Jnhj, 1921 



BETTER FRUIT 



Page 7 



Transportation Problems of the West 



By C. De Vere Fairchild of Yakima, Secretary Deciduous Bureau, Pacific Coast 

 Producers' and Shippers' Association 



I MAINTAIN that Wenatchee, 

 Yakima, Seattle — Washington, 

 Oregon and California are merely 

 the names of certain geographical 

 locations and that the existence of 

 these names should not in the 

 slightest degree lessen our interest 

 in each other. We are associates in 

 the fullest sense of the word and 

 actuated by this spirit of unity, we 

 are going to successfully solve one 

 of the most stupendous problems 

 confronting the fruit grower and 

 all other interests of the Pacific 

 Coast — the efficient and economi- 

 cal transportation of western fruit 

 to the markets of the world. 



The capit.il invested in the fruit industry 

 of the Pacific Coast is in excess of $300,- 

 000,000, and the annual production ex- 

 ceeds 100,000 carloads, or approximately 

 5 7,000,000 boxes; consisting principally of 

 apples, pears, oranges and lemons. These 

 figures convey some idea of the magnitude 

 of the problem of distribution and the im- 

 portance of efficiency and economy in 

 transportation. This is further exemplified 

 in the statement that the mere saving of 10 

 cents a box means a total of $5,700,000. 



This tremendous industry is however still 

 in its infancy, large areas suitable to the 

 production of the highest quality of fruit 

 can yet be brought under irrigation and for 

 many years to come the grower can iceep 

 pace with an increased demand. The pro- 

 duction of fruit on the Pacific Coast there- 

 fore for many years to come will be regu- 

 lated by demand, and demand in turn is 

 largely controlled by the cost and efficiency 

 of transportation. 



Apples shipped from the Pacific North- 

 west enjoy a wider distribution than any 

 other commodity shipped from one section. 

 In addition to the distribution to over 

 2,500 cities and towns in the United States 

 a large export trade is being developed to 

 Europe, Asia, Africa, Australasia, South 

 America, Canada and Cuba and now that 

 Mexico is showing signs of peaceful en- 

 deavor, possibly its sixteen million inh.abit- 

 ants can be pursuaded to join the ranics of 

 the consumers of western fruits. 



yvriTH the exception of a few varieties, 

 '' which constitute a neglig.able percent- 

 age of the total production, all of our apples 

 with proper refrigeration facilities can be 

 distributed to the markets of the world; 

 some varieties require prompt shipment, 

 other varieties can be held in cold storage 

 for a period of seven months and then be 

 safely transported to Europe. This makes 

 possible a shipping season of eight months. 



During the coming season we hope to 

 make a shipment of 40,000 boxes of Bart- 

 lett pears from Seattle to England, and it is 

 confidently expected that the condition of 

 these pears upon arrival will permit of ex- 

 tended distribution. 



The export trade presents unlimited pos- 

 sibilities; the installation of refrigeration 

 on vessels engaged in general cargo traffic 

 .ample to meet the possibilities of the trade 

 at port of entry and tributary territory will 

 revolutionize this outlet for western fruit; 



// the Pticific Coast is to realize 

 the maximum benefits from the great 

 fruit industry, which already refre- 

 sents a capital invest7ne?it of more 

 than $300,000,000 in this section, 

 closer co-oferation between individ- 

 uals, communities and states is nec- 

 essary, in the opinion of C. de Vere 

 Fairchild, Yakima grower, zcho was 

 one of the Washington representa- 

 tives at the recent Pacific Coast 

 conference of fruit growers and 

 shippers held in Seattle. At the con- 

 ference the Pacific Coast Producers^ 

 and Shippers' Association was organ- 

 ized to provide water transportation 

 from the Pacific to the Atlantic for 

 thousands of tons of fruit which the 

 railroads cannot now handle econom- 

 ically or efficiently. 



m many centers it will increase consump- 

 tion more than ten fold; in others, where 

 western fruit is practically unknown today, 

 a flourishing trade can be developed. To 

 illustrate this statement, a friend of mine 

 operating a newspaper in Toyko, some time 

 ago wrote me as follows: 



"I am satisfied that a large quantity of 

 Pacific Coast pears could be disposed of 

 among the upper class of Japanese pro- 

 vided you had some way of delivering the 

 fruit here in perfect condition." 



Hundreds of foreign markets that are 

 capable of consuming tremendous quantities 

 of western fruit are lying dormant waiting 

 for American initiative to equip vessels 

 with proper refrigeration so that western 

 fruit may be delivered to the furthermost 

 corners of the earth with practically no de- 

 terioration in transit. 



These statements of water transportation 

 possibilities are based on the actual results 

 of certain shipments from Seattle, the offi- 

 cial report of which is as follows: 



WASHINGTON, D. C, Feb. 4.— 

 Considerable interest has been mani- 

 fested in the results of the venture of Paci- 

 fic Coast apple growers in shipping apples 

 from points on the Pacific direct to Eng- 



land via the Panama Canal. The American 

 Agriculture Trade Commissioner at London 

 reports that the fruit on both vessels arrived 

 in excellent condition." 



In speaking of this venture, the Depart- 

 ment of Agriculture says the enterprise of 

 the Pacific Coast Shippers is commendable 

 In every respect. Most of the apples in the 

 consignment were C grade because north- 

 western shippers were naturally somewh.it 

 cautious about placing their best apples in 

 an experimental shipment. However, grati- 

 fying results obtained will encourage them 

 to ship only the highest grade to the British 

 markets in the future. 



The fruit on the steamship Eemdyk 

 reached Southampton in the latter part of 

 November and went on sale the day after 

 arrival. Deliveries were made throughout 

 the United Kingdom within 24 hours, a 

 notable achievement on the part of the auc- 

 tioneers and the London & Southwestern 

 Railway Company. A representative set of 

 buyers from England and Scotland attended 

 the sale, and many lots were disposed of. 



The trade commissioner calls attention to 

 the fact that in spite of the long trip 

 there were less than 180 slight breakages 

 in a shipment of over 30,000 boxes. These 

 breakages were so slight that they were 

 easily remedied by putting in a few extra 

 nails'. Though the prices received for this 

 fruit at Southampton were less than the pre- 

 vailing prices of the markets farther north, 

 it must be remembered that the cargo con- 

 tained a great deal of C grade fruit, which 

 is an important factor in accounting for the 

 low prices received. 



THE fruit on the steamship Kinderdyk, 

 which arrived in London on December 

 16, was also In excellent condition. The ap- 

 ples were most carefully stowed and were 

 held in position with wooden dunnage 

 nailed along the tops of the boxes. It was 

 declared by a specialist in refrigeration 

 and transportation of the United States De- 

 partment of Agriculture, now in London, 

 that the apple cargo of the Kinderdyk was 

 intact, showing scarcely any evidence of 

 shifting or breakage, and was in remarkably 

 fine condition. Both the steamship com- 

 pany and the Pacific Coast loaders are to 

 be congratulated on the success of these two 

 shipments. 



As stated in the preceding report, the 

 success of these experimental shipments is 

 due in large measure to the modern and 

 efficient f.acilities which the citizens of 

 King county have wisely provided, to the 

 care and diligence of the dock authorities 

 and steamship representatives, and reflect 

 great credit to the officials connected with 

 the Port of Seattle. 



While the possibilities of export trade 

 {Continued on page 20) 



