The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1914-07-02
CANAL WILL REDUCE
DRIED FRUIT RATE

(From Fruit and Produce DistributOr)
Within two days after the first load
ed steamer entered the Panama canal
1.-THE Santa Clara, Of the Atlantic &
Pacific Steamship Company, word was
received by the Fruit Growers Trans
portation League Of the first great
benefits which the fruit industry is TO
receive through the canals operation.
For the first time in Panama canal his
tory definite information is now given
TO the growers of the northwest, and
while il only covers dried fruits and
canned goods, the saving in freight
rates IS so tremendous as to point the
way to the equally great advantages
that all branches in fruit growing are
certain tc get.
The reductions in dried fruit rates
are startling. AS compared with the
present rate of 100 cents per hundred
weight from Portland and Seattle to
New York City, the direct water rate
through Panama will be 37s cents, and
with dock charges, lighterage and
marine insurance, the total rate be-
tween the ports will not exceed 40
cents per 100 pounds. Adding the To-
cal rates to Portland, the dried fruit
shippers will have through rate from
Willamette valley shipping points to
New York City and other eastern sea
ports ranging from As cents to 63 cents.
This will cover more than 85 per cent
of the Oregon dried fruit territory,
while Clarke county, Washington. will
have from Vancouver the low record
rate of 45 cents by water as compared
with one dollar by rail. Even the
Umpqua valley points 200 miles in the
interior from Portland, will be able to
save So and upwards per ton. As
whole the dried fruit growers will save
not less than Sl60 on every car han
died by water. Dried fruit shippers
are astounded at the possibilities
which the water movement opens up.
Under the influence of equally low
rates. the canning and by-product in
dustries will Immediately commence
to grow into enormous proportions.
For years the crying need of the grow
er has been for relief in some way as
void enable him to utilize his small
fruits and by-products on basis that
would assure profit, and the Panams
canal more than fulfills his fondest
hopes. The same steamer rate of 81!
cents per 100 pounds will apply or
canned goods, and the whole of the
canning field in western Oregon, Clarke
county and the Columbia valley, will
save move than $l40 car. With rea
steamboat competition on the Columbia
and Willamette rivers, the total saving
will run close to 5000 on every cal
shipped.
c. A. Malboeuf, manager of the
Fruit Growers Transportation League,
who has been the pioneer and incessant
worker for Panama canal service anC
rates, modestly states that this is only
the beginning of new things. He says
81 have always been profound be-
lever in Panama because in CONNER
ciaized terms it means prosperity.
Rates on apples, potatoes, soft fruits
and all other produce will feel an equa
effect in rate reduction, .but to my
mind the rates will even go lower thar
the first ones we have been instru
mental in getting. We are assured
that the apple rates will be announced
to US in very short time, and will bt
so low as to startle every grower
throughout the northwest. The figures
already named on canned goods ant
dried fuits are simply an index o
what we may expect. What we neet
we shall get Service to New Yorl
this season is certainty, barring un
foreseen accidents to the canal, an,
there will be enough steamers fitte
with refrigeration to carry an immens
quantity of our apples to the east b.
water. W. R. Grace & Company, oI
Grating the Atlantic & Pacific line
have named the rates given and thei
fleet of modern vessels is ready or sci
vice. Service to Europe, the Orient
Egypt, South American markets, Aus
tralia, and many other countries is a
most equally certain this year. Th
Transportation League is looking afte
all these matters, and it is now up
the salesman to get busy"