Arizona republican., 1921-07-06
s80O,O0O VA[ UE
 IF GAN TA[OUPE CROP IN VALLEY
Two Hundred Cars Of Melons Shipped To East Already s e a son To Continue Until End Of Month Expect Total Of 1900 Cars

Eight hundred thousand dollars money of the kind that is needed most in the Salt River valley; money that comes from the rest of the world for the products of Salt River valley sun and soil; money that means bet ter business, better commercial con- ditions, and the beginning of a new life for the rich section watered by the Roosevelt dam-this is the esti- mate of the value of the cantaloupe crop which has begun to move al ready. and of which nearly 200 car loads have been sent to the east.
 The estimate of the value of the crop was made yesterday by Homer A. Harris, representing the bureau of markets and crop estimates Of the United States government, who has been examining the local cantaloupe crop since Friday, when he arrived here from the Imperial valley. Harris estimates the acreage in the valley devoted to cantaloupes as a.S00, with total of 1.S00 carloads, which. counting 330 crates to the car ana pricing them at the market figures of yesterday. will bring approximate ly $500 900. almost a cool million to this section of the Southwest by the first of August, it being believed that the local season will end about July 25.
 Harris, who is accompanied by his wife, said yesterday that the season in the Imperial valley will extend un- til July 15. which will affect market ing conditions for the Salt River val ley to some extent. The acreage in the Imperial valley this year was large. and shipments will reach $500 cars The local season is beginning just at the second peak of Imperial valley production. Harris said, with that section of California shipping very good fruit
 The quality of the crop this year in the Salt River valley, according to Harris. is very high, with every indi- cation that the yield also will De above the average. There has been a little trouble throughout the valley because of aphis, but this has beer checked by the efforts of the growers and now nothing is to be feared ex- cept rain. There will be no competi- ton from the Turlock, Calif., district as the melons there have been held back by frosts in the early part oi the growing season.
 Total shipments to July 4. accord ing to Harris, totai 1S4 cars.
 The bureau of markets and croI estimates, in line with the admins
 
 lures, has discontinued field opera tions in all but those sections 1T which there is an active demand anc where the district is willing to co operate in the work, as in the pres epf instance. Harris using the cham Der of commerce as headquarters fol his operations here during the season
 In addition to his work of asslstinf shippers in finding markets. Harri rob <lax TO cantaloupe situation here. This repor carries not only a record of the dail, shipments and the number Of cars hut local market prices, the BraWie. market price. and reports from tn important marketing centers of tn United States. This report will D given or mailed to anyfwho are in terested and who will make appliea ton to Harris at the chamber commerce.
 The demand for cantaloupe throughout the country has been bet ter than was expected at the begin ming of the year, Harris said yester day When the Imperial valley sea son opened shippers had misgiving but developments showed that an un expected demand had arisen, and tn has continued. New York and Chi cago afford the best markets in tt United States. equal perhaps to an other five cities, with other center taking their quota of the fruit. important part of the bureau, Harr said. has been to assist the shippt to get his cantaloupes into the sma cities. with the result that demand before unthought of have been crt ated simply because fresh and prin fruit has been delivered in carlos lots to communities which befol have depended upon jobbers for the share of the western crops.
 Harris devotes all his time to fife work for the bureau. After he worl the cantaloupe sections of ArizoI aud California in the summer time takes up the same work in the p tato districts of Idaho.