B
IIOME AND FAHM MAGAZINE SECTION
Good Roads and Marketing Problem
By W. S. Nicholson, Traffic Editor, Fruit and Produce
Distributor.
FP.UIT and Produce Distributor is
"Devoted to the Marketing Indus
try." Were we to interpret this
narrowly, we would in all probability
be compelled to confine our activities
to the discussion of marketing prob
lems alone, that is to say, merchandiz
ing methods. We are, however, en
deavoring to do a work of broader
scope than that, and our investigations
of marketing problems have led us far
afield, and have given, us a new insight
into the many subjects that must be
considered before the great work of
proper distribution may be treated in
telligently. Thus, in our investigation work, we
have found that poor transportation
methods have, in many cases, been re
sponsible for low prices, and we have
accordingly been compelled to estab
lish ? Traffic Department in order to
study transportation conditions, with a
view to improving them, insofar as the
movement of fruit and produce is con
cerned. In studying theso transporta
tion problems, we have found that the
shipper himsdf has a great deal to
learn about proper methods of prepar
ing, inspecting and loading fruit, and
that it is not always the carrier who is
to blame when shipments "go wrong."
Effects of Bad Bo ads.
Now we are beginning to see that in
some eases, we must search further
than the shipper, and it looks as
though, in the natural order of things,
we are going to be led into the "Good
Koads Movement. ' '
A few days ago, the manager of a
large shipping association, located along
the Columbia Eiver, visited our office.
His district raises as fine strawberries
BS' can be produced anywhere in the
world, yet the growers have, never
made any money on this fruit. We
asked him the reason for this his an
swer was "Bad Roads." Ho told us
of one man, who brought his berries to
the association for shipment. They
came from a farm about yvo miles from
the shipping station; were well packed,
clean, picked at the proper time, yet
the berries in about two hundred cases
were so badly bruised that the 'associa
tion inspector refused to accept them,
and the grower had either to dump
them or feed them to his hogs, if he
had any.
In this case there was a loss of at
least $200, which, at 5 per cent, repre
sents the interest on u principal of
$4,000. Suppose $4,000, cr a much
smaller amount, had been expended on
a good, permanent road from this man 't
place to the railroad there are few
roads in the Northwest that a few hun
dred dollars a mile will not put in pass
able condition it is obvious that this
loss would not have occurred. When
we consider the thousands of miles of
bad roads in the Northwest, and the
thousands of fruit growers who are
hauling their produce over such roads,
the gross amount of loss duo to bruis
ing must run into almost unbelievable
figures.
Marketing Problem.
So the study of marketing problems
brings up not alone tho question of sell
ing fruit over a counter in some East
ern city for the highest possible price,
but leads us into a labyrinth of com
plex, correlated problems picking,
packing, grading, "Good Koads" and
transportation, storage, distribution, ad
vertising, accounting each one of
which is related to and is an important
factor in tho vltimate returns that will
be made for any given shipment.
Good roads are expensive; anything
that is good costs money, but if we are
losing more money by having bad roads
than we could save by installing good
ones, by all means let us wake up and
get behind the "Good Roads Move
ment, ' '
Improvements Pay.
At least let us study the merits of
the movement and see whether it will
pay us in actual dollars and cents;
whether it will add to the value of our
property; whether it will improve so
cial conditions in our fruitgrowing dis
tricts by facilitating social intercourse
wth our neighbors; whether it will make
it easier for the children to travel Jo
and from school; and above all, wheth
er it will add to our own self-respect
to be cble to feel, and to be able to
say with prido that we are factors in a
live, up-to-date; progressive community,
too proud of its name and reputation as
a good place to live, to countenance the
wretched trails that pass for roads in so
many of our growing districts today.
