The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1920-12-09
WATER MOVEMENT
OF APPLES DISCUSSED
BY Charles A. Malboeuf

The steamship "Oregonian, which
left Portland for New York City last
| Sunday, carries a small shipment of
Hood River apples. This sounds like a
mere incident, but in my judgment it
is in reality the opening of the door of
immense possibilities to the fruit grow
ers of the Northwest.
The apples are for experimental pur-
poses at the hands Of the United Amer
lean Lines, a powerful steamship cor
poration recently formed for inter
coastal service. Some of the fruit is
being transported in cold storage, the
remainder under ventilated deck condi-
tions. The result of the test, which
will be conducted under the most care
full circumstances, will largely govern
whether and in what manner the Unit
ed Lines will establish regular, scien-
tific fruit service between our Pacific
and Atlantic ports.
Years like 1912, 1914 and 1920, SINH
lar as they are in many respects, point
to certain definite conclusions. Fore
most is the recognized vital need for a
vastly greater market than now offered
within our shores and those of the few
export countries we are shipping to
today, or have shipped to in the past.
Call that specific need water transpor-
tation, and you express precisely what
have in mind, because in water trans
sportation is embraced a host of poten-
tial benefits.
In seasons of this kind, where the
national apple crops are fairly or alb
normally large, and subnormal eco
nomic conditions of varying acuteness
prevail, the marketing Of our apples
becomes a serious problem. The crops,
in whatever volume they may be, seem
in excess Of the market requirements,
or at least beyond our ability to dis
tribute at profitable prices. The gen
eral conclusion, under those circum-
stances, is that we must have more
markets, specifically a greater export
market. That expresses the situation
broadly, but few persons realize the
extent to which that export market
must exist, especially the tremendous
character of water transportation es.
sentlal to properly meet actual needs.
In such years, furthermore, every
farm or barnyard apple tree in the
whole country, produces, or appears to
produce, large crop. Psychologically |
also. the growers of that fruit seem
bent to find market for it. This home |
orchard competition, so called is for
generally and particularly in
furious to the commercial product. |
Markets become congested with bar
relied, boxed, shovel, and every other
form of packed or unpacked apples
he poor fruit displaces the demand for
he commercial apple, the latter is held
At shipping point, often too long; it
large part Of its phys.
'al value is lost, the markets are clut-
cred with overripe stock, and chaos
esults in greater or lesser degrees Of
Glance back at 1912. The national
pple crop was unusually large, and
-eneral business conditions were com
nencing to show considerable depres-
ion. Marketing efforts availed moth
ne, prices dropped below zero, and
hat season is recalled by all as near
isaster. The 1914 crop was a similarly
arge one. The European war broke
ut on the eve Of harvest and It's shock
iolently rocked our financial condition,
restricted credits. Demand
halted and revived alter
AbAANY anu hBBAN NbAuCo WOiL iiINA any
iddled to pieces. The present seasons
rops are not especially large, and
rices fortunately are much higher
nan in 1912 or 1914. 1t is, however,
gnificant that, again, as in those
ears, the home orchard competition
as played its same old game. What is
le matter with the market then?
hat very thing, among others, togeth.
r with adverse economic elements of
lparalleled character and extent.
Wholesalers and retailers alike are dis
clined to buy because of both appre-
ension and restricted credits. Prices
innumerable commodities are on the
scline, and many of them shrinking
rther almost daily. Our period of
so called, is reflected by
Ie final consumer with his ear to the
round and his hand on his pocketbook,
.ying, "Prices are too high !" These
e eventualities the apple industry =
ust protect itself against for the fu- :
re.
In the next article | will take up the
Dad subject of export markets.