The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1917-04-05
EXCHANGE HOLDS ITS
ANNUAL MEETING

ANNUAL MEETING
w. +. Gwin, manager of the North.
western Fruit Exchange, with which
the local organization has a contract
Tor the handling of their product, in
an address Saturday to the Fruit
Growers' Exchange, assembled in their
annual meeting, declared that North.
western apple growers had lost mill
IONS OF dollars the past season because
Oh the car shortage during and follow.
ing the harvest period last fall. Mr..
Gwin declared that his organization
mad hled claims tor its clients against
transcontinental railway lines amount
ing to $50,
We ordered the cars early last fall
for immediate shipments, to fiji orders
already placed. We were not supplied
until after the extreme cold weather
had set in. We have sued on the origi-
nal invoices, and consider our claims
worth 100 cents on the dollar" de-
elared the Seattle fruit man.
Mr.. Gwin discussed the proposed
movement on the part of Northwest
ern growers to ship portion of their
crop the coming year unwrapped. 81
would consider it exceedingly unwise, "
said Mr.. Gwin, ito try to ship extra
fancy or fancy fruit without the wrap
pers. But we have taken the initiative
In forwarding movement to send out
next season our choice grade un-
wrapped"
Mr.. Gwin declares that the prices
asked by paper companies .for fruit
wraps are exorbitant. He stated that
the Office of Markets of the United
States Department of Agriculture was
endeavoring to bring about a revival
of the Fruit Growers Agency, which
was established at Suggestions of gov.
ernment officials with headquarters at
Spokane last spring, and thatlthe Or
ganized growers backed by the Office
of Markets would take the apple wrap
problem to the federal trades commits
sion.
Mr.. Gwin states that fruit men are
expecting a demand of railway COM
panies for an increase in fruit tariffs.
The transportation concerns, it was
stated, are also asking for an increase
of the minimum weight of 10000
pounds allowed on refrigerator cars.
In this case," says Mr.. Gwin, 'the
companies should decrease the rate per
box in accordance with the increase of
the minimum granted"
The Exchange members voted to
levy an assessment of one cent per box
and half cent on those for which five
cents. is charged to provide fund for
the purchase of supplies.
Directors were elected as follows
J. R. Newton, +. w. Buff, H. H. Ham
J. 0. Mark, F. P. Friday, Kenneth
Mckay and W. R. Warner, 3rd. The
last named four were reelected.
Manager Kenneth Mckay in his an
nual report predicts that the business
of the coming season will be larger
than for any season since the cO-opera-
tive organization was established in
1914.
During last year. according to Mr..
McKay's report, the Exchange handled
l0,067 crates of strawberries, which
returned growers total of S2l, 1882. 95.
For the first time the organization
participated in the strawberry deal as
carlot shippers. A total of 3708 pack
ages of other soft fruit and vegetables
were handled, returning So, 102 80.
The Exchange announces the closing
of its pools and the following prices on
leading varieties:
Arkansas Black, extra francy 163s
and larger, $l.50; l75s and smaller,
$1.25; fancy, l63s and larger, $l.l0;
l75s and smaller, 81. TO- choice, respec-
lively, 75c and zoe; Black Twig, fancy,
81 and 90c; choice, SOC and Zoe; Delic-
ious, extra fancy, $l.50 and SIPS
fancy, 10 and 81; choice, 9Oc and
soc; Ortley, extra fancy, $1.30 and
81. 10 fancy, ST. 10 and 81 choice, zoe
Newtowns, extra fancy, $l.37 and
$1.2l; fancy, $l.l6 and $l.0l choice,
85c; Spitzenburgs, extra fancy, 81. AZ
and $1.20; fancy $l.20 and $l.l0;
choice, 81.
Eighty per cent of the apples shipped
by the Exchange were Newtowns and
Spitzenburgs, the latter with Al per
cent. The remainder of the crop was
made up of IS different varieties. Mr..
Mckay urged the growers to endeavoi
by better cultivation and spraying to
raise crops of larger and cleaner
apples. He announced that innova-
tions IN shipping methods were adopted
last season by his organization. 1--WE
loaded cars heavier than usual, " he
said, "and we also successfully
equipped a train load of box cars,
which We sent east with attendants ir
charge looking after ventilation and
stoves.
Through the cooperative purchase
of supplies, Mr.. Mckay declared that
great saving had been afforded his
members last season. Within a short
time after we purchased eight car
loads of wrapping paper he said,
"the price made an advance of foui
cents per pound. f"
The board organized Saturday after
noon, electing Messrs. Buff, Friday and
Warner respectively as president, vice
president, and secretary. Mr.. Mckay
was reelected general manager and
M. P. Warren was elected treasurer.