The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1914-11-06
APPLE EXPECTATION
EXCEEDS LAST YEAR
Shipments to Foreign Countries Double
Those of last year-Manager of
Fruit Exchange Talks

/ =
last year?" This question was asked
of w. F. Gwin, general manager of the
Northwestern Fruit Exchange, in view
of the government reports that up to
October 10th the export movement Of
apples was IS per cent heavier than
the corresponding period of year ago.
This fact is rendered all the more
remarkable" said Mr.. Gwin, because
most OF the shipments are going to
England, while Hamburg and Bremen,
which were big receiving ports last
year, are now cut off by reason of the
war. And through the German free
ports very extensive markets in all
previous years have been fed our ap-
piles.
Liverpool has received 1875, 1867
barrels this year as against 91,816 for
the same period in 1913. This is
more than twice the volume. Glasgow
and London show similar increases,
thereby seeming to disprove the pre-
diction that the great European war
would cut off expectation of apples.
Theresa reason for il" continued
the fruit man. 1t lies in the market
conditions Of this country. Enormous
home productions and the ultra con-
servatism OF bankers have rendered
buyers more timid than usual. Never
before has this stage of the season
found so many growers holding their
own apples. AS general thing, deal
ers buy up big blocks of stock and put
them into cold storage to be parceled
out to the trade as the season ad-
vances. That is how the deal has
been handled from time immemorial.
These dealers are afraid or hampered
this year and they are leaving much of
the apple crop in the hands OF the
the growers themselves. Unprece-
dented conditions are therefore likely
cause unheard of developments.
Nov, take into consideration that
nearly all these exports are consign-
ments. English buyers are circulariz-
ing growers. offering to advance freight
charges. In other years the foreigners
had to buy outright or make liberal ad
vances. Meanwhile most of the east
ern growers are finding it necessary to
consign, if they make any sales at
home. Not being able to sell out
right, not getting any better offers at
home than abroad, having little conf
dence in home markets, they are con-
signing barrels to England.
Reports from abroad incicate that
each weeks huge receipts are being
cleared promptly to make room for the
succeeding weeks receipts and the
demand from the Baltic ports-Scandi-
navia, etc., which formerly belonged
largely to German exporters, is helping
the English cleayances. However,
prices on the other side are low, pro-
portionate to the large supply, and the
Exchange is sending only very small
parcels forward-a sharp contrast to its
heavy exports OF previous years. Our
London office is doing little more than
mark time and keep our Portland Of
fee posted by letter and cable on the
market developments. The British
markets this year appeal to US as an
extremely dangerous proposition and
we think that those who use it without
intimate knowledge and the best facili
ties are liable to get their fingers
burned.
THE Exchange is succeeding in
selling the bulk OF its tonnage in
America on the (. o. b. basis. Not
withstanding unparalleled conditions,
which caused Us to engage an unusual
amount of storage, our actual sales
have so far exceeded expectations, that
yesterday we released los carloads
storage capacity in the East, which is
nearly two-thirds the space our con-
tracts called for. We had no difficulty
in getting release, for others are clam
oring for storage"