The Leavenworth echo. [volume] (Leavenworth, Wash.) 1904-current, 1918-06-28
new PESHASTIN WARE
HOUSE COMPLETED
The Largest and Best Equipped in
the Wenatchee Fruit
District.

A landmark of progress which
nears completion this week is the
new packing plant of the Peshastin
Fruit Growers Association. The
packing plant is located on the asso-
citation land adjoining the Great
Northern and at a distance of 85
feet from the storage plant belong
ing to the same association. The
new structure is built of red hollow
tile, has a concrete foundation and a
cupola 80 feet wide extending al
most the entire ength of the build
ing. There are 142 windows in the
cupola which will give splendid light
for the graders and packers.
The dimensions of the packing
plant are 1896. The basement will
store 88,540 boxes of apples when
piled 10 high. The best possible ar
rangements have been made for
keeping the apples. In the basement
are 20 cold air ducts, an air space
of two feet under the floor and the
hot air is carried out through the
roof in ventilators three feet square.
The packing floor, after leaving
room for grading and packing ma
chimes, will store $4,000 boxes of
apples. At the height of the apple
season this plant will be able to pack
1000 boxes of apples per day. The
plant is equipped with conveyor
system so that when the lid is nailed
on the packed box it will not be
touched again until delivered in car
or placed in storage plant for future
shipment. A concrete tunnel through
which runs the gravity conveyor car
rying the fruit connects the two
plants.
The machinery to be installed in
the packing plant will furnish work
for twenty graders and so packers.
A force of eighty will be kept busy
during the apple season.
The new packing plant was start
ed April 1st and has been built by
Mr. Louis Speidel, wellknown con-
tractor. Mr.. Speidel was formerly of
Leavenworth but is now located at
Wenatchee. The total cost of the
new packing plant with storage
plant and equipment is $51, ,145.
The plants are owned by the Pc
shastin Fruit Growers association
This association was organized in
1912. The entire stock of the organ
ization is owned and controlled by
the orchardists of Peshastin, no out
side parties having interests in it.
The stockholders believe it is for
their best interests and the interests
of all growers to own and control
their own shipping facilities. 1t is
the purpose of the organization to
serve the stockholders in furnishing
them with all orchard supplies and
packing, warehousing and selling of
fruit While there is sufficient room,
this organization will pack and ware
house for the general public at a
slight cost per box above tina of the
stockholders.
The stockholders have been able to
finance the plant entirely through
their local bank at Leavenworth. The
Peshastin Fruit Growers association
has been able to pay their stockhold-
ers the highest possible market price
for their fruit Barring total crop
failure the association will be en-
tirely free from inebtedness in four
years.
Much credit is due to the conserva-
tive and businesslike management of
the association. Mr.. j. A. Warman
was one of the organizers of the
Peshastin Fruit Growers association
and has successfully managed the
association since its organization.
Mr.. w. w. Stack is president of the
association, Mr.. A. G. Stage, vice
president, Mr.. Fred Wright, secre-
tary.