The Delta independent., 1914-03-06
COLORADO APPLES BRING
MORE THAN BEST ORANGES

on our part to convince us that Colo
RADIO fruit growers are in pretty fair
condition and ought to be very well
state.
On the markets now one can buy n
fine grade of oranges, from California
for from zoe to 30c per dozen. Colo
RADIO apples of the same grade are
worth 40c to 60c per Dozen Now how
much profit the orange growers get
out of this sort of deal we don t
know. OF course 1t is a pleasure to
us to be able to have nice big juicy
oranges at such reasonable price,
but having had experience from the
growing end in the apple deal it ap-
pears that the Valifornia orange
growers can not be getting exceeding
ly rich.
tions Of California have been the mod
els after which the growers of Colo
rado have been trying to pattern. True
they haven't made very big profits
and are not close to the goal, but al
ways we hear of the immense success
of the California organizations in the
getting big prices for the growers OF
that state. Now it may be possible
that the California organizations are
making big returns to the growers,
but it doesn't look possible when first
grade oranges can be bought in Colo
rado for as low as 3Oc per dozen
1t is probably true that with their
well oiled machinery the California
organizations have less waste in get
ting from the growers to the markets,
but on the same ratio if the Colorado
apples sold for the same price as
the California oranges there would
MT be anything coming to the grower
but bills for freight TO be paid
After looking at the matter from
every angle there is everything in
favor of owning an orchard in Colo
rado over the possession of an orange
grove in California Take. for in
stance, the terrible wet season that
state has just been going through
with its floods causing loss OF life and
damage to property. Colorado is
never troubled in that way and who
would care for a prettier climate than
is enjoyed by Coloradoans taking the
average for the year Next to the
pleasure of living there is the pro-
duction of crop that is worth more
on the market than the orange crop.
II is doubtful whether there are many
properties in the fruit districts of
Colorado that would be traded, acre
for acre, for any orange grove by any
person who had lived in both states
Colorado also enjoys a better freight
and refrigeration rate to points south
and west of Chicago. Included with
this is storage in transit without ex-
ira charge. We can also make quicker
delivery to southern markets
If il requires such high class and
extensive organizations as the Califor.
mans have to get the low prices that
they get and without this organiza-
tion prices would be very much less
consider what such an organization
could do for the apple crop OF Colo
rado. Cooperative organizations are
the necessary thing these days, but it
is very doubtful whether the apple
growers will ever be combined into
an organization like the California
are too many diversified sections of
the country to serve In an apple or
ganization. 1t would be impossible to
control the apple crop as the orange
crop is controlled and If such control
meant similar prices 1t would be bet
ter to have some competition from
the marketing end.
While there are good many things
that would work for the general ben
eft of the Colorado fruit grower II
the whole. conditions are very good
and there is very little room for one
to complain Compared with Calf
ornia there is nothing to be desired
except her flowers and We can have
them in this state at the proper sea
son of the year-maybe not so large
and highly fragrant Where is the ex-
perienced man in communities like
Paonia, Hotchkiss, Cedaredge, Palis-
ade or dozen other fruit-growing
centers who would trade their orch
ards acre for acre with California
FOR SALE OR RENT-House four