FORTY-FIFTH ANNUAL REPORT. 135 



that system, installed the most elaborate cold air circulating system to 

 be found in any plant in this country. This gives us two separate and 

 distinct refrigerating systems, enabling us to carry a wider range of 

 commodities and to keep the air in all rooms sweet and pure at all 

 times — carry off the accumulation of gases thrown off by the fruit and 

 prevent the "pocketing" of dead or foul air in any of the rooms. 



We were told that it was possible to build a 60,000 barrel house at a 

 maximum cost of |1.50 per barrel of capacity, but we found that a first 

 class plant of the capacity mentioned can not be built for a cent less 

 than $2.00 per barrel, and for a plant as complete as ours the cost is 

 |2.50 per barrel. 



So far as I know ours is the only plant in the country using pro- 

 ducer gas for power — also the only one of its size using a maximum 

 of one ton of coal per day. Other plants of similar capacity in western 

 New York use from four to six tons of coal daily. The fact that we are 

 now able, with the plant filled to its utmost capacity, and with car- 

 loads of fruit coming in and going out daily — to hold our temperatures 

 without variation and onlj^ operate one engine and one ice machine from 

 two to six hours of each twenty-four, is sufiticient justification for our 

 heavy expenditures for the best possible insulation. 



Our plant being absolutely fire-proof, there being no wood about 

 it except the refrigerator doors, we enjoy an insurance rate of thirty 

 cents against a rate of from fl.OO to |1.75 (usually the latter figure) 

 apj)lying to other plants in the State. 



As fruit growers, having experienced in common with our friends in 

 other sections and states the most inefficient refrigeration service on 

 the part of the railway companies, we decided to have our own ice 

 plant and manufacture our own ice and ice our own cars. This feature 

 has proven to be one of the most satisfactory as well as one of the 

 most profitable features of our proposition. Instead of being compelled 

 to accept a refrigerator car that had been iced inadequately and im- 

 properly from twenty-four to seventy-two hours before we got it, and be- 

 ing forced to pay for all the ice the bunkers could hold, notwithstanding 

 the fact that we never got it, we are able to ice our cars to capacity 

 with a far better quality of ice than that supplied b}^ the railway com- 

 pany and at a lower cost and when our cars leave Morton the bunkers 

 are full instead of from one-third to three-fourths empty as in the 

 past. 



In building our plant we had in mind its enlargement at the least 

 possible cost as soon as conditions warranted the outlay. We can 

 double the capacity now without increasing our power plant a single 

 horse-power. 



We manufacture our own electric current for the operation of two 

 large thirty barrel elevators, hoisting machinery, lighting system, 

 pumps, grading machines, air circulating system, etc. We also expect 

 to furnish light for the village of Morton as soon as we can get to it. 



We operate mechanical fruit grading machines for our patrons in 

 large, well-lighted, convenient packing rooms by electric power. 



The establishment of such a plant in a large producing section is of 



