The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1910-12-08
President Atwell's Address.

The past year has been an unusually
prosperous one for Oregon lrnit grow
ers. Prunes aud apples have yielded
abundentIy. Prices have been good,
especially of prunes, Apple markets
east, have been duh, owing tu lack OF
concert among shippers
Interest in apple tree planting has
been great throughout entire Pacific
Northwest. Many large areas have
been purchased and suh-divided for
shat purpose. Extent OF such exploita-
ton has led to frequent suggestions of
over-production of apples,
1t is pertinent question, one that
we should not avoid. 1t is however,
an old question, one that is raised,
whenever there is extraordinary activ-
ty in any line of production. | do not
think We need feel apprehensive on this
subject. Generally speaking, it may
be said that there has never been more
than temporary over-supply of any
staple. Apples are as taple. Moreover two
facts s'may be cited parctially to allay our
fears-one, that thousands of acres are
being planted which ought not to be
planted, and which will never seriously
figure in market; the other, that pro-
duction of best apples calls for qualities
of character which all do not possess.
In spite Of these conditions, however,
and in view of immense planting now
going on, or in contemplation, over
production will soon confront u, unless
we'll considered system of marketing
is provided Probability that this Will
be effected affords strongest basis OF con-
fidence that over production will not
follow.
In this connection it seems to me
that investment of large capital, in ex-
ploitation of apple lands, is AL en-
couraging sign, rather than otherwise.
Large capital can accomplish, in or
ganized and cooperation, what great
numbers of snail operators, acting in
dependent, can not accomplish. More
over, such investments lead to group
ing OF those engaged in same line OF
production. This grouping renders CO.
operative effects comparatively easy. 1t
makes possible practice OF sucL busi-
ness methods as will insure most sala
BILE product, and most efficient distri-
button thereof. One who wishes " en-
gage in apple-growing should bear this
fact in mind He should STAY out of
the industry unless he is sure that
large numbers of his neighbors intend
to grow apples. Time will soon come
when the isolated grower will be out OF
the race.
1t seems 10 me yitally important that
comprehensive selling organization be
worked out before output from these
orchards begin to GEEK outlet. Present
time is none too early. Sufficient acre
age is now bearing to give such organ.
ization plenty to do.
believe well-nigh perfect model
| for such organization il presented in
California Fruit Growers Exchange, to
which have often alluded on this floor
and elsewhere. Opportunity was offord-
ed me, during r visit in California last
winter, to study it's operations in some
detail.
California Frnit Growers Exchange
ships about sixty per cent of the citrus
fruits of California. Growers, whose
fruit it handles, number about four
thousand, and are scattered over ter
ritory five hundred miles long. II
has sold fifteen million dollars worth
OF fruit in a year, without losing a
penny in collection. 1t spends fifty
thousand dollars year for advertising
California fruits, pays its mauager
| eight thousand dollars year, and has
several eastern representatives, at
annual salaries of five thousand dollars.
1t has secured reduction in freight
rates east, and increase OF tariff on
lemons. All this it has accomplished,
at an expense to growers never reaching
three per cent Of gross sales.
These results are apparently so re-
variable that | trust you will allow
me to refer to some details OF their sys-
tenn The unit Of organization OF Cali
fornia citrue iruitgrowers is the local,
co-opefa live association, OF which there
are about ninety. The local associa-
tlon picks and packs its members fruit
and labels it with its individual associa-
| tiOn brand.
Above the local associations are thir-
teen incorporated district exchanges,
each having a capital Of only one dol
lar, and each composed OF representa-
tives of local associations within a Ger.
tain district.
Each of the thirteen district ex-
changes elects delegate to the general
exchange, the corporation known as
California Fruitgrowers' Exchange.
The only stockholders the latter has are
these thirteen delegates from district
exchanges and these thirteen consti-
tute its board of directors. Thus it
will be seen seen that the organiza-
tion which is accomplishing the vast
results | have mentioned is not a pri-
vate company but cooperative ma