The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1919-10-23
MOSIER MAKES
STRIDES AHEAD
DISTRICT COOPERATES TOPPER CENT
New SIS, 900 Storage and Packing Plant
Being Brought to Completion
All Apples Packed There


Various are the ways in which towns
and cities make fame for themselves
and spread knowledge of their names
broadcast. The mention of Monte
Carlo naturally brings thoughts of
gambling. Who would ever 90 to
Stratford on Avon but to lock upon the
tomb of Shakespeare?
Except for the excellency of her ap-
pies. Mosier, a comparatively small
town of Wasco county, and the sur
rounding farming community. would
probably still be sleepy little village.
But Spitzenburgs and Newtowns, grown
like those of Hood River, little bet
ter than any other section of the world
can produce these varieties, have made
Mosier by-word in international ap-
pie marts.
Today the Mosier apple district, be-
cause its growers cooperate little
better than their fellow fruit raisers
have ever done elsewhere, is making
an enviable record in fruit history.
The community's cooperative shipping
association is maintaining a pinnacle
that seems unattainable elsewhere.
Every orchardist of the district Of
2.00O acres set to fruit is a member of
the association. Truly. Mosier is
district Of 100 per cent cooperation.
As result Of the spirit of coopera-
tion. the M0sier Fruit Growers Asso-
i;,tion is now adding the finishing
touches to one of the most attractive
cad efficient community packing houses
and storage plants to be found any,
where. Henceforth every box of com
mercial fruit grown in the district will
be packed under system of strict
standardization. Indeed, the growers
Individual jurisdiction over his apples
will have ended when he delivers them
in orchard boxes at the roadside. He
is not even permitted to haul his own
Product. Association motor trucks,
equipped with springs that will pre-
vent any bruising, deliver the apples
to the packing house, where they are
fed to accurate sizing machines, oper-
ated on weight basis. Thus the ap.
pies OF any one box will be of uniform
weight, and this means uniform size,
as the normally matured fruit of re-
spective varieties run to regular size
type.
The new structure, two stories in
height, built Of hollow tile and faced
with handsome pebble dash finish,
will cost approximately $4,000 1t is
l20 feet long and 66 feet wide. Ex.
cept for the east end, fitted for offices
and directors room, the upper story
is devoted to packing, plant, and
three Of the largest sizing machines
obtainable have been installed.
The natural location Of the structure
permits trucks to drive to the level Of
the second story. Apples are delivered
to gravity conveyors and thence fed by
the same mechanism to the graders.
The packed fruit, rolling methodically
along on the c0nveyors. after the tops
have been nailed on. is sent to the
lower story by spiral conveyors. The
floor of the lower story is on level
with car doors Of an O-.W. X. Il N,
siding, and the boxes can be sent in
stream to the cars by the gravity con.
veyors. Thus. pursuing a downward
course from the time of their arrival,
the apples are moved with minimum
Of labor.
The packing room is so lighted by
system of skylghts that sorters can
plainly see any defect on the fruit on
the cloudiest day. Electric lights have
been supplied for night shifts.
The storage room below, ventilated
by system furnished by the United
States Bureau of Markets, and the old
warehouse of the concern will give the
Association facilities for storing so, 900
boxes of apples, half of this.year' s
tonnage. Thus a very severe car
shortage will have to prevail before
MOsier will be injured.
Twenty concrete areas are located at
the ends and sides of the storage plant.
The tops Of these are level with the
earth's surface, with free access to
The open air. By the proper manipula-
tion of the areas and ventilators in the
structure, the AR can be completely
changed in the building every "a hours.
The new air comes between spaces in
The heavy flooring and rises among the
tiers Of boxes.
The crop Of the Mosier valley was
never finer than this season. 1t will
'how 100 per cent increase over last
years tonnage. Summer estimates
placed the crop at 80, 900 boxes. The
district, however. will pack out appoxi.
nately 10000 boxes. Ninety per cent
If the distict's paintings are Spitzen.
ourgs and Newtowns. The red variety
8 highly colored and both are running
argely to extra fancy grade.
AS in other districts, windstorm
week before last took a heavy toll of
many Of the Mosier orchards. Much
IT the fruit blown from the tree will
nave to be sold as Gull stock. The AS
ISOLATION will handle it's culls from its
Did warehouse. Provisions have been
made for shute at the west end of the
structure by which the Gull product, as
t is sorted out by packing house crews.
nay be sent directly into the old ware
rouse.
AS result Of the strict supervision
II pack, the Mosier Fruit Growers AS
has made an enviable reputa-
ion for its Snow:Cap extra fancy brand |
If apples. 1t will be the aim of the
organization to strengthen it's grading
'ules and maintain the quality pack.
The Mosier Fruit Growers Associa-
ion was organized l3 years ago. Since
hat time Amos Root, a venerable orch
lrdist who planted the districts first |
commercial tract, has continuously been
president. The concern is managed bv |
Z. d. Chatfield. Other directors are
Dr.. c. A. Macrum, c. A. McCargar,
J. M. Carroll and Lee Evans.
W. }. Wollam. of the Oak Grove dis
rict, had charge of constructing the
Zoll Bros. did the masonry
work. Emmett Tompkins has been
on the structure.