The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1913-03-06
FRIIT LABORER ASKS
FOR BETTER QUARTERS

Cie0ne, ore, Feh. 70 1918
To the Editor;
Having read the able article on Econ
omV ir Fruit Growing, which was
ruflishqd ,u the Oregonian on Febru-
an Ig. may I. as yearly employe IN
81 Hood River orchards, suggest some
Other means al economy when year oy
wear seem % De entirely lost sight OF,
an at best trsatedEn a very apathetic
manner. | refer 10 the position Of the
grower and his hired help; more es-
SeciaIlv al thinning and picking time.
sprsIy al these most necessary periods
the groWer must realize how important
botb ars 10 him financially, and to his
trees as regards vitality. Does the
ordinary help at these vital periods
fo nse trite eHpression-"fill the
H19" Do the growers make 1t worth
while for their employees to exercise
care ard tho1ghtfulness in the thin
ming and picking Of their apples; How
MANY of the Hood River growers can
e0usrieutiOusly assert that they take
arv care o. thought for the comfort Of
fbeir NECESSARY help! The accommo-
dstions offered to people, many OF
whom core from comfortable homes,
W6gId hardly be- welcomed as such by
the veriest hobo. On most ranches
there is no provision Of any kind for
sfelterug the help that must be had
twice d YEAR
One would be surprised at the class
and STAMP of men who yearly visit
Hood River In June and October, in
search of a few extra dollars and a
chance to leave more sedentary occu-
nations for the iuyigoratlng air and
pleasant work in the orchards. They
20 away disgusted, never to return,
and Hood River does not advertise IT.
self to any advantage.
is there any economy IN this? The
writer handles thousands of apples
yearly in Hood River and no longer
wonders why box after box of other
wise fancy apples arrive at the pack
ing house literally black and blue with
bruises. As long as the boss is
round all is we'll As soon as he is out
of sight. apples are swept and raked
from the limbs with props, stray ap-
ple out of reach even with the danger
Gus triuod ladder. is knocked off by
throwing others at it. The branches
are shaken to save the trouble of
climbing up. Many of the trees are so
thick with limbs that it is impossible
to climb inside the tree, and a ladder
cannot be thrust near enough without
breaking limbs and injuring fruit. Thet
apples are then picked from the ground,
dumped in any manner into the orch
ard box and eventually find their way
TO the Gull box from the packer
table. If by chance one demonstrates,
what is the inevitable reply? What
do care for his apples? The owner
takes no care of me. | have to sleep
and eat any old place, wet or dry. ]
only get 20 cents per hour, why should
| consider the owner?"
The same at thinning time; spurs
and leaves strew the ground until hur-
riedly covered over with soil before
the "boss" comes around. Time and
again have such things come to my
notice. Thinners and pickers of the
right, reliable kind would gladly return
each year and take a personal interest
n the care of tree and fruit if any
kind of thought were bestowed upon
their comfort and welfare. No luxury
is expected or wanted. A decent cabin,
a tight roof and a stove. Not leaky
tent, or the wet ground, or perhaps
a corner in the barn or an outhouse.
AS long as the grower relies upon
sthox car' help, so Yong will these con-
ditons exist. The housewives on
ranches naturally do not relish the idea
of entertaining hobos, or supplying
them with bedding and blankets, not
knowing where their guests slept last,
The writer has been fortunate
enough to nave fairly comfortable
quarters how many have not? Every
care is taken to see that the packers
have the best of everything. Naturally
the pickers expect to have some kline
of shelter provided and some regard
paid to their comfort. Hood River ha.
bad name in this respect and it is
''up to" the growers to see that suct
conditions can with little expense bt
materially altered for the better
| Surely there would be economy in this
Trusting that have not trespassseC
upon your valuable space, and assuring
you that | epxress the sentiments o.
thnners and pickers, with whom
come in contact every season, beg tt
remain, Yours respectfully,
Richard II. Cayzer.