
BILL c IINGED
SUBSTITUTE BILL IS INTRODUCED
Its Provisions, However, are Unfair
and Would Upset Hood River
Packing System.

west mas developed to the proposed
bill to make uniform box package
for apples, that a substitute to the
Porter bill has been introduced in
congress, which modifles somewhat
the drastic provisions Of the former
bill, hut still would demoralize the
whole system of the Hood River pack.
The bill seems to have been originated
by the Chicago commission men, who
have been handling mostly Colorado
and other box apples, which are of a
different size from that used by the
coast country, and while the different
sizes OF box packages are no doubt
some annoyance TO them, they do not
realize the damsRe 1t would do to us
in compelling us to change our whole
system Of pack. In Colorado, where
ten sizes of apples are put in one box
and called fancy Epack, almost any
size or shape of box can be made to
fit.
The new bill calls for box contain
ing 2342 cubic inches Of fruit, but the
shape OF the box can be left to the
grower. A bushel contains 2l50 cubic
inches, while with the bulge Hood
River pack contains 2200 cubic inches.
Our apples are grown and graded to
sizes which exactly ft the boxes now
In use, and also exactly I'll Car,
eight rows wide. But seven rows OF
the new box would 60 in a car, and
then leave space on one side. The
whole northwest is up in arms against
the proposed chsnge, and we have as
surance from our friends in congress
that the bill will be defeated. Yet,
should the bill pass, 1t Is believed by
legal authorities that we could still
sell our apples in the present size
box, but could not call them stand.
ard, simply Hood River pack.
However, should the comission men
In Chicago or other places boycott our
apples should we refuse to use the
new size box, 1t would work a hard
ship and loss, for the time is near
at hand when we will have to 60 into
every market in the country with our
apples, and not be confined to the
New York market alone.
Manager Huxley has sent the fol.
lowing letter explaining our position
and objections to the proposed new
law, which has been printed in most
Of the eastern fruit trade papers, and
is as follows:
Hood River Ore, March l.
Considerable discussion Of the Por-
ter bill has appeared from time to
time in the various trade papers,
but mostly fIom the point OF view Of
the commission men. We presume
other associations like ourselves have
been ioath to put themselves on rec
ord as opposing a measure which was
undoubtedly meant to improve the
apple business, but which In our
judgment would have the opposite
effect so far as apples packed in boxes
are concerned.
Regarding the Porter bill. we wish
to say 1t Is very evident to us that the
persons responsible for the intI oduc.
tion of this bill do not fully under
stand the hardship such measure
would inevitsbley work upon the ap-
pie growers OF the northwest, all Of
whom pack their apples In boxes.
For US to undertake to explain to the
commission men who are pushing this
bill the process OF properly packing
box of apples, would be very much
like the task surgeon would en-
counter in attempting to enlighten
butcher regarding the process OF am
putating a patients leg. The result
obtained would be very similar.
Methods differ. A few vigorous
slastes of the butcher knife, half
dozen mufiled rasps of the saw, a dull
siekening thud as the leg dropped ino
the basket, and the butchers job is
done. But what of the patientY He
t,,l,k hat hn nhah
pine some. So with the apple busi-
ness of the northwest. lt might sur
vive the ordeal OF the commission
mans butcher knife anil meat saw,
but it would unquestionably pine
little 1t is this pining process we
wish to avoid, and besides leg is a
pretty good thing to keep; we need
ours to climb with.
The northwest apple growers do not
deem an operation necessary at this
time.
1t takes an average man two seasons
OF careful work to become an expert
apple packer. The net results are
about as follows: l. Coed apples.
2. A foil box Of apples packed tight
in the box. 3. Sizes uniform; the
apples not varying Ii inch in diame-
ter. 4. Apples packed high enough
in the boxes in layers. 5. Apples
packed high enough In the boxes to
afford sufficient tulge for the top
and bottom of the boxes to hold the
apples firmly in place. 6. Enough
apples In box to measure appIoxi-
mately bushel. The contents Of the
two sizes of apple boxes we now use
are respectively 2.l73 cubic inches
and 2, 200 cubic inches. The swell on
top and bottom increases the cubical
contents approximately 200 cubic In
ches, making contents considerably
more than the Porter bill calls for:
namely, 2,342 cubic inches. All Of
these requirements are met by our
present method Of packing apples.
The results have been very satisfact-
ory; our fruit reaches the highest
priced trade in world, and our grow
ers are making money. We are doing
a good job, and don't relish the idea
of any body botohing 1t for us
Our present boxes we're adopted
after a great deal of costly experience
with different sizes, and 1t has taken
US years to perfect our system OF
packing. We know our part of the
business, and we know we know 1t.
ANY change in the size Of our boxes
would demoialize our system Of pack
ing. Our apples fit our present boxes,
and will not Ht any other size. The
trade knows our pack. and would not
know any other pack in connection
With our shipments. We are satisfied
that such a change ne the Porter bill
advocates would cripple the apple in.
dustry OF the Pacific Northwest. Our
system of packing is one of our bust
ness legs; the quality of our apples 10
the other; we need them both. Shoe
the butcher away!
Hood River Apple Growers Unoin.
no. urxIay ManaoAr