The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-04-16
GROWERS HEAR
OPTIMISTIC TALK
MALBOEUF TELLS CANAL BENEFITS
Manager Of Transportation League Pre-.
SentS Cheering Facts at Commercial
Club---GOOd Roads Day Set


Bringing a message of optimism to
the fruit grower, the address of c. A.
Malboeuf, manager of the North
western Fruitgrowers Transportation
League, created deep interest among
the business men of the city and the
valley growers who were present at
the Commercial club Monday evening
to hear the Transportation League
manager tell of the benefits that would
accrue to them with the opening of the
Panama canal Mr. Malboeuf's state
ments were not general, but were
backed by fact and figure. Mr.. NAL
boeuf told of the general purposes of
the League, which has recently held
meetings in Portland, where 1t has
headquarters. Ii includes in its repre-
senIation practically all the districts
and associations in the Columbia river
basin and many in Washington. 1t has
for its aim the bettering of transporta-
tlon facilities for the fruit grower, to
secure for all a means of reaching at
the greatest economy the market cen
ters of the entire globe. AS the weeks
elapse it will further determine its pol
icies ON a definite basis and representa-
ti9es of the different organizations,
component parts of it, will take part
in the tasks before them.
"Our work will not be spectacular. "
said Mr.. Malbouef, land you may not
see newspaper reports of what we are
doing, but our forces will be quietly
and necessarily at work, putting into
effect forces that will benefit the fruit
grower.
Just previous TO the address of Mr..
Malboeuf, the chairman of the Com-
mercial club Dock committee had made
report, which was followed by a dis
cussion. This gave MIR. MalbOeuf a
lead for his talk. ''ln four months
time, the Panama canal will be open,
and in eight months the Cello canal
will be ready for river traffic. The
completion of sthese waterways will
mean tremendous saving to the fruit
grower. 1t means that we must be
ready with river facilities. When we
look to benefits that will be derived we
must not consider the original cost. If
the river is going to be valuable, you
must prepare for it, and quickly" "
Mr.. Malboeuf pointed out the STRAIT
egetic point occupied by Hood River on
the Columbia. He declared that no
obstacles were in the way of the deep
water boats, and that a cargo placed
on the river boats in the evening would
be in place on steamer docks the next
morning. He showed that river trans
portation facilities were going to
change. The kind of craft will change
| from the ordinary steamer to the type
of barge that will handle larger quan.
/ titles of freight matter, and all this
calls for the more modernly equipped
deep water wharf. where barges car
dock and load quickly.
"Anyone familiar with the tonnage
of the Inland Empire, said the Trans
poItation man, will know that river
transportation is sure to follow" He
pointed out how docks could be made
self supporting. calling attention to the
wonderful facilities at present in use
in San Francisco.
IL am glad to see the note of optim-
ism as expressed here, " he said. "lt
| is right. During the recent past we
have all felt more or less depressed.
| II we had looked forward, we could
easily have been stimulated TO optim.
ism. We could have felt the co0pera.
ton that has been brought about. The
Northwest fruit districts are today The
best equipped with cooperative organ
izations of any deciduous fruit com
munities in the world. The entire
country feels this way about the north
west fruit districts and realizes that
the manner of organization should bt
followed by all the land. And the fruit
industry is returning to the high roat
to success.
Mr.. Malboeuf touched on the decrease
that would take place III rates. "Muct
has been said and written by theor
ists," said Mr.. Malboeuf. They have
told US that rates would be cut in half
In fact in some instances they will bC
reduced 20 per cent. The work of get
ting steamer lines has been no child
play. A huge movement Is being mad'
to shake the northwest SO that it viii
be laggard in placing cargoes. H'
pointed out how tonnage of all com
modites would work hand in hand.
MIR. Malboeuf pointed out the neces
sity Of home storage. The Hood Rive
district was commended on its fore
sight in securing units of storage
plants to handle large crops. Steamer
have made ready to put into servlct
vessels with retrigerating facilities.
In discussing the reduction in rate
on apples Mr.. Malboeuf gave the fol
lowing figures: The decrease will b.
from 20 to 20 cents per box to easter
points of the United States, or abOu
Sl20 a car and from 35 to 40 cents pc
box, or from 5000 to $40 per car t.
European points.
"Ihe Increased consumption Of frui
in the world will be incredible, wheI
the canal brings about these economi
charges, he said. lie called attention
to the increase that would follow il
Alaska and British Columbia, in Homo
lulu, in Manila, in the Orient and il
Egypt.
Mr.. Malboeuf touched upon the eco
nomic factor of good roads. He told o
the cheapness with which Lewiston
Idaho, transports its fruit to the ship
ping point, on account of the construC
tion of har1surfaced roads, and polnte
out how much could be accomplishe
here with the downhlll pull TO tn
river.
At the close of his speech MIR. Ma
toeuf was terdered a rising vote @
thanks by the members of the Con
mercfal club.
The club at the Monday night meet
i ing adopted the report of ID. u. CruiF
shank, recommending red and green a
the colors of the organization, the re
representing the SpitZenburg and tn
Il green the foliage of the trees.
II A discussion of the dam at the mout
Il of the Hood river came up, when &.
Molden reported that the city counc
| had referred the matter to the iinanC
Il committee. The additional work
II the dam, which is necessary to preser,
construction done last year. will co
approximately $780," said State Fi'
II and Game Commissioner Duncan in a
Ill =, r,,,asY;o, h,, u n Rlap ha y