The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1892-10-07
ON A HOP RANCH.
Now Chinese Compete with india PioksYs
in Neutrality-suspicious. Scenes.

TACOMA, wash, Sept. Hop cul-
tire is large and important industry
i'll this state, hops being the most valu-
able agricultural crop'of western Wash
ington. The Snoqualmie hop ranch con-
sists of $500 acres, 800 being in hops.
The production Of this farm is from
1880 to 1000 pounds per acre. 1t is
said that the clear profit to the state this
year was over 81 100000.
The first hops raised here were planted
in 1860 near the present city of Puyal-
lup. A peck of hops were planted by
Jacob r. Meeker. From these he har-
vested bale Of hops, receiving eight
cents per pound for them. This at
tracted attention to the industry and re-
suited in further planting along the
river and in the valleys. From this
small beginning sprang an industry that
has brought into the state more than,
S20,OO0,0O0 and given employment to
fully 5000 people annually.
IQuote from an article written by Mr..
Ezra Meeker for the state board of trade,
80 that facts and figures are authentic.
Hop picking is one of the picturesque
scenes of Washington. The work of
harvesting is done largely by Indians,
though other nationalities are we'll rep
resented, who come from all parts of the
state, from British Columbia and even
from Alaska. 1t is tho time of year
when the Indian is sure of sufficient
work to enable him to buy his winter
stores. Most of them reach the hop
yards in their canoes, which, hewn from
single logs, seem clumsy and unsafe to
the white man, but in which the Indians
brave even the tempests of tho ocean.
The high prows are gayly painted and
usually decorated with rude figure cut
out OF wood. Hundreds and even thou
sands of these canoes in the early au-
tumn are to be seen on the waters of
Puget sound, and the beaches are COW
cred with temporary camps.
From the shores of the Pacific. of
British Columbia and beyond, whole
tribes embark, pass through the Gulf Of
Georgia and across the Straits of Fuca
and paddle up the sound for the sole
purpose of being present at the hop
picking and spending the money earned
IN blankets, gaudy calico and other
stores, to last until the next season of
plenty.
Men, women and children Just able to
walk engage in the work, and are all
Industrious as long as the season lasts.
Their painted faces and bright raiment,
in contrast among the dark foliage of
the hop vines, form a picture that is
ever new. And when the harvest is
over they return to their homes by easy
stages, taking care that much of the
bright silver is we'll expended or gam
bled away before civilization is left
behind
The question of questions with hop
growers is, Will pickers enough como?
If so, will they arrive in time? The IN
dams are quick to perceiye the situation
and ready to profit by the anxiety of the
growers, and to drive the best bargain
possible. AS the acreage has increased,
however, the supply of labor has thus
far been ample, so that there never has
been any real loss from lack of pickers.
For five years, from 1886 to 1890 inclu-
sive, Mr.. Meeker has kept accurate &C
count of the production of one farm
of siXty-one acres which he has in hons.
During tl.at time there were grown and
marketed 574, 602 pounds of hops, which
sold Mt an average of II 3-5 cents per
pound, aggregating SOL ,129.95. Tho
cost Of production was cents per
pound. The net profit, therefore, from
sixty. one acres for five years was S49,-
415.77, an annual average of so ,SSS. Is
and Il yearly average net profit per acre
of $l62.02. These figures will show a
much greater profit than from hops
raised in New York or New England.
In central New York tho cost of pro.
ducing crop is not less than IS cents
per pound, while in New England an
average of at least IS cents is reached.
A new element has entered into hon
picking-viz., the Chinese. Last autumn
when the fleets of canoes came from
Alaska and British Columbia came down
the sound to the hop ranches, the Indians
found their places taken by the yellow,
bias eyed Celestials, who had come in
and possessed the land. The cursing
was deep maybe, at least it was silent,
and the high prows were turned home
ward again. They camped all along the
coast and reached their homes by slow
stages. They usually carry small tent
in which to sleep, but all their occupa-
tons and recrentions are carried on in
the broad sunlight, with only the blue
sky for canopy. Their household
utensils consist of camp kettle and
several large spoons. Fish. vegetables,
everything they eat, cooked in the one
kettle, and tho various members Of the
family sit about and dip i'll their spoons
whenever they feel the pangs of hunger.
They are filthy beyond description, and
as for good looks, have yet to see ono
that ever Appropriated toward that
point. The beautiful Indian maiden
strong, 1.-the and symmetrical-has been