The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-09-03

house will reap good returns and will
not suffer.
The Association will not handle in
regular pools this year any fruit below
the c grade, and all apples below this
grade may be sold outside the organic
alton or may be subject to special con-
tract.
The war situation was threshed over.
Mr.. Davidson told the growers that
not only would the European exports
be cut off, but that American growers
would have to contend with Canadian
fruit, while the fruit products of the
tropical regions. not finding an Euro
pean outlet, would be placed on sale in
American markets.
The vital bearing Of the European
war on the apple crop of the northwest,
necessitating the most conservative ac-
tion by growers and creating the need
for extensive storage at eastern mar
kets was brought out forcibly in the
meeting of the board of trustees Of the
North Pacific Fruit Distributors last
week. The further fact that the North
western apple crop amounts to only
1860 cars, over so per cent of which
is controlled by the Distributors, was
revealed during this session.
The board of trustees has held one
of the best meetings in the history OF
the organization, one of deep interest
TO the fruit growers of the northwest
and one marked by enthusiastic unity
of action by the representatives of the
growers affiliated with the Distribu-
tor" stated General Manager Robbins
in an interview issued after adjourn.
ment.
IAN important feature was the re.
port of the president and'myself on ouI
recent eastern trip which presented
our observations relating to the inhu.
ence of the war on the fruit outlook
and the conclusions which we reached
after conferences with eastern bankers
and important factors in the trade.
THE probable opening prices for ap,
| Piles this season, which, of course, are
directly effected by existing conditions
was the subject under deliberatior
throughout most of the final day 3 ses.
sion. The board was unanimous in its
agreement on the feasibility of agar
pursuing last years policy of starting
prices on basis sufficiently attractive
to the trade to induce the early anC
prompt movement of the crop and tC
avoid harvest time Generalization. II
is confident that Notwithstanding ad
verse circumstances we shall be able
to maintain a gradually rising scale.
"All of the elements entering into
the price problem were most thorough
y considered, and. after discussion
of minimum price, the details OF
pricing were left to the management.
This is not year for Mysteries and
determinations, although of course, the
war situation is world calamity
Nationally we have set an example OF
peace and order. The bankers anC
business men of the east are counsel
ling conservatism and the fruit mer
will do well to emulate their example
in harvesting their crops. Former av
enues of trade have been cut off, anC
we must develop new channels for &
wider distribution within our available
territory.
1--WE strongly urge growers not t
become disheartened and discouraged
and warn them not to attempt to un
dermine the market by trying to gain
temporary advantage over their neigh
bOrs. 1t is foregone conclusion tina
our harvest will not be absorbed b!
cash buyers aud spectators. and tn,
burden of carrying through the stool
until ii can be consumed rests on tn,
growers themselves. 1t is useles TO
them to think that they can hurry thi
process and get ahead of their fellow
growers without bringing disaster upol
themselves as we'll as the others, be
fore they have disposed of their entir'
crop.
Therefore, we earnestly advise thu
growers to place their tonnage in tn,
hands of some large factor or organic
alton, comprehensive enough in scop
to be able to move the crop in a sys
tematic, deliberately ordered manner
Business men in the communities ef
fected should lend every energy in thi
direction just now. If this is done "
can take a more optimistic view of th
future. Our attitude is not ssselfisf
Our recommendation to the grower
are born of information which "
have obtained from many markets an
conferences with prominent figures i
the trade throughout the country.
Reports presented at the boar
meeting developed the fac that to dat
this year we have shipped !, l53 cars
as against 303 last year, an increase G
approximately 300 per cent.