The Dalles daily chronicle. [volume] (The Dalles, Or.) 1890-1948, 1891-03-18
A Bright Future.

The outlook for this section is exceed
ingly bright, the forfeiture of the North
ern Pacific land grant being one of the
important factors in giving us new life.
Indeed this act was of more benefit to
Hood River than to any other section,
for the reason that all the lands were in
the forty mile limit, and consequently,
Just half of them were railroad lands.
The forfeiture act, in other words, doubled
the amount of available lands and will
attract, and is attracting immigration.
This act was more important to this sec
ton for another reason which is that the
Hood River lands are the most valuable
of any included in the grant. They are
fruit lands instead of grain lands, and as
such are capable of yielding and have
Welded, when planted in Strawberries as
much as 500 to the acre per year. There
are thousands of acres of land in Hood
River valley capable of yielding as much,
or more, when water is made available
for irrlgating them Our lands are yet
held at nominal figure but the day is
not far distant when lands will sell within
five miles of town for as much as
$500 per acre. For apples we easily lead
Oregon, as our exhibits at the exposition
show, and therefore the world, and the
demand for orchard products is steadily
and rapidly increasing. There IS no
limit to the market and it is safe to say
that orchard products will hereafter
maintain price greater than that which
now obtains. Besides our, possibilities
in fruit growing, we have the finest eli
mate in the state. In proof of this we
refer to the reports of the U. s. weather
bureau. We also refer to the fact that
our straw berries are the first to
reach the Portland markets, beat
ing Southern Oregon from three days to
week. We have less rain than West
ern Oregon, more considerably than
Eastern Oregon and the wet and dry
seasons are distinctly defined. We have
a higher winter and lower summer
temperature than any point in Eastern
Oregon, and the most equable climate of
any point in the state. We have i'm
mense timber resources, and the finest
water power, for manufacturing the same,
as well as bringing it from the forest to
our doors. Our situation only three hours
by rail from Portland, and that oyer the
| most picturesque route in the world is
rapidly making Hood River famous as a
summer resort, while Cloud Cap Inn,
situated at the Eliot glacier, is becoming
known to the world as one of the most
beautiful and attractive places on the
coast. 1t is put down in the book of
every tourist as point to be visited and
in the near future no trip to the coast
will be considered complete, that has not
included this famous hostelry. Hood
River has no boom, never had boom
and does not desire one. 1t is satisfied
to grow upon its merits, realizing that
that kind of growth alone is healthy. AT
present eleven buildings are being con-
structed or will have work commenced
on them as soon as the lumber can be
placed on the ground. The United
Brethren and Congregationists are build
ing each church and several handsome
cottages are proposed. What the Idle
wilde owners will do has not yet been
determined. but last fall they promised
to erect large hotel here this spring.
If they fail to do SO it is probable joint
stock company will be organized to put
up a suitable building. Mark our pre-
dictions that Hood River is going to grow
more in the next two years than any
town in Oregon.