Arizona republican., 1910-11-17
'B|G PRICES . FUR ORANGES Growers Expect New Record
 To Be Made
  PICKING COMMENCES SOON Though Fruit Will Not Be in Thanksgiving Market, It Will Be Offered at an Opportune When No Other Is to Be Had.
PICKING COMMENCES SOON

the eastern markets by Thanksgiving
 there is every prospect that a new rec
 ord price will be reached this season
 The excellence of the fruit and the
 state of the market lead growers tC
 hopes for a top price of between $1C
 and SIP. The previous record is $9.S5 a box, made three years ago.
 Despite the anxious inquiries of Emil Zucca, the New York commission mer- chant who has again secured a con-
 tract to handle the fruit of the Ari- zona Orange association in that mar ket. the association has determined not to begin picking until the oranges are perfectly colored. The packing house will be opened the last of this week or the first of next and the first car will be shipped two or three days after that
 J. F. Barker & Co, who are handling independent oranges, will ship their first car tomorrow. Fruit has been coming in to Barker for several days and is being taken care of in the packing house which has been estab- lished in the basement of that firms establishment. The oranges are fairly well cOlOred and by the time they reach the market it is claimed that they will be as ripe as though they had remained on the trees.
 There is no possibility of any Arizona oranges reaching New York in time for Thanksgiving. Though fruit is given preference over all other kinds of freight, fourteen days are required to transport of a carload of oranges from Phoenix to New York. The association has decided that it is not profitable enough to pick oranges before they are fully ripe in order to rush them into the Thanksgiving market.
 Zucca has written the association several letters asking when orange picking and shipping will begin in the Salt river valley. To all these letters the association has replied that the fruit will be in New York before Cali fornia's navels.
 The supply of California Valencias is now almost exhausted. Best grade Va lencias are selling in New York for $9.371A a box and in few days there figure California's navels will not be on the market for several weeks after the Valencias are exhausted. In the meantime the Arizona crop will be at time particularly favor able for obtaining high prices for high class fruit
 As in former years, the oranges will be auctioned off. New York dealers will be very anxious to get the Arizona fruit when it is thrown on the market, for it will not only be the finest of the entire season but the only citrus to be had at that time, Bidding is certain to be brisk.
 The first carload should sell well above Valencias. There are some who hope for SIP a box and it is quite pos sible that that high price will be ob- tained. In fact California lemons are now selling for $12 wholesale and no one will be greatly surprised if navel oranges should bring more.
 Orange growers were jubilant when the rain came. The rain was worth thousands of dollars to them. In the first place it washed off the fruit and the trees, leaving them nice and clean. It has also brought cooler weather, which means the more rapid ripening of the oranges. In addition the roads into the city will be better in a few days, facilitating the handling of the crop.
 Had it not been for the continued warm weather during the fall, the oranges would now be ripe. Cool weather was required to kill all the new growth, thus forcing the more rapid coloring of the fruit.
 Florida is not a great factor in the citrus fruit market this year. Oranges and grape fruit are already being shipped from that state to New York. but they are green as well as covered with rust and scale. The quality is very poor indeed and the Florida will offer no competition tol the Arizona fruit
 As soon as picking begins, the orange association will supply Fred Harvey, of the Santa Fe eating house system, with 150 boxes Q week. provid- ed negotiations now being carried on Ire consummated. Recently a represen- ative of Harvey named Mccormick vas in Phoenix. While here he inter 'iewed President J. Q. A. King and ,ther officers of the association, who , eceived his proposition favOrably. | The oranges which Harvey takes will De served at eating houses, in Santa 'e diners and sold on the trains.