Payette enterprise. (Payette, Canyon Co., Idaho) 1909-1935, 1914-09-10

That the Northwestern apple croI
has fallen off 10000 cars, or approx
mately 40 per cent since blossom
time, or at least is that much short
of the early estimates, was revealed
at the meeting of the board of truste-
es of the North Pacific Fruit Distri-
butors which was held in Spokane
during the past week to complete ar
rangements for the ensuing apple
shipping season.
The estimate officially compiled
last week is 1850 cars of apples
from the four states of Washington,
Oregon, Idaho and Montana. These
figures are the result of the most
comprehensive canvass ever made in
the northwest They were gathered at
the expense of considerable time and
money and include all districts.
The common estimate during the
blossom period was from 10000 TO 25,
600 cars, an avearge ranging some
where around 23,500 cars Later the
figures dropped between $1,000 and
1880 cars The present estimate of
1850 cars is regarded as accurate
and final.
The tonnage this year will be sub
stantially larger than in 1913, when
5000 cars were actually shipped, but
also considerably lower than the re-
cord year of 1912, for which exact
figures are not available, but which
produced close to $1,000 cars
The prolonged drouth and excess
i've heat since July 4, seriously cut
down the crop. Local conditions, such
as late frosts, hail storms and even
cloudbursts also caused material re-
ductions in few sections
The vital bearing of the European
war on the apple crop, necessitating
the most conseryativative action by
the growers and creating the need for
extensive storage facilities at eastern
markets was brought out forcibly in
the meeting of the Distributors board.
Action regarding opening prices was
taken at this time These have SUBJ
sequently been announced to tra511
In an interview issued after N
journment, General Manager J. H.
Robbins stated:
"The probable opening prices for
anniac fbic season which of oourco /
are directly effected by existing con-
ditions was the subject unders delib
GRAFTON throughout most of the final
days session. The board was unani-
nous in its agreement on the feasibi-
lity of again pursuing last years pol
icy of starting prices on basis suf-
attractive to the trade to in
duce the early and prompt move
ment of the crop and to avoid har-
vest time Generalization 1t is conf
dent that Notwithstanding adverse cir
cumstances we shall be able to main
tain gradually rising scale.
in compliance with instructions
from the central office, all of the
trustees from the various affiliated
districts brought to the meeting to be
filed in the office, a comprehensive
report itemized by varieties of tonn-
age now actually in the control of
the Distributors. Coupled with this
was most careful estimate of the Il
total production in all of the fruit
sections of Washington, Oregon, Ida
ho and Montana. 1t was gathered at
considerable expense and is regarded
as absolutely accurate. We found
that the total commercial production
Of apples will amount to 1850 cars.
This is decrease of fully is per
cent from the estimate reported at
the previous board meeting, due to
continued drouth and heat In many
sections and full ten thousand cars
less than estimates generally quoted
at blossom period.
1T was definitely ascertained at
this meeting that the Distributors
have actually under contract over
80 per cent of the apple tonnage of
the Northwest. A large proportion of
the balance is still unpledged and
much of this undoubtedly will come
lnder the Distributors orderly con-
,rol the moment the fact becomes
lyident to such growers as are still I
loping for the cash buyer and the I
peculator that he is not and will not I
e in existence this year. This addit-
sonal increase which is almost newt
sble, will bring our holdings up to I
ally so per cent of the Northwestern
pple crop.