The Kennewick courier-reporter. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1914-1938, 1915-03-18
PLANS OF NORTHWEST
BY.PRODUCTS BOARD
Great Care Must Be Exercised to
Prevent Plants from Get
ting Started Wrong

/ Inc Northwest by-frOQuCCS DOaTO
of which w. H. Paulhamus, of Puy-
allup, is chairman and Gordon c. Cor
bailey, of Spokane, is secretary, has
issued the following open letter to the
people of the Northwest
The fresh fruit situation makes ii
inevitable that very great number Of
canneries, evaporators and other
kinds of fruit products plants will be
established in the Northwest during
the next "a months.
There is real need for many of
these if the districts east Of the noun
tains are to maintain their fruit bust
ness upon a sound basis.
Unless controlled, most of these
plants will be started wrong. Many
will be badly managed and many will
be organized where there is no need
for them. The result will be many
failures and much needless loss of
money.
While this is going on, the market
will be demoralized because the badly
managed plant is usually just as badly
off in it's selling. The result will be
serious injury to the business of the
existing plants.
All this will take place unless the
situation is controlled.
The Northwest By-Products board
believes that it's function is just as
much to help control the general sit
ton as it is to help communities start
plants that will take care of their
surplus fruits.
In that work we need the help and
cooperation of every existing cannery
evaporator, dried fruit packer or any
other form of plant.
The present industry should be as
closely tied together as possible so
as to establish standards of pack,
reasonably uniform price and CO.
operative reaching out for new mar
kets.
Once that is done, the industry will
be stabilized and our committee can
work with the fruit plants toward
helping take care of the surplus fruit
in the districts where it is now going
to waste.
Many of these districts are probably
not ready for plants. They have not
volume enough. With a united
strength we can work with the rail-
roads to get a low express rate for
berries or freight rate for fruit that
will permit the assembling Of this
stuff at existing plants until the dis
trict develops an output that justifies
a cannery or evaporator.
In those districts where there is
manifest need for plants at once, the
committee can help promote these in
such way that they will be operated
right and their product can be sold
side by side with that Of the existing
plants and the market will not be de-
This will help the new
plant and will protect the old ones.
Perhaps the whole situation cannot |
oe worked out as smoothly as that.
A great deal Of difficulty will be
in getting the existing |
plants into any kind Of an agreement.
Also irresponsible promotions will be
started that nobody can control.
But the committee believes that,
With an organization Of all the exist
ng plants, it can do great deal to-
yard controlling the situation.
This general problem was discussed
It the recent conference in Portland.
other small district meetings are be
ng held.
Soon there will be need to hold
mother general conference.
In the meantime, we wish to ask
,ou to think over the situation and
rankly and fully write us just what
,ou believe ought to be done. The
earer we can comesto all agreeing on
omething, the better off we shall all