The Hood River glacier. (Hood River, Or.) 1889-1933, 1922-11-09
CAR SHORTAGE
is LESS ACUTE ACUTE
SUPPLY is STILL VERY INADEQUATE
Hood River Traffic Association Starts the
FunctiOning Of Remedial Influences
to Save Apple Crop

I
formed Hood River Traffic Association,
the rolling stock is still far insufficient.
"We have received for loading the
past two days." said c. L. Smith
Tuesday "54 cars. The improvement
of the situation shows apparently that
the influences we set to work are func-
tioning, but there is still grounds for
much improvement.
A telegram was received Monday
from United States Senator MeNary,
advising that the Interstate Commerce
Commission, which had brought pres
sure to bear on its Chicago office and
on the Pacific Fruit Express, promised
relief.
Embargoes by eastern rail lines is
worry to local shippers. The emhar-
goes are becoming so general that it is
becoming daily more difficult to find
an outlet from the Mississippi gateway
for apples routed from here to Atlantic
seaboard. The shortage of box cars is
seriously delaying the Apple Growers
Association in getting 85 carloads of
apples scheduled for storage in Seat
tie, where the fruit will be loaded
aboard steamers for the United King
dom.
Growers with apples in unprotected
quarters alarmed over weather condi-
tions, are rushing their fruit to shell
ter. Damaging freezes may be ex
pected any time after surrounding
range tops are covered with snow, a
condition prevailing since Monday.
The threat of damaging freeze last
week aroused local apple shippers to
concerted action, and with 100 per cent
of the tonnage of the valley repre-
sented a local traffic association was
in process of formation last Thursday
night, the organization's primary pur
pose being to secure cars, in order that
warehouse and storage room conges-
tion may be relieved. kilograms were
dispatched by the new association to
United States Senator's McNary and
Stanfeld; c. M. Secrist, vice president
of the Pacific Fruit Express, and the
Oregon Public Service Commission
The messages read:
Representatives of growers and
shippers in Hood River representing
100 per cent of tonnage believe serious
conditions here demand your immedi
ate attention. Shortage of refriRer-
ator cars and in fact any closed equip
ment suitable for movement of apples
has been and is still so acute that
growers in this district now face incal-
culable financial loss. At least so per
cent of apple production is unprotected
in hands of growers with all available
warehouse space packed to capacity.
Large quantities of fruit now in ware
house of early varieties which are de-
teriorating rapidly because of inability
to ship. Orders for fruit previously
received being cancelled daily. Situa-
tion most serious that has confronted
growers for years. About 10 per cent
of car requirements being furnished
daily on average. We are very much
afraid our location with only one rail
line and without competition works to
our disadvantage. Have bad frost last
two nights. Indications for freezing
weather and can expect severe damag
ing weather from now on. Can we
look to you to correct these conditions
immediately"
The following reply was received
from the office of Senator Stanfield in
Washington, ID. c.:
Immediately on receipt of your tel
egram we arranged conference with
Interstate Commerce Commission.
Conference disclosed that tonnage in
country that must go in refrigerator
cars exceeds capacity of cars available.
Shipments strike reduced efficiency of
railroads engine capacity to move
cars. Commission agrees to use every
effort in getting more cars placed at
Hood River. We are wiring manager
of the American Railway Association,
Chicago. urging relief"
While but negligible portion of the
crop remained on trees. this unpro-
tected fruit was slightly frozen last
Thursday night. The committee in
charge of organization of the local
traffic association is composed of r. W.
Kelly, G. L. Smith and W. r. Wool
pert.
kilograms from the Oregon Public
Service Commission and G. Nj. Secrist,
of San Francisco, vice-president of the
Pacific Fruit Express, hold out little
hope to the Hood River Traffic Associ-
alton, which is making a concerted ap
peal for aid in saving the district apple
tonnage, for immediate relief of the
car shortage. A telegram received
from the Oregon Commission stated:
Everything possible being done by
all concerned for alleviation of car
shortage in your district. ThiTty-One
cars supplied yesterday. O.-W. r. &
N. Co. has only 20 per cent cars avail
able to oil all orders. Conference Of
three commission and carriers at early
date for ways and means Of obtaining
supply and distribution of cara. +"
Mr.. SecFist wired:
Gar shortage throughout the coun-
try. All sections from coast to coast
suffering heavy lOsses. In other terri
tories we serve Eame conditions pre-
vail. Many thousands of boxes of ap-
pies, spuds and grapes exposed to frost
and rain. We are doing utmost to save
them. Our trouble il the result Of rail
and coal strikes which prevent prompt
return Of our cars from eastern lines.
But such cars as are being received are
being apportioned to the various sec
tions in an equitable manner. Ship
pers loss is alec the carriers loss, and
you can be assured that nothing is be-
ing left undone or expense spared by
this company and its owners. the IN
ion Pacific and southern Pacific to
move into different loading sections
every svsilable refrigerator il u pOssi-
ble 10 secure. Present outlook indi-
Gates considerable improvement IN
general within another 10 DAYS"
Local spple shippers Saturday were
slloted Is box cars and three refriger-
stors. The total shipments for the
season have reached z29 ears. Ship
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