Indiana daily times. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1914-1922, 1921-08-17
SHIP RATES AID
PACIFIC TRADE
Cost Lower Than Rail for
Fruit Growers.

WASHINGTON, Aug. 17.-Development
Of the fruit trade from the Pacific coast
through the Panama Canal to the At
lantic coast and points in Europe, prac-
ticaIy TO the exclusion Of the all-rail
route, is fOTeshadowed in official re.
ports from the Canal Zone
This trade already considerable in
volume and expanding rapidly, is being
developed along three different routes.
Apples from Washington and Oregon ana
citrus fruits from California are be-
ing transported through tAe Canal to
the Atlantic coast, Northwestern apples
and California citrus fruits are moving
to the United Kingdom and Europe. and
Chilean fruits and vegetables are being
shipped to New York. i
Shipments thus far have beeen largely
experimental, but they have Demon
route is practicable and economical. The
freight rates on experimental cargoes
were in the neighborhood Of 20 cents per
hundred pounds as compared with S1.1615
ty the an-rail route, and the percent
age Of decay is said to be negligible in
comparison with that experienced in rail
shipments.
With the feasibility of the water route
proved, fruit growers Of the Northwest
have Joined those of California in or
ganizing for the marketing of their prod
ucts and are now said to be In a position
to contract with steamship companies for
cargo or part cargo lots, One steamship
company is said already to have closed
contract with the fruit growers organi-
cation for $500 carloads of perishable
fruit to be delivered in Atlantic or Gun
ports at rates materially under those
quoted by the railroads OF this total
the Washington apple growers agree to
furnish 1900 carloads. Their plan is to
ship apples to Seattle and store them.
to be loaded as refrigerator space Is
available, and to encourage this method
of shipment the Seattle Port Commission
has reduced it's charge for the storage OF
apples in transit from So to S1.60 ton.
The average time required for ship
ments by the water route from Los An
geles to New York is nineteen days Di-
rect movement Of apples from the Pacific
Coast to Europe has been successfully
carried out, a total OF It's carloads being
shipped. AS a result of these expert
ments a heavy demand for steamer
space for this years crop has already
developed Nine steamers are now sched-
uled for the Pacific Coast European serv-
Ice with cold storage equipment for ham
ding fresh fruit through the tropics
affording carrying space for about three
quarters Of a million boxes. About ave
million boxes Of fruit are expected to be
available for export.
An experiment. tai shipment Of ten car
loads Of oranges and one hundred boxes
of fancy lemons passed through the canal
In March bound for London. The fruit
is reported to have arrived in good order.
and it is expected that a considerable
volume Of this trade viii develop, de-
spite the fact of the competition Of Medi-
terranean citrus fruits in the European
market.
The fruit shipment of fruit from ChiIe
to New York was made in April With
successful results. The South American
line. a Chilean Comapny, is reported TO
be building three large refrigerator vss-
sells for this service. The fact that
Chile, being south of the equator, has
sea sons exactly the reverse Of those In tbs
United States is an important factor In
favor Of this trade. "a