In conclusion, unless tho grower has
a good road between his home and his
shipping station, all his care in pre
paring his produce will be wasted, and
in many cases fruit that is one hun
dred per cent perfect when it leaves
his shipping station will be so badly
bruised that it will be practically
worthless after the wagon haul over the
rocks and ruts and chuckholes of his
'road." If there is a cannery avail
tble, he may save something; if there
is not, his loss will frequently be total.
r-From Fruit and Produce Distributor.
STEEL WHEELS FOB AUTOMOBILES.
, EESSED-STEEL wheels are being
built for automobiles, which have
groat strength and no more weight
than wooden wheels of the same carry
ing capacity. For vehicles weighing up
to H tons, No. 18 gauge steel is used,
and this is found to be heavy enough
for larger cars, although a lighter
gauge would doubtless be ample for the
lighter varieties of touring cars. The
sheet steel is pressed cold, the first. im
pression merely outlining the spokes,
while subsequent processes cut out the
intermediate steel, and round the r pokes
for close fitting. The wheel is assem
bled, the "spider" is placed in the
concave side of one of the stampings,
and the spoke wings closed, forming a
perfect interlock. The surplus material
is removed from between the spokes
and the hub and rim added, while spot
welding may be used between the
spokes if desired.
WOMEN AND GOOr BO ADS.
HE United States Department of
Agriculture, working on the theory
that much of the hardship suf
fered by women on farms is directly
due to bad roads, is beginning a cam
paign to interest the farmers' wives in
the good road movement. The depart
ment is backed by the American High
way Association.
The scheme is to have the wives of
farmers study the good roads question
from a practical viewpoint, and then
demand of township and county offi
cials that they spend their funds prop
erly and direct the work of road im
provement in a scientific manner.
Bulletins on road improvement will
be printed for the women 's , use, and
women's road clubs will be organized
along1 the lines of the girls' canning
clubs and the boys' corn and pig clubs.
In addition vo getting food traveling
roads, the women will be urged to see
that their husbands plant trees to pro-
de shade along the highways and to
afford protection from storms.
AUTOS PULL BINDEB.
WHEN the horses of G. L. Hamm, a
farmer near Williamston, Kan.,
played out while cutting a field
of oats, two automobiles belonging to
J. D. and M. F. Martin, who were
visiting on the farm, were fastened to
the binder and completed the work.
The tongue of the binder was re
moved and a rope was run through a
pulley fastened on the front of the
reaper. One end of the rope was tied
to one car and the other end to the
second car, thus making a sliding
pulley so if one car pulled ahead of the
other it would not have the whole job
of pulling thrown upon it.
The binder pulled easily and it is
said one car could have done the work
alone. At the rate the field of oats
was harvested thirty acres per day
could have been cut.
COMBINATION PLEASUBE CAB
AND DELIVEKT VAN.
A GERMAN automobile manufactur
er has recently brought out a de
livery car, which, used as a 30
horsepower sporting phaoton, holds four
passengers, but, by taking out the up
holstering and removing the seats, is
adapted to the transportation and do
livery of merchandise, The transforma
tion may be accomplished in a few
minutes,
HOTEL BUTLER
SEATTLE, WASH.
Under new management entire
change in ail departments all rooms
redecorated and refurnished. Particu
lar attention is now I'dng paid to
prompt, efficient and courteous service.
DAILY BATES
$2.00 Up With Private Bath
11.00 Up Without Private Bath
Hotel Butler Cafe
THE FINEST IN SEATTLE
Service the Best Cuisine Unexcelled
BOBEBT J. EOBINSON
Manager.
When In Seattle
TRYTHEFRYE
IT'S NEW
IT'S CLEAN
IT CAN'T BURN
T LOCATION IS RIGHT "
Only 3 Blocks From Depots
and Docks.
THE RATES ARE RIGHT
$1.00 Per Day and Up.
THE FRYE IS THE RIGHT
HOTEL FOR YOU.
"IT LOOKS LIKE A HOTEL"
That's What They All Say.
Hotel Clifford
East Morrison and Sixth Streets.
Modern in every detail. Best of service.
Rates by week from S3 up, by day 60 eenta
and up. See the Clifford before going else
where. ED. F. BEEVES, Proprietor,
HOTEL ACKLY
Comer Twelfth and Stark Streets
Portland, Oregon,
nATES: 2.50 per week up. With pri
vate bath, $4.50 op.
CLEAN OUTSIDE ROOSTS.
MODEBN BRICK BUILDING.
The Man Who Knows
a practical, profitable trade is independent.
Write or call for references, lakes only few
months to learn. Position! guaranteed.
WATCH MAKING, ENGRAVING, OPTICAL
SCHOOL
216 Commonwealth Bldg., 6th and Ankeny
Portland, Oregon.
WHEN IN PORTLAND
stop at the incomparable
Hotel Benson
CENTRAL, FIREPROOF,
MODERN, LOW RATES
Bend for free book.
Carl Stanley, Mgr.
What do you think
OF THIS?
3,000,000 Acres
FINE FREE HOMESTEADS
and Montana Deeded Lands
$8 to $40 an Acre
Ready for the plow.
Yields 30 to 60 bu. wheat.
Oats, barley, flax, hay, etc., in
proportion.
Finest Inland Climate.
Land Sold on Crop Payment
Plan.
Law fare Homeseekers' Ex
cursions on first and thirl
Tuesdays of each month.
Western Immigration Agent,
C. M. & ST. P. BY.
2nd and Cherry, Seattle, Wash.
yOU WANT THE BEST SPRAYER
You want to save tine)
temper, trouble and trees.
You want to rake fruit thai
bruits the highest prices.
You waul to know all about
our sprayer before yon buy.
There is more you ought to
know. Do You Waal Te
r Manufacturers 182 Morrison St, Portland, Or.
OaUlofltw 87
TYPEWRITERS
RENT a Typewriter from the manefaetexera,
fS for three months; Bemington No. 6 oi
No. 7; Smith Premier, No. 2 or No. 4; Tisible
Remington, Monarch, Bmllh Premier, 13 pel
month delivered anywhere. Rebuilt machines
sold on easy payment!.
BEMINGTON TYPEWRITER COMPANY.
80 Broadway, Portland, Ore.
$60.00 A WEEK AND EXPENSES
That'! the money yon should get this year. I mean It. I want
County Bales Managers quick, men or women who bell ere in
tne square aaai, wno win u w yB.mcini.iy we. nu w
perienco needed. My folding Bath Tub has taken the country
smi tlia bathing Droblem. No Dlumbfttr: no
water works required. Full length bath in any room. Folds In
small roll, handy at an umbrella. I tell you It's great! GREATI
Rivals tlOO bath room. Now listen I I want lOU to handle
your county I'll furnish demonstrating tub on liberal plau.
I'm nositlve absolutely certain you can get bigger money in
a week with me than you ever made in a mouth bofore
I KNOW ITI v
TWO SALES A DAY 1300 A MONTH
at you should get every montn. neeaca in every
ly wanted, eagerly bought. Modern batning laeiii-
f?Ct
That' I what
uSV rtft the peoplo. ' Ta'k. orders right and left Quick
i t!, immense profits Look ot theso men. Smith, Ohio, got
tales, immense pr u.i M .,,.. Wine.. H2B0 Droflt
first month; Newton, California, 1(60 in three
days. You should do as well. 2 SALES A DAY
MEANS $300 A MONTH. The work is Terr
easy, nleasant, permanent, fascinating. It
means a business of your own.
DEMON
STRATING TUB ,
rUBNISHED
Little eanlt.I
needed. I grant ore
dit Holn you out
Back you no Don't doubt.
Don't hesitate Don't hold back-
Ton cannot lose. Mt nthnr man
building houses, bank accounts, to can you.
Olq Puh.. ij. ipMiawln ft " IO I1"0"' u MUHHi just name on
13 Factories Blflg.. TOMao, O. peniiy gat card for free rub offer. Hustle!
H. S. ROBINSON
President
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