The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1911-03-26
BIG MONEY SPENT
FOR BIG PLANT.
Fruit Growers No Longer at
Mercy Of Brokers and Specu-
lators-Ri c h m n d to Be
Fruit Distributing Point
for All the State-Mod-
ern Plant.
ny FRANK S. WoODsoN.
Industrial Editor.

Virginia is fast becoming the great.
est fruit-srowing State In this great
big country 1t is natural that 1t
should be. Climatic conditions, safety
from frost, a safety guaranteed by the
shape Of the protective mountains. the
adaptiblity of the soil to apples and
peaches and the other kinds OF fruits
and whole lot Of other advantages
not necessary to enumeratc here, all
tend to mako the old State the fruit
growing centre OF the universe. There
is no trouble about making the fruit,
but there has been some trouble about
marketing it to the advantage of ths
grower.
The grower OF APPLES. for instance,
has had but little If any difficulty in
making tho fruit His trouble came
in marketing 1t. The time was, and
as a matter of fact now is. when the
grower was and Is much within the
power or the buyer and the broker
and the commission merchant. who
stands in between the grower and the
consumer and stands there TO make
big profit that he does not really earn,
the middlcman. YOU know. 5s
O1d-'FImc Doctrine.
More than, two years ago T wrote
an article In tho Industrial Section. II
in the which urged Richmond capt
tai TO come TO the rescue OF tho Nir-
Ginia fruit growers and save them
from the onsaughts OF the go between
fellows who We're then rcaping all Of
the fruits of the laburs OF the apple
growers and the peach growers OF the
counties OF Virginia that had or might
have big orchards. have kept up
80 I, i,,IN ,s =,
expect 10 keen it up world without
end The point made or tried to
make was that Richmond ought to DO
the distributing point for all Of tho
fruit grown in Virginia.
The Logical Depot.
lHchmonu is naturally Il DISTRIBUTE
ing point for pretty much everything,
It's railway facilities and its steamboat
lines making il So. Why should 1t
not be the Virginia fruit distributing
point rs Well? The trouble was il
had not the storage facilities called
tor BY the rapid development OF tho
fruit growing interest. Tho fruit
growers of the state were ii little
ahead OF the city Development. ana
While thus ahead they became tho
victims Of the fruit dealers and spec
ulators and brokers and commission
merchants and what not. 60 the north
OF us. These spectators and pirates.
II | may so call them, came down from
the Northern markets and bought the
apples in the orchard, bought them at
their own price and made all OF the
money out Of the Virginia orchards.
What the Virginia orchard ownerA
wanted WAS a storage plant within tho
borders OF the state where they could
Put their stock and hold it for winter
prices instead of being forced to sell
IN the summer months while the fruit
. "A jr~II
rs the pirates were willing to Offer ~
Richmond 10 the front.
iichlnond enterprise and Richmond
capital has come TO tho rescue. From
now on Virginia apple orchardists need
have no fear OF the fellows that come +
fruit on the tree.
Eugene Robinson, 4 fruit dealer or
t.ary street has studied out this prob
lem, ana as result Of his studies he
mas put uD all the money necessary to
pnllu II iichmond q bis storage plant
That ~ going TO be a protection for
the iruit growers. IT takes good deal
Of money to mako Il plant like Mr.
Robinson had in view Ills con tract
With one Of the biggest con tractors
IN the country contemplates the eN-
Rcnuitlrc Of 100000, This means thar
= cutu storage plant /. 70 be erected,
ana = now being erected, at Eigh-
icoieth and Clay streets that Will cost
ing last week, and according TO ths
Terms OF the contract With the builders
itWiii be completed by the first or
middle Of next September, and Eugene
Robinson viii be ready 10 receive ship-
incnts OF al Kinds vi fruit and other
thinSs BY date not later than Oc-
toner /. sG
The building Will be concrete fire-
PROOF affair, consisting Of five storias,
"llicn VIII stand lis feet on Eigh-
tccEtl strcGt By l2l on Clay Street
IN ice factory Will. OF course, be 4;
part OF the OUTFIT. and while this fec
FACTORY Is primarily intended to fur-
nish coldncSs for the storage business
Ecompctitor for the Ice business, a com-
peitor against what is now generally
called the Ice trust.
The Hest Yet.
/ The building, Is being erected under
(; contract by David !. Davis, of Chicago,
/; con tractor who has made a speciality
Of building cold storage plants, having
[ nut W not less than hundred. and
business. Nh Davis declares that lie
K is now erecting the best and most
complete establishment he has ever YET
worked upon TIC cntitc building Is to
| iie of reinforced concrete and iireprooffl
\ throughout. gS#
!! Willie the outllt Is primarily for
iiiiit storage, ana viii navc /, capacity
! FOR 5000 barrels OF aprlcs,6i 1t Will bog
4 4 general storage establishment One
illarge room has been sor apar. for the
market men Viii have 9 haven they
j,ayc long Wished for Another room
! VIII lie devoted 70 the care of sfurs
/ that the good women folks Will wish
months. still another room VIII hA
Icvoted 10 the care OF small frutta II
and Vegetables. to be taken lit charge
| temporarily while the good housewife