The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1915-01-07
PANAMA SHIP
MENTS CONTINUE
ASSOCIATION SENDS 6 CARS FRIDAY
Agencies, However, View Water Route
Differently Davidson will Re-
turn to Hood River

turn TO HOOD River
Hood River apples continue to move
to New York by way of the Panama
canal. Tomorrow six carloads, four of
Newtowns and two of Ben Davis, will
leave Portland aboard the S. S. Mon
tanan. BY shipments through the
canal the total charge per box on fruit
to New York is 34h cents per box. All
local fruit shipped through the Panama
canal has been for export trade. Be-
cause Of Hood Rivers favorable posi-
tion TO seaboard, according to Mr..
Stone, the Panama rate has been of
great benefit to the Hood River
grower.
"lf our fruit were intended for sale
at some destination other than the
wharf at which il arrived and we had
the added expense of carriage, we
would not fare so we'll. But so far as
have been advised, the fruit has been
loaded to trans Atlantic liners with no
additional charge"
The use of carriers through the
canal, however, is viewed in differ
ent light by the Northwestern Fruit
Exchange, which has just issued the
following bulletin:
1T goes without saying that the
Exchanges traffic department has
been making special study of the
whole question of water transportation
via the Panama canal to Atlantic sea-
board and European destinations long
before the canal was opened. The Elk.
change has acquired considerable infor-
nation on the subject and has also
taken certain definite steps which will
eventually rebound to the benefit Of its
members. Meanwhile, the Exchange
was offered space in both the Steam
ship 0hioan, of the American h awaiian
line and the Steamship Santa Clara,
of the Grace line. In fact, the space
was offered by the American. Hawaiian
line through commercial clubs in the
various districts to the public at large.
The Exchange gave the matter careful
consideration and desire that the posi-
tion was not favorable for the follow
ing reasons;
The rates are not especially attac-
tive. The steamship company charges
55 cents per cwt. between Pacific and
Atlantic coast terminals, while the
inland freight, Wenatchee or Yakima
to Seattle is 20 cents per cwt.; from
Hood River, 8 cents per cwt. from
Rogue River, 30 cents per cwt. The
American Hswaain line berths at the
Bush terminals. Brooklyn, N. Y,
whereas the Grace line discharges at
Pier S3. Atlantic Terminal. Brooklyn.
The fruit markets are, of course, in
Manhsttam and the market places are
established on the Erie and New York
Central terminal docks. Neither of
these railroads have tariffs permitting
receipt on these private docks of fruit
lightered from railroads and are not
anxious to devise tariff to that end.
The great heated docks of the Erie and
New York Central are exceedingly
costly equipment and, of course, are
maintained for the benefit of their own
tonnage.
Now, neither of these steamers 10
due TO arrive in New York until Janu-
ary. 1t is matter of common knowl-
edge that the New York market 10
badly demoraized. AS the manager
of our New York Office comments with
reference to these approaching car
goes 1t seems like carrying Goals
to Newcastle" to bring any more
apples in here right now.
The Exchange had practically
effected its very large deliveries on
early contracts with New York buyers
at the time these steamers sailed.
The only manner in which tramp car.
goes could be disposed of after arrival
at Brooklyn would be to lighter them
across the river and take samples
from them over to the Franklin street
auction room and sell at auction ex
dock in the same manner as foreign
cargoes, such as lemons and grapes
are handled. The Exchange does not
consider it advisable to sell large guam
titles Of apples at auction at any time
and very particularly at the present
time. especially at New York. Nor
does the Exchange conduct its business
at New York through consignment to
private commission firms, which is the
system followed by some northwestern
marketing agencies. Even il II did, it
seems to the Exchange that in the
present undeniable weak physical con-
dition Of northwestern boxed apples.
the many landings to which fruits
shipped via the Panama canal will be
subjected cannot help but result in
great damage. The fruit is first load.
ed into the car ex common or cold
storage at shipping point; it gets an
other handling at Pacific coast termi-
nal; another handling at the Brooklyn
terminal; another handling on the
Manhattan side; and one more hand
ling into the carts and trucking over
rough pavement.
| at is feasible, of course, to lighter
fruit from Brooklyn terminals and load
it into transatlantic liners. How
ever, the first objection to this system
is that fruit which has been carried In
refrigerated chamber in the passage
between the Pacific and Atlantic coast
terminals a matter Of at least three
weeks cannot safely be forwarded
from New York to Europe in other
than refrigeration. Now, refrigers-
tion costs about so. 236 per box premi-
um over ventilated stowage New York
to London. This makes a through rate
Hood River to London of approximate
ly 79 cents per box against ventilation
rate, combination of transcontinental
rail and ordinary stowage of II cents.
In other words, the Panama canal
route actually costs cents per box
more through to London from Hood
River and l3 cents more from Wenat-
chez or Yakima than the present com-
binaton of rail and ocean transport.
| II. F. Davidson, president of the
Distributors, will return from New
York, where he has had charge Of the
eastern office of the Distributors. and
is expected to arrive here about Janu-
ary 20. MIR. Davidson will divide his
time between Hood River and Spo-
kane. Wilmer Sieg. who had charge Of
the Portland Office of the Distributors.
has left for New York to look after
the eastern interests OF the central
selling agency.