Evening star., 1925-05-29
FORD'S fruit MOVE
ST|RS SHIP CIRCLES
Possible Entry Into Banana
Trade Means Fight on
United Fruit Company.
BY j. C. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The Star.

Special DNspatch TO The star.
NEW YORK, May 29.-The ques-
ton as to whether Henry Ford will
have bananas or have no bananas is
arousing wide discussion in fruit, rail
road and shipping circles. All are
quite willing to admit that the present
negotiations in Detroit between T. V.
O'Connor of the Shipping Board and
Mr.. Ford may result in the requisi-
ton of the refrigerator ships Of the
board, but some doubt that IL he uses
them to carry automobiles to Central
and South America he can get ba-
mana cargoes back, and whether he
will find 1t possible to distribute and
sell them after they are transported to
this country.
Ford Declared Serious.
Detroit associates of Mr.. Ford say
the plan is to be taken in all serious
ness. according to dispatches received
today. They say that Notwithstanding
the fact that many growers already
have their fruit OUTPUT tied up with
other lines, the Fol ships will find
return cargoes with the same ease
with which his railroad, the Detroit,
though that freight has to go all
around Robinhoods barn to get
started on the Ford road,
Transportation men who have come
into contact with the Ford organiZa-
ton say he simply cannot be stopped
and that his branches and strong sell
ing agencies in all parts of the world
exert a strong and growing influence on
the routing of freight, whether on sea
or land, and that any barriers can be
quickly knocked down. They add that
10 ho Sin a
which is most persuasive in securing
trade favors. He has taken millions
out of countries that buy his cars, but
he puts back into the banana repub-
lies in purchases of raw materials
more than he takes out, his friends
say.
Easy Sales Effected.
Ford officials admit he has no par
ticular plan for the distribution of
bananas, but that fact is not worry
ing him. They say that when the
bananas get here they will be sold as
quickly as the coal from his Kentucky
mines in Duluth and bensol from his
coke ovens in Detroit.
Feeling of interests actively en-
gagged in the tropical fruit trade here,
at Boston, Baltimore, New Orleans
and other ports is that Ford's plan
for breaking into the fruit trade have
been misinterpreted. They believe
that he will try and take fruit car
goes from the east and west coast
of South America rather than from
the banana republics.
Little Worry Shown.
Such fruits come into maturity
during our Winter when the auto
trade south of the Equator is sup
posedly at it's height. Dispatches to
the writer from Boston indicate that
the fruit men there do not regard
the possibility of Ford's competition
with the United Fruit Co. with ap-
prehension. The United Fruit con-
trolls about 53 per cent of the Amer
lean supply. 1t produces its own
fruit on it's own plantations to a very
large extent, ships it in over it's own
railroads and own vessels and in
most instances 1t is already con-
tracted for ahead. The company has
a remarkable distributing system.
The fruit interests point out that
even if large cargoeS were available
to Ford ships, the banana ports do
not offer desirable shipping points
for automobiles. They are situated
In districts where jungle prevails,
where there are few roads other than
mule trails and where there is small
means of distributing them.
Distribution Big Problem.
The distribution of bananas in this
country Is one of the most compli-
Gated and technical businesses in the
world. One executive of the United
Fruit Company, Vice President Charles
Weinberger of New Orleans, for ex-
ample, directs the movement Of fruit
throughout a large part of the United
States, playing on railroads, steam
ships and prices like virtuoso on a
piano. If he discovers a surplus of
fruit, for example, in or destined for
Kansas City, he must divert ship
ments to other centers where there is
stronger demand.
If Ford takes up the importation of
fruits from the east and west coasts
of South America, where the main
automobile markets are located, he
will have to meet the competition of
Grace & Co. and other shipping in
tereStS.
The Grace Co. is now completing
negotiations for taking over the YES
sells which have been operated by the
Pacific Mail Co. between San Fran
cisco, Los Angeles. New York and
Central American and West Indian
mort 8