The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1877-08-16
HOOD RIVER.
a Paradise in The Cascade Mountains
FRUITFUL SOIL, PURE AIR, CRYSTAL
WATER, GRAND SCENERY, MED
ICAL INSTITUTE.

20 miles west from Dalles City and
"a miles from the Cascades, and is in
the state of Oregon. 1t takes its
name from that old white mountain
of the Cascade range, whose perpetu-
al SHOWS in summer supplies the
stream with its almost milky white
water. Its general course is north
easterly, following a valley or depres-
sion in the mountains, which is sup
posed to be the track of an immense
glacier which had its flow here in ages
when, possibly, even the dashings of
the lordly Columbia had not yet bro
ken the stiffness of this western
world. Hood River, at this season of
the year, has good supply Of snow
water, whitened with the volcanic
ashes of the mountain until it resem-
bles, somewhat, the preparation of
chalk and water supplied at hotel
tables in lieu of cream, and dignitied
with the name of milk. 1t has numer-
Gus falls and cascades which, in the
distance, leaves one in doubt whether
it is Lot streak of white sand instead
of a boiling and turbulent torrent.
Later in the season when the SHOWS
have ceased to melt, this water be-
comes as clear as crystal, and trout are
abundant. About II miles up the
rivec the valley proper begins The
heavy growth Of pine, fir and other
timber of the mountains grows sparser
and the white oak appears in pleas
ant contrast withsthe somber hues of
the dark forest on the mountain sides.
This valley is, on an average, about
three miles wide, though it does not
lie in regular form. Much of what is
called the valley consists of upland,
slightly rolling, and dotted here and
there with mixture of oak and pine
timber. There is but little under
brush, and that little is partly com
posed of the fragrant shushula, from
the flower of which bees extract the
most delicious honey. The open
timber of the country constitutes the
most varied and beautiful scenery.
Fossaking the road the traveller can
ride his horse or drive with his car
riage for miles beneath the spreading
branches of the white oak. These
trees are clean, straight and symme-
terical, and bear acorns in great guam
titles. In the valley proper of the
river, and along the up land near the
Columbia River the soil is a sandy
loan with gravelly subsoil. Back
from the river the subsoil is of clay
and very much resembles the red
hills of Yamhill County, and the sub
soil in other localities of the William
cite Valley. Fruit of all kinds, com.
mon to this zone grows here in the
greatest perfection. The Hood River
Peaches have the deserved reputation
of being the best that Oregon can
produce. This year they are smaller
than usual and are very much blight
ed, an unusual occurrence and is at
tributed to the remarkably open win
ter. How or why the open winter
should thus effect the fruit we cannot
understand, let some pomologist an
swer.
1t was once thought that this coun-
try was too dry to raise wheat, but
this has, upon trial, been found to be
a great mistake The soil is very
rich and all kinds of grain yield album
dant crops. The average yield per
acte is 40 bushels. We were shown
a field of wheat on the farm of Mr..
Baccheus which equaled any wheat
we ever saw. The heads were plump
and well filed; the grains are very
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