The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1916-04-20
SIEG HASlBEEN LONG
In FRUIT BUSINESS

manager of the Apple Growers Associ-
ation, is entering his 42nd year in the
fruit business. On August 3, next.
Mr.. Sieg will have reached his 67th
birthday. He was born in Philadelphia
in 1853.
During his II years of business life
Mr.. Sieg has been connected with but
three firms or institutions. In 1875 he
entered business life by accepting q
position with Franklin MacVeagh &
Co., of Chicago. his work bringing him
in contact with the fruit end Of the
wholesale grocery concern. In 1884
Mr.. Sieg went to Milwaukee. where,
until 1912. when he was chosen manag-
er of the old Apple Growers' Union. be
was identified with the A. Grosserback
Co.
Thoughts of the northwest had never
entered the Milwaukee mans head un-
ill he was offered the local position.
which came through a suggestion of
DR.. Stanton Allen. formerly q promi.
nent Milwaukee physician, who was q
member of the board that made call
on the services of Mr.. Sieg.
While in Milwaukee Mr.. Sieg became
identified with the large trade organic
ations of the country, attending their
meetings regularly and taking an &C.
tive part in their administration. He
was a member of the Western Fedora
tion Of Fruit Jobbers and the lnterna-
tional Apple Shippers Association, the
conventions of which he rarely missed.
Mr.. Sieg was formerly president of
the National League of Commission
Merchants of the United States, and il
was under his administration that the
bylaws were changed to provide for
an active manager and working force
that has resulted IN making the League
one Of the strongest organizations in
trade circles in the country. At the
present time Mr.. Sieg is the only hon.
orary member Of the League. having
been honored with election two, years
ago. 1t is Likely that no man in the
United States is better known through
out trade circles. During his residence
in Milwaukee MIR. Sieg was prominent
in civic and social life. He probably
holds a record in Mystic Shrine circles.
having for six successive years been
elected Potentate OF Tripoli Shrine of
that city. He served for five years.
"The number five." declares Mr..
Sieg. "has been my lucky number. At
least events and years of interest have
passed for me in denominations of
five."
Mr.. Sieg founded the Milwaukee
Athletic club, which today is erecting
a million dollar home, the building to
be one of the finest clubhouses In
America. He was president of1the Or
ganizati0n for five years. Mr.. Sieg
was first president of the Citizens
Business League, semi.civic institu-
tion. He held the presidency for FIVE
years. One of the most treasured
possessions of Mr.. Sieg today is a
handsome gold watch, always carried
by him, which was presented to him by
the organization.
Just before Mr.. Sieg's departure
from Milwaukee for Hood River. the
Milwaukee Athletic club rendered him
one of the largest banquets ever given
in honor Of private citizen of the city.
Most of the traffic officials of the east
were present, and a feature of the
event was the distribution of a large
number of handsome Hood River book.
let's, secured by Frank p. Eyeman,
general traffic manager of the c. & N.
W. line, from Secretary Scott, Of the
Commercial club.
In 1918 MIR. Sieg assisted in the for.
nation of the North Pacific Fruit Dis
tributors, with which he was connected
through the local sales organization for
two years.
"We would have been with the North
Pacific Fruit Distributors yet." he
says, "if we could feel that collective
agency can serve to the best advantage
the different districts OF the northwest.
But the products of different comlnuni-
ties vary, and each district has an indi-
viduality that must be pronounced, a
! feat that cannot be accomplished by a
collective agency.
"The Hood River valley has a special
product in its Newtown and Spitzen.
burg apples and Clark Seeding straw
berries. While both the apples and the
variety Of berries are grown elsew here,
they do not arrive at the acme of excel
lency reached under local conditions"
MIR. Sieg declares that the Distribu.
tors have proven his former contentious
as to the defects OF a collective agency
by deciding that it would be wise to
individualize their different sections.
and separate and distinctive offices will
be maintained the coming year in order
that the special products of the respect.
i've districts of North Yakima, We.
natchee and Payette may be. pro.
nounced.
II Through informal tion gathered
throughout last sales season the Apple
Growers Association has appropriated q
very large sum for advertising, in order
that the fame of the product may be
carried to all sections of the country.
"As from so to 85 per cent of oui
product is represented by our special
varieties, Newtowns and Spitzen.
burgs." says MIR. Sieg, I'VE feel nearer
to success than ever before"
MIR. Sieg declares that he has become
westerner in spirit, and though he
has received attractive offers from
other parts of the country. he has re.
fused them.
81 believe in Hood River" he says,
"and | have linked my future will
hers. No section In the northwest more
keenly appreciates the necessity Of CO.
operation, and no section in the north
west applies more intensive cultiva.
tion. With the snow capped peaks,
Mt. Hood at the south and Mount
Adams at the north end, the Hood Riv.
er valley, the community beautiful,
produces fruit of color and flavor un.
equaled anywhere else on the globe"