The Daily Missoulian. [volume] (Missoula, Mont.) 1904-1961, 1913-01-13
NO OVERPR0DUC7|0N
OF APPLES
TROUBLE Is UNDER-CONSUMP-
TON AND Is CAUSED BY RE-
TAlLERS' HIGH PROFITS.

There seems to be a generous sup
port extended the Consumers league,
an organization devoted to reducing
the high cost Of living, throughout the
west. Karl j. ~Stackland, a prominent
fruitgroWer of cove Ore. is of the
opinion that the fr~uitgrowers Of the
country can do much to assist the
league ana is urging growers to do so
in the following letter, which ne has
sent out very generally:
You are, no doubt, fully aware of the
fact that the demand for and con-
sumption of apples has decreased from
year to year, jobbers. shippers and
growers ave been put to their wits
end trying to move the 1912 crops, and
without success as tens of millions of
barrels were never packed for the
markets, large quantities not even
picked, saying nothing about the enor~
nous amour canned, dried and made
into vinegar, etc. This out of n total
crop of only about So, 900. 600 barrels,
maximum estimate.
In the hard times of IS and 16 years
aso we had much larger apple crops,
one year over $4,000, 600 barrels. that
was readily sold at remunerative
prices to the growers and hat crop
was nearly -four times as large AS the
1912. according to the population and
buying ability of the country.
Then what is the reason for this
condition?
The retail margins have gradually
gone up till they now are nearly 1000
per cent greater than they We're in
1896. Then the retailer was satisfied
with a gross margin of % to so prr
cent on all staple fruits and produce
While now he lcvies from 100 to 500
per cent ON apples, generally about
400 per cent profit, and has killed O
sumption in the same ratio.
a barrel of apples that sells for s.
to SO on the docks in New York is
retailed for 25 cents per quart, or at
the rate Of $50 per barrel, A box that
costs $1.50 is retailed for SIS to $40. In
other cities the retail profit ranges
from 100 to 500 per cent, according to
quantity ana local conditions.
But, now that the CONSUMERS
league has started a determined
move to stop these cXtortions and &c
help the public to buy apples for q
reasonable price according to thoil
wholesale values, let US all join hands
with them, aCk them UP in every way
we know how SO they may win Tho
fight and get paplcS to rctail some
thing like ranges 10 to so cents pei
! dozen or 5 to 10 cents per quart, ac
crrding to size and quality. one dol
lar nor I,y nrnfit >thn,, hrpl4r, an,
50 cents when sold unbroken SHOULD
satisfy any retailer and in tho same
proportion according to cost on bar,
relied and bulk stock.
And what would the probable result
be? Why the consumption Woul,
double in a short time, perhaps four,
double, as the present population o
Il natural markets should CONSUME
about $50, 600, 900 barrels per year ac,
cording' to what they have done in tn,
past.
There is no OVor-production of ap
pies. but u radical undcr-consumptioI
that can and must be rcmcdied Withou
delay for the welfare of the producer
dealer and consumer alike,
Therefore, while the CONSUMERS
lCaguc, numbering A,oOO, 600 mellbCfS
arc making their fight for r~casonahl
retail prices, let us all put our shoul
dors to the wheel and bring about tn
condition that will do so much t.
solve the future of this and allied in
duStri"s, There is no time to lose, OK
crt your influence through ever,
channel at your command and in
few weeks the result will he felt,
Yours for general action.
KARL j. STRICKLAND